A large-scale mixed-methods study of Japanese university students’ use of ChatGPT for L2 learning

Abstract

This mixed-methods paper reports on the adoption of ChatGPT for L2 learning at university level in Japan. It presents data from an online questionnaire conducted with 2,521 Japanese undergraduate students who studied English (n = 2,519) and other L2s (n = 1,881). Quantitative data revealed that approximately half had used ChatGPT for language study, mainly to assist with writing, vocabulary, and grammar. Some had used it only for classwork, homework, or self-study, while others used it for a combination of these purposes. Thematic coding of written usage accounts provided deeper insights into how ChatGPT was used and the range of learning goals it supported. Although many students used it for basic support, such as corrective feedback and translation, some reported more experimental and personalised uses. Most written accounts indicated facilitative use of ChatGPT, but some responses pointed to breaches in academic integrity. While not generalisable, the large-scale dataset offers noteworthy insights into the practices of Japanese university students and allows for recommendations that provide a valuable starting point for further exploration in contexts within Japan and abroad.

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