The Journal of Studies in Language ISSN:1225-4770(Print) 2671-6151(Online) 언어연구

Machine Translation (MT) such as Google Translate and Naver Papago has had important roles in L2 learning. In EFL settings, which are classroom-based English learning environments, Machine Translation (MT) has provided both learners and teachers with innovative means to learn English. With these ground-breaking challenges, this research aimed to study high school students’ perceptions and attitudes toward using MT in English writing classes. This study gathered qualitative data using a questionnaire to 173 students at a high school located in Seoul. The survey questions included students’ use of MT and their degree of satisfaction. Also, students’ level of expectations and affective aspects were asked in the questionnaire. Findings show that most students who responded to the survey used MT to search for the meaning of unknown English words and to translate L1 sentences into English ones. While anxiety level caused by L2 learning was reported to be lowered, whether the level of learning interest and accomplishment was increased or not remained uncertain. Based on the pedagogical implication the use of MT in English learning will give unprecedented questions and considerations to teachers and learners of L2 continuously.