“I Need to Be Prepared”: EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Teachers in Korea and GenAI’s Influence on Their Professional Identities

• In Event: Language Teachers' Identities and Experiences

Abstract

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) platforms are revolutionizing how existing procedures are done faster in education. The capabilities of these models also influence how teachers reevaluate pedagogical practices and themselves. This qualitative case study examines how five EFL educators in South Korea utilize GenAI in their profession. Analyzing interviews through Norton’s (2000) concept of identity and Roger’s (2003) diffusion of innovation theory, this research explores how teachers in Korea engage with emerging technology, its influences their practices, and how they define their jobs in the technological revolution. The significance of this research is from the awareness of how these platforms are impacting English language educators and the ethical considerations that need to be addressed in future professional development programs.

Author

• Josh Hayes, University of Kansas