The Berkeley Language Center is delighted to announce the publication of a research article, “ChatGPT in Language Education: Centering Learner Voices”. This article is a collaboration between BLC Student Researchers (Zara Brandt, Mickey Chen, Madelyn Sparks) and BLC directors.
The research group came together under the auspices of the URAP program in August 2023. The URAP program offers undergraduates at UC Berkeley the opportunity to participate in the research process across a variety of disciplines. Unique to the BLC project was the inclusion of student researchers at every step of the research process, from conceptualization of research questions through publication of the finalized manuscript.
In alignment with the Berkeley Language Center’s mission and vision, student researchers gained experience in research methods within applied language studies and world languages instruction that are also applicable across a broad range of disciplines. Indeed, Mickey noted that the project “fostered my ability to work inclusively in research settings and uncovered my passion for integrating humanities and digital technology in my future studies.”
The project focused on Berkeley undergraduate student perceptions of ChatGPT for language learning. The project represented a space for the student researchers to gain insight into the larger issues at stake. Zara reflected, “I think the conversations that we had around this topic helped me think about the relation of language as something deeply intertwined with the social and technological conditions constructed and negotiated by and with language(s), and the technologies that mediate it.”
Particularly noteworthy about this project was the manifestation of the research into a full manuscript and its submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Commenting on the collaborative nature of the writing process, Madelyn said: “I learned how to balance maintaining my own voice while also viewing my work more objectively, which helped me to take and apply constructive feedback during the various writing and editing phases of our project.”
For all three student researchers, the project helped crystallize what research would be like in graduate school and academia broadly.
Congratulations to the authors!