Beyond the Self in AI-Enhanced EFL Classrooms: Cultivating Self-Transcendent Emotions, Well-Being, and Speaking Fluency through Intelligent Simulations

Beyond the Self in AI-Enhanced EFL Classrooms: Cultivating Self-Transcendent Emotions, Well-Being, and Speaking Fluency through Intelligent Simulations | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Beyond the Self in AI-Enhanced EFL Classrooms: Cultivating Self-Transcendent Emotions, Well-Being, and Speaking Fluency through Intelligent Simulations Hossein Isaee, Hamed Barjesteh This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8514715/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study explored the potential of AI-driven simulated learning environments to evoke self-transcendent emotions and to enhance both language performance and psychological well-being among Iranian university EFL learners. Anchored in Positive Psychology and Self-Transcendence Theory, the research examined how emotionally intelligent AI-mediated dialogues can cultivate experiences of awe, empathy, and interpersonal connectedness—emotional states that orient learners beyond self-focused concerns toward meaning-centered engagement in language use. Employing a six-week mixed-methods design, the study involved sixty undergraduate students who were assigned either to an AI-based simulation group or to a traditional communicative instruction group. Quantitative findings demonstrated that learners in the experimental condition achieved significantly higher gains in speaking fluency, self-transcendence as measured by the AWE-S, and overall well-being assessed through the PERMA Profiler. Complementary qualitative analyses of reflective journals and semi-structured interviews revealed recurring experiential themes, including expanded perspectives, heightened awareness of shared humanity, and renewed motivation to communicate authentically in English. The findings indicate that self-transcendent emotions—conceptually distinct from related constructs such as flow or mindfulness—can be purposefully elicited through affect-sensitive AI design, thereby connecting cognitive, emotional, and existential dimensions of language learning. Contributing to Second-Wave Positive Psychology, this study demonstrates how digitally mediated environments can foster learner flourishing through dialectical engagement with emotion and meaning. From a pedagogical standpoint, the findings position AI as a collaborative partner in humanistic language education and propose design-oriented implications for ethically informed, emotionally intelligent technologies that support both communicative competence and holistic well-being. AI-Mediated Learning English Language Education Positive Psychology Self-Transcendence Well-Being Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 06 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 05 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 26 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 09 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 06 Jan, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 05 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 04 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8514715","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":588379612,"identity":"165d238f-4889-467a-a662-ead6dd116460","order_by":0,"name":"Hossein Isaee","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA0ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACAxjJBmZUSAAJxgZStJwhWgsMMLYR4TBz9vbHHz4U3GHg4z/88MHHeRbyBgeY2z7g02LZc8ZMcobBMwY2iTRjw5nbJAw3HGBsnoHXYTdy2Jh5DA4DtTCYSfNuk2AEacHvlxvpjz//AWnhP/799985EvZEaEkwkGYAaWHIMWNmbJBIJKzlDNAvPQaHedgkcoole45JJM88TEjLcWCI/fhzWE6+//jGDz9q6mz7gCJ4tcAAD4LJTJSGUTAKRsEoGAX4AACfC0bWmpfQQQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"The Department of English Language and Literature, Am.C., Islamic Azad University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hossein","middleName":"","lastName":"Isaee","suffix":""},{"id":588379613,"identity":"2c76898a-7edf-4aea-ae41-4d8c78f10382","order_by":1,"name":"Hamed Barjesteh","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The Department of English Language and Literature, Am.C., Islamic Azad University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hamed","middleName":"","lastName":"Barjesteh","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-04 17:23:27","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8514715/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8514715/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":102745773,"identity":"3a32ab3a-ccd0-4f8d-9c88-f9a7406fdd30","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-16 08:53:52","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":732572,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ManuscriptSelftranscendence.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8514715/v1_covered_38f3dffe-2a43-4c5b-a7a3-06312abdf4fb.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Beyond the Self in AI-Enhanced EFL Classrooms: Cultivating Self-Transcendent Emotions, Well-Being, and Speaking Fluency through Intelligent Simulations","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"human-arenas","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"huar","sideBox":"Learn more about [Human Arenas](http://link.springer.com/journal/42087)","snPcode":"42087","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/42087/3","title":"Human Arenas","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"AI-Mediated Learning, English Language Education, Positive Psychology, Self-Transcendence, Well-Being","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8514715/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8514715/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study explored the potential of AI-driven simulated learning environments to evoke self-transcendent emotions and to enhance both language performance and psychological well-being among Iranian university EFL learners. 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