Chapter 7. Discussing the Vignette Technique for Assessing Student Perception of Ethical AI Use in the L2 Learning Environment
Joel Neff and Kasumi Arciaga
Abstract
This chapter introduces the vignette technique as a method for exploring students’ perceptions of ethical AI use in language learning contexts. By presenting realistic scenarios, the approach encourages learners to reflect on complex ethical issues such as plagiarism, authorship, and appropriate AI use. The authors highlight the flexibility of this method in adapting to rapidly evolving technological and educational landscapes.
About the Contributors
Joel Neff teaches in the English Program at Utsunomiya University and the International University of Health and Welfare, Japan, where he teachers courses in academic writing, communication, and English as a foreign language. He holds a master’s degree in Linguistics and TESOL from the University of Leicester, UK. His research interests include language learner development, vignette methodology, and the ethical and pedagogical implications of artificial intelligence in education. His recent work has appeared in Technology in Language Teaching & Learning and the PanSIG Journal. He is currently engaged in longitudinal studies on AI ethics among Japanese university students and in developing vignette-based approaches to classroom research.
Kasumi Arciaga is an Assistant Professor at Utsunomiya University. She received her Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from De La Salle University in 2023. At Utsunomiya University, she launched the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) program, drawing on her prior experience coordinating COIL initiatives at Kansai University, which is a leading institution for COIL in Japan. Her current research interests include ethical language use in AI, World Englishes in Southeast and East Asia, and sociolinguistics for minority children in Japan. She is dedicated to advancing multilingual education and intercultural academic collaborations, especially in Japan.
Citation
Neff, J., & Arciaga, K. (2026). Discussing the vignette technique for assessing student perception of ethical AI use in the L2 learning environment. In R. Dykes, O. Edwards, D. Bollen, & T. S. W. Lin (Eds.), Artificial intelligence in Japan’s language learning classrooms (pp. 171–196). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/45/7
This chapter introduces the vignette technique as a method for exploring students’ perceptions of ethical AI use in language learning contexts. By presenting realistic scenarios, the approach encourages learners to reflect on complex ethical issues such as plagiarism, authorship, and appropriate AI use. The authors highlight the flexibility of this method in adapting to rapidly evolving technological and educational landscapes.
About the Contributors
Joel Neff teaches in the English Program at Utsunomiya University and the International University of Health and Welfare, Japan, where he teachers courses in academic writing, communication, and English as a foreign language. He holds a master’s degree in Linguistics and TESOL from the University of Leicester, UK. His research interests include language learner development, vignette methodology, and the ethical and pedagogical implications of artificial intelligence in education. His recent work has appeared in Technology in Language Teaching & Learning and the PanSIG Journal. He is currently engaged in longitudinal studies on AI ethics among Japanese university students and in developing vignette-based approaches to classroom research.
Kasumi Arciaga is an Assistant Professor at Utsunomiya University. She received her Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from De La Salle University in 2023. At Utsunomiya University, she launched the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) program, drawing on her prior experience coordinating COIL initiatives at Kansai University, which is a leading institution for COIL in Japan. Her current research interests include ethical language use in AI, World Englishes in Southeast and East Asia, and sociolinguistics for minority children in Japan. She is dedicated to advancing multilingual education and intercultural academic collaborations, especially in Japan.
Citation
Neff, J., & Arciaga, K. (2026). Discussing the vignette technique for assessing student perception of ethical AI use in the L2 learning environment. In R. Dykes, O. Edwards, D. Bollen, & T. S. W. Lin (Eds.), Artificial intelligence in Japan’s language learning classrooms (pp. 171–196). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/45/7
Information About the Book
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Title: Artificial Intelligence in Japan’s Language Learning Classroom
Editors: Robert Dykes, Oliver Edwards, Dave Bollen, and Tina Shu-wen Lin Publication date: June 2026 Read more... |