Instructional Strategies for Developing Critical Thinking in EFL Classrooms

Abstract

In English as first language contexts, clear requirement for critical thinking (CT) has been listed in teaching guidelines and assessment criteria in higher education. At present, fostering language learners to be critical thinkers is valued in English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching as well; yet how to achieve the objective remains a challenge. Efforts have been made to seek appropriate ways to develop CT in various courses; although no single method has emerged as the best, some do seem to be effective when properly implemented. This paper focuses on three sets of research-supported teaching strategies which are useful in promoting CT and applicable to EFL classrooms; that is, explicit instruction, teacher questioning, as well as active and cooperative learning strategies. Meanwhile, common features of effective CT instruction are discussed, which aims to illuminate instructional strategies for CT at a macro level.

Supporting Activities for Critical Thinking Skills Development Based on Students' Perspective

“…Lecturer selects learning scenarios by providing a set of questions and/or commands that facilitate students to carry out activities that support aspects of their critical thinking skills. Learning strategies that can be chosen are as follows: using paired discussion methods, cooperative active learning, as well as giving questions and/or commands such as (1) asking for further explanation or other opinions from an explanation/opinion of a student, (2) asking students to give reasons, evidence, implication or ultimate goal, (3) asking students to provide various alternative solutions of problems, and (4) if the explanation/opinion/answer is not correct, students are asked to evaluate or trace errors or forgotten things [19], [20]. The next strategy is to compile an assessment instrument that supports the emergence of aspects of critical thinking skills with incomplete (ill-structure) problems or asked to develop problems that arise in addition to those owned.…”

Techniques and Strategies of Critical Thinking Development in the Process of ESL Teaching

“…Alternatively, have them work in pairs or groups and try to find the answers together. That is not just an opportunity to foster collaboration, but you may be surprised at how creative your students get [10].…”

“…Some of the proposed strategies include role play/simulation, group research projects, a method which involves investigation or surveys about a certain topic and the reporting of the findings in various ways (presentations, newspapers, plays, skits, debates) [2]. Group discussion, debate, and peer-questioning are recommended as three basic effective strategies that can be applied in EFL classrooms [10].…”

“…Debate, a formal discussion method, is another ideal teaching tool for developing CT. As a form of active learning, debate induces students to research a topic profoundly, ask questions, identify contradictions and errors, and formulate evidence-based arguments [10].…”

“…To construct a classroom culture for CT, teachers themselves can act as role-models or create conditions in which different perspectives are expressed and confronted with each other. Teachers' feedback and their attitude toward the critical features of students' work impact students' development in CT attitudes and CT skills [10].…”