Examining the influence of individual-level cultural values on CFL learners’ acceptance of ChatGPT for Chinese learning

This mixed-method research has explored how individual-level cultural values affect Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) learners' perceptions and acceptance of ChatGPT for Chinese learning, based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). To this end, quantitative data were collected from 132 CFL learners and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), supplemented by qualitative information from 10 semi-structured interviews. Quantitative results indicated that three out of four cultural dimensions were significant direct antecedents of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitude toward ChatGPT usage. The qualitative findings revealed three prominent themes: (1) perceived usefulness from the actual usage of ChatGPT for Chinese learning, (2) perceived ease of using ChatGPT for Chinese learning, and (3) attitude and feelings of using ChatGPT for Chinese learning. The study empirically extends TAM by unveiling the complex relationships between cultural values and CFL learners' acceptance of using ChatGPT at the individual level. The findings inform implications and recommendations for future practice and research.