Synergizing Human and Artificial Intelligence: A Narrative Inquiry into Collaborative Reflective Practice for EFL Teacher Development in Iran

Esfandiari, Rajab; Arefian, Mohammad Hossein

doi:10.22034/ijpie.2026.563528.1188

Synergizing Human and Artificial Intelligence: A Narrative Inquiry into Collaborative Reflective Practice for EFL Teacher Development in Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Rajab Esfandiari

Mohammad Hossein Arefian

Department of English Language Teaching, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

10.22034/ijpie.2026.563528.1188

Abstract

Designing practical professional development (PD) for language teachers remains a persistent concern, particularly in settings where linguistic, cultural, and institutional dynamics are intertwined. This study explored the experiences of 30 Iranian English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) teachers teaching in public junior high schools in a synergistic PD model integrating class-based reflection, ICT-mediated collaboration, and AI-driven support within communities of practice. Adopting a qualitative narrative inquiry approach grounded in sociocultural theory, the researchers collected the data over nine months from multiple sources, including reflective essays, interviews, AI interaction logs, WhatsApp discussions, and observational field notes. For data analysis, MAXQDA 24 was utilized, and results from thematic analysis revealed six related themes: relational foundations of reflection, ICT as connective tissue, AI both as a supporter and a distractor, professional identity renewal, contextual constraints and inequities, and cultural translation of technology. The findings indicate that the synergistic integration of human and AI-mediated reflective practice can enhance teacher learning, agency, and resilience, underscoring the need to thoughtfully incorporate relational, cultural, and structural conditions. Implications for teacher education, policy, and AI-supported PD design are discussed.

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence

collaborative reflective practice

EFL teacher development

ICT-mediated learning

narrative inquiry

Subjects