Frontiers in Educational Research, 2025, 8(12); doi: 10.25236/FER.2025.081210.
Fan Jiqun, Yang Chunhua
School of Foreign Languages, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, China
This study investigates the psychological mechanisms driving the sustained intention to use AI tools in translation learning, moving beyond the established roles of perceived usefulness and ease of use. Drawing on an integrated framework combining the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), we propose that these technological perceptions foster long-term engagement by shaping learners' attitudes and intrinsic interest. Data from 311 Master of Translation and Interpreting (MTI) students were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results confirm that while perceived usefulness and ease of use directly influence sustained intention, their impact is predominantly mediated through a sequential psychological process: they first cultivate a positive AI learning attitude, which in turn sparks a genuine AI learning interest, with interest emerging as the strongest direct predictor of sustained use. This research underscores that the key to lasting AI integration in education lies not merely in creating useful tools, but in designing experiences that are intrinsically interesting and psychologically rewarding for learners.
Artificial Intelligence; Translation Learning; Sustained Intention; Technology Acceptance Model; Self-Determination Theory; Structural Equation Modelling
Fan Jiqun, Yang Chunhua. Beyond Usability: The Role of Interest and Attitude in Sustaining AI Translation Tool Use among MTI Students. Frontiers in Educational Research (2025), Vol. 8, Issue 12: 64-71. https://doi.org/10.25236/FER.2025.081210.
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