Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence: A Reflective Journey in English Language Education

This study explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into the professional practices of an English language instructor and scholar in the Iranian higher education context. The researcher, who is both an educator and a scholar in the field of English language teaching (ELT), embarked on a year-long, first-hand investigation to document the opportunities and challenges of leveraging AI tools to support their teaching, research and other academic activities. The study employed a multi-layered qualitative approach, including the researcher's reflective journal, AI-generated conversational summaries of chats with different AI for various teaching or academic purposes, and thematic coding. The analysis identified ten key themes related to the researcher's AI-assisted activities, such as teaching, assessment, research, technological integration, instructional design, and academic writing. The findings suggest that the integration of digital tools and technologies, including AI-powered systems, plays a crucial role in shaping teaching and learning practices within the Iranian ELT context. The study highlights the need for targeted professional development to enhance teachers' digital literacy and competence, as well as the importance of a balanced approach to leveraging the capabilities of these technologies while addressing potential challenges. The implications of this study can inform the development of policies and guidelines for the ethical and effective integration of AI technologies in language education. Additionally, the insights can contribute to the professional development of ELT instructors, promoting their digital literacy to better navigate the evolving technological landscape.

کلیدواژه ها:

English Language Teaching as a Foreign Language (TEFL) ، Reflective Pedagogy ، Educational Technology Integration ، Strategic AI Implementation