Research Article

“Hey, ChatGPT! Prepare Me a Lesson Plan …”: How EFL Teacher Candidates Enact AI-Generated Lesson Plans

Volume: 11 Number: 3 July 13, 2026

“Hey, ChatGPT! Prepare Me a Lesson Plan …”: How EFL Teacher Candidates Enact AI-Generated Lesson Plans

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT are increasingly used in education for tasks like lesson planning, yet there is still limited understanding of how pre-service teachers work with and adapt AI-generated materials in real classroom settings. This study explores how English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher candidates in Türkiye mediated and reshaped ChatGPT-generated lesson plans during their teaching practicum. It draws on reflective writings from 30 final-year candidates and examines their experiences from the early planning stages through classroom implementation and later reflection. The findings show that AI supported the candidates by saving time and offering ideas, but its shortcomings, particularly when the content did not fit their specific teaching context, pushed them to think critically, make decisions, and assert their professional judgment. The considerable adjustments they made highlight the essential role of the teacher as an active mediator. The study proposes a practice-based model of teacher mediation and suggests that teacher education should focus on developing critical AI literacy and adaptive expertise rather than simply teaching technical skills.

Keywords

critical AI pedagogy, ChatGPT, lesson planning, initial teacher education, AI in education

Supporting Institution

None

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from Nevsehir Hac Bektas Veli University Research Ethics Committee, (Date: 30.05.2024, Ethical Clearance No: 2024.06.130).

Thanks

We thank the participants, the editors, and the anonymous reviewers.

References

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APA
Tekin, S., & Atar, C. (2026). “Hey, ChatGPT! Prepare Me a Lesson Plan …”: How EFL Teacher Candidates Enact AI-Generated Lesson Plans. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age, 11(3), 220-236. https://doi.org/10.53850/joltida.1827535
AMA
1.Tekin S, Atar C. “Hey, ChatGPT! Prepare Me a Lesson Plan …”: How EFL Teacher Candidates Enact AI-Generated Lesson Plans. JOLTIDA. 2026;11(3):220-236. doi:10.53850/joltida.1827535
Chicago
Tekin, Serdar, and Cihat Atar. 2026. “‘Hey, ChatGPT! Prepare Me a Lesson Plan …’: How EFL Teacher Candidates Enact AI-Generated Lesson Plans”. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age 11 (3): 220-36. https://doi.org/10.53850/joltida.1827535.
EndNote
Tekin S, Atar C (July 1, 2026) “Hey, ChatGPT! Prepare Me a Lesson Plan …”: How EFL Teacher Candidates Enact AI-Generated Lesson Plans. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age 11 3 220–236.
IEEE
[1]S. Tekin and C. Atar, “‘Hey, ChatGPT! Prepare Me a Lesson Plan …’: How EFL Teacher Candidates Enact AI-Generated Lesson Plans”, JOLTIDA, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 220–236, July 2026, doi: 10.53850/joltida.1827535.
ISNAD
Tekin, Serdar - Atar, Cihat. “‘Hey, ChatGPT! Prepare Me a Lesson Plan …’: How EFL Teacher Candidates Enact AI-Generated Lesson Plans”. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age 11/3 (July 1, 2026): 220-236. https://doi.org/10.53850/joltida.1827535.
JAMA
1.Tekin S, Atar C. “Hey, ChatGPT! Prepare Me a Lesson Plan …”: How EFL Teacher Candidates Enact AI-Generated Lesson Plans. JOLTIDA. 2026;11:220–236.
MLA
Tekin, Serdar, and Cihat Atar. “‘Hey, ChatGPT! Prepare Me a Lesson Plan …’: How EFL Teacher Candidates Enact AI-Generated Lesson Plans”. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age, vol. 11, no. 3, July 2026, pp. 220-36, doi:10.53850/joltida.1827535.
Vancouver
1.Serdar Tekin, Cihat Atar. “Hey, ChatGPT! Prepare Me a Lesson Plan …”: How EFL Teacher Candidates Enact AI-Generated Lesson Plans. JOLTIDA. 2026 Jul. 1;11(3):220-36. doi:10.53850/joltida.1827535