The Role of AI Tools in Enhancing Translation Skills: A Case Study of Second-Year English Majors, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Chiang Mai Campus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62819/bej.2026.3423Keywords:
artificial intelligence, translation, English, Myanmar, hybrid approachAbstract
This study examines the integration of AI translation tools in language learning, focusing on second-year English majors at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Chiang Mai Campus. Using a mixed-methods design with pretests, posttests, questionnaires, and interviews, the research examined both performance outcomes and student perceptions. Results indicate that AI tools enhanced basic accuracy and sentence meaning, particularly in technical and formal texts, while human translators remained superior in tasks requiring cultural awareness, idiomatic fluency, and contextual sensitivity. Students frequently struggled with grammar, tense usage, vocabulary gaps, and figurative language, often relying on borrowed foreign words rather than natural equivalents. To address these challenges, the study proposes a Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) approach in which AI drafts are refined through editing, peer review, and instructor guidance. This method fosters creative vocabulary use, contextual understanding, and cultural sensitivity, while reducing overreliance on machine outputs. Building on these findings, a New Body of Knowledge for AI-assisted translation education is introduced, combining traditional competencies, grammar mastery, vocabulary development, and cultural awareness with modern skills such as technological literacy, structured post-editing, and ethical responsibility. Collaborative learning is emphasized to strengthen student confidence and independence. The study concludes that translation education must evolve toward a hybrid model, ensuring learners achieve technical accuracy alongside cultural and ethical awareness. This balanced approach prepares future translators to meet global communication demands while preserving linguistic diversity and cultural richness.
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