Presentation AI-Enhanced Telecollaboration for EFL Teacher Development and Cross-Cultural Learning more

This study investigates an AI-enhanced telecollaboration project in which EFL teachers from Taiwan and South Korea co-designed cross-cultural communication activities with feedback from ESOL teachers in New Zealand. Supported by a professional development program, the participating teachers used AI tools—including ChatGPT for designing AI agents simulating conversational partners and AI-generated lesson plans—to scaffold instruction in politeness and face-wants. These tools were integrated into the GatherTown platform, an immersive and gamified environment, for online interaction among middle school students from Taiwan, South Korea, and New Zealand. A mixed-methods approach was employed for data collection, including surveys, focus group interviews, discourse completion tasks (DCTs), and lesson artifacts. Pre- and post- surveys revealed teachers’ professional growth and the development of EFL learners’ intercultural sensitivity. DCTs examined these learners' pragmatic competence in politeness and face-wants across cultures. This study provides valuable insights into AI-enhanced teacher development and their challenges in integrating AI into intercultural communication instruction. Findings reveal students’ positive learning experiences and the potential of AI-driven telecollaboration to foster authentic cross-cultural interactions. However, challenges such as technological adaptability and instructional complexities emerged. The study offers pedagogical implications for CALL-based intercultural education and future research suggestions for AI-enhanced telecollaboration in EFL contexts.