From Tool Use to Pedagogical Integration: Mapping AI-Assisted Translation Learning Behaviors among Vietnamese EFL Translation Students

Abstract

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into translation education has transformed how students learn, practice, and evaluate translation. While existing studies have primarily focused on attitudes, opportunities, challenges, and AI literacy, limited research has examined students’ actual AI-assisted translation-learning behaviors. This study investigates patterns of AI use among translation students, including frequency of use, preferred AI tools, learning purposes, year-level differences, and the influence of AI on translation-learning practices.

A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 93 English-major students and five translation lecturers at Trade Union University, Vietnam. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and comparative analysis in SPSS 26, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis.

The findings indicate a high level of AI adoption among translation students. ChatGPT emerged as the dominant AI tool, substantially outperforming traditional machine translation systems. AI was primarily used for draft translation, vocabulary search, grammar checking, post-editing, and translation comparison. Fourth-year students reported higher levels of AI use than third-year students, suggesting increased technology integration as students progress through translator training. Qualitative findings further revealed a developmental shift from AI as a translation tool toward AI as a learning partner.

Based on these findings, the study proposes the AI Translation Learning Behavior Framework (AITLBF), which conceptualizes the progression from AI awareness and adoption to critical post-editing competence and human-AI collaborative translation. The framework contributes to the growing literature on AI-enhanced translator training by providing a behavioral perspective on AI integration in translation education.