An Investigation on the Use of Google Translate in Studying English Language: A case study in a university at Pathumthani Province

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the use of Google Translate to enhance English language skills in vocabulary, reading and writing of fourth-year engineering students. The participants were 92 fourth-year engineering students of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi in the second semester of academic year 2021. A five-point Likert Scale questionnaire and structured interview were used as research instruments. Data was analyzed using frequency distribution and percentage by the Microsoft Excel program. Results showed that almost all students used GT. For vocabulary skill, students used GT to enhance their vocabulary skills in finding the meanings of the general words, technical terms, the pronunciation of vocabulary, and the parts of speech, respectively. For reading skill, students used GT to read the labels, research and experiments, articles, signs, games rules, English textbooks, English novels, English news, and magazines. For writing skill, students used GT to check grammatical errors, chat with foreign friends; write English captions on social media, resumes, emails, English essays and English reports. Moreover, students used GT to enhance their learning of the vocabulary skill, reading skill, and writing skill the most, respectively.