The Usage of Speech-Enabled Language Translation as an Effective Factor During Lectures in a Foreign Language as the Medium of Instruction

Abstract

Speech-to-text recognition (STR) usage in lectures in English as the medium of instruction (EMI) has been recognized as an assistive technology, but previously reported studies have neglected to investigate the benefits of speech-enabled language translation (SELT) for learning. This study used either STR or SELT to help students in EMI lectures, specifically to increase their attention and meditation and also to decrease their learning anxiety. In this study, we used a mixed research method and collected the data as perceptions and mental state. Sixty-three students attended the lectures and they were categorized into two groups. Students in the STR group (n = 30) were exposed to STR texts, whereas the students in the SELT group (n = 33) were exposed to SELT texts; the affective factors in their learnings were also compared. The results showed that on comparison the attention and meditation levels in the SELT group were higher than those in the STR group, the learning anxiety decreased in lectures with SELT support, and the SELT group positively perceived the usefulness of SELT for learning. Based on the findings of this study, implications were drawn and suggestions were provided.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

 

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rustam Shadiev

Rustam Shadiev is Professor at Nanjing Normal University (China) and Distinguished Professor of Jiangsu province (China). He was selected as the Most Cited Chinese Researchers in the field of Education by the Elsevier in 2020 and 2021. His research interest includes advanced learning technologies for language and cross-cultural learning.

Ting-Ting Wu

Ting-Ting Wu is an associate professor at the Graduate School of Technological and Vocational Education, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. Her research covers such areas as technology-enhanced language learning and applications of advanced technology to support nursing education.

Yueh Min Huang

Yueh Min Huang is a chair professor at the Department of Engineering Science, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. His research interests focus on e-Learning, multimedia communications, artificial intelligence, and embedded systems.