Studies on reflections and narratives by teachers still need theoretical development. Qualitative studies in applied linguistics have not yet incorporated the conceptual understandings of consciousness and self-reference in particular. This study bases itself on the theories of Luhmann's sociology and of neuroscience, and demonstrates its theoretical validity with empirical data obtained from 14 graduate students majoring in language education. The data confirmed autopoiesis in consciousness and in communication, respectively and that language is the medium that co-evolves with these two. The study also testifies the theoretical importance of self-reference as a theoretical principle in language use in general.