Innovation in Language Learning

This study explores how an AI-enhanced Zoom environment was strategically designed and utilised to support a Virtual Study Mobility (VSM) program between Meiji Gakuin University (Japan) and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (U.S.). The program enabled students to remotely attend regular undergraduate courses taught in English, focusing on content areas such as ethnic studies and cultural diversity. While not explicitly intended as a language course, the program fostered opportunities for incidental English use and intercultural engagement through sustained participation in global coursework. Key to the success of this VSM initiative was the intentional use of Zoom not merely as a video-conferencing platform, but as an educational space enriched with AI-supported features. These included live multilingual captions, real-time translation, automatic summaries, and cloud-based video recordings, all of which were incorporated to enhance accessibility, comprehension, and learner autonomy. Data were collected through voluntary surveys and open-ended feedback across multiple semesters (2023–2024), involving over 100 students. Qualitative analysis revealed increased student engagement, a rise in confidence using English in academic contexts, and positive perceptions of AI-supported learning tools. Students highlighted how these tools enabled them to stay focused, review content flexibly, and communicate more actively with international peers. This paper argues that AI-enhanced Zoom can serve as an inclusive and pedagogically meaningful space for virtual mobility. It offers insights into how digital learning environments can be designed to promote global learning opportunities, especially for students who face barriers to physical study abroad.