Document Type : Original Research Paper
Author
Department of educational sciences, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objectives: With the expansion of artificial intelligence in education, interactive tools such as "Replika" have gained attention as an innovative solution for enhancing language skills. These tools, by providing opportunities for interactive conversation and personalizing the learning experience, can help strengthen speaking and listening skills and boost learners' confidence. Furthermore, the role of artificial intelligence in creating a safe, flexible, and non-judgmental environment for language practice is of particular significance, especially for learners who experience anxiety or limitations in traditional language interactions. This study explored the lived experiences of faculty members at Farhangian University regarding their interactive conversations with the artificial intelligence tool, Replika.
Methods: This qualitative study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach to deeply explore the lived experiences of faculty members at Farhangian University in Kurdistan province regarding their interactive English conversations with the artificial intelligence application Replika. Fourteen faculty members who had practiced English conversation with Replika for an average of 30 minutes daily over a five-month period participated in the study. Purposeful sampling with maximum variation was used. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, each lasting 30 to 40 minutes. Data analysis followed Colaizzi’s seven-step method. To enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of the findings, member checking, comprehensive documentation of the research process, and evaluation by two experts in qualitative methodology and language education were used. Moreover, the transferability of the findings was strengthened by including participants from diverse academic disciplines and teaching backgrounds
Findings: Data analysis revealed that the lived experiences of Farhangian University faculty members with interactive conversation using the AI Replica were categorized into five main themes: Learning Simulation and Optimization (personalized learning, processing complex concepts, language skill development, explanatory feedback), Psychological Enrichment (self-regulation, cognitive support, socio-emotional support), Trust (self-disclosure, anthropomorphism), Accessibility and Learning Facilitation (widespread access, educational support, personalized learning, educational equity, facilitation of interactions and educational discussions, multimedia and interactive learning environment), and Considerations and Challenges (privacy and security, over-reliance, language processing challenges, information limitations, disregard for individual and cultural differences, technical problems).
Conclusion: The research findings indicated that interactive conversation with AI Replica can serve as an innovative tool in the learning process and language skill development. This technology, by providing personalized learning and cognitive and emotional support, can help improve learners' self-regulation. However, challenges such as privacy issues, over-reliance, and language processing limitations present barriers to its widespread use. To optimize the use of this technology, it is suggested that strategies such as using diverse scenarios, setting clear learning goals, focusing on feedback and error correction, utilizing challenging activities like puzzles and cognitive challenges, establishing a regular schedule for continuous conversation, and reviewing learning strategies before use could be beneficial. Adherence to these principles by learners can enhance the effectiveness of this technology in language learning and cognitive skill development. Additionally, further research is necessary to investigate the long-term impacts of this technology on the learning process and educational interactions.
Keywords
- Phenomenology
- Lived experiences
- Interactive conversation
- Replica
- Artificial Intelligence
- Farhangian University
Main Subjects
COPYRIGHTS
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
', './data/jte/coversheet/cover_en.jpg'))
Send comment about this article