Two research projects are planned for a one-year period: the former is related to the concept of time in intercultural communication and the use of artificial intelligence in student work.

New research continues previous analyses of the understanding of non-verbal elements in the communication process. Time, which is also a non-verbal element of communication, significantly influences the image that the speaker creates about himself and the addressee in the interaction, therefore we can communicate with it just as effectively as with language. The way people perceive time is culturally conditioned, and the differences can be just as great as the linguistic ones. Understanding and awareness of the concept of time will be the subject of new research, and a comparison with the results of previous research will provide a broader insight into the issues of non-verbal elements included in the act of communication.

The rapid development of large language models (LLMs) within the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to widespread adoption and integration of AI tools across many academic and professional domains, including the field of English Language Teaching and Learning (ELT/L). This study investigates how first-year students at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split, utilize AI tools in their mandatory English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course and in their regular coursework and personal projects.

The primary research questions are:

1. To what extent do computer science students integrate AI tools into their coursework?
2. How does students’ technical expertise influence their perception of AI tools in language learning and their studies in general?