Since ChatGPT’s 2023 release, AI tools have become increasingly available to language learners, yet their adoption remains underexplored. This study surveyed 163 students at a national university in western Japan in Fall 2024, complemented by teacher observations, to investigate students’ use of AI, preferred tools, targeted tasks, concerns, and expected AI use guidelines. Results show ChatGPT as the leading tool, followed by DeepL and Google Translate, with 93% of students using AI for translation, grammar, writing, and vocabulary. Usage frequency varies, with only 5% using AI daily and 53% occasionally. Students expressed moderate concern about over-reliance on AI and its impact on critical thinking (mean: 3.03/5) and were ambivalent about AI-assisted homework constituting dishonesty (mean: 2.55/5). Many noted insufficient instructor guidance on ethical AI use. This study highlights the need for pedagogical strategies to ensure responsible AI integration in language learning. A qualitative analysis of student comments, processed with NVivo, further enriches these findings, offering deeper insights into student perspectives.