scholarly journals Does explicit teaching of critical thinking improve critical thinking skills of English language learners in higher education? A critical review of causal evidence

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 140-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada El Soufi ◽  
Beng Huat See
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
English Language Learners ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
English Language ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Explicit Teaching

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Visual Mind Mapping Strategy for Improving English Language Learners' Critical Thinking Skills and Reading Ability

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-150
Author(s):  
Wafa’ A. ◽  
Moath Khalaf
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
English Language ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Mind Mapping ◽  
Mapping Strategy ◽  
And Control

<p style="text-align: justify;">This study investigated the effectiveness of visual mind mapping as a reading strategy for improving English language learners' critical thinking skills. Students from two general English courses were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. California Critical Thinking Test was used to assess participants' critical thinking skills. The findings revealed a statistically significant difference at (p < .005) in the mean scores of the experiment and control groups in the post-test due to visual mind mapping strategy in favor of the experimental group with a positive and significant impact on participants' critical thinking skills. The findings also showed that the experimental group’s scores were significantly improved in all indicators of critical thinking. The study results showed that visual mind mapping strategy affected the increased of critical thinking skills and reading comprehension ability. The study's findings revealed that using a visual mind mapping strategy had a significant improvement impact on English language learners critical thinking skills and reading ability.</p>

Fostering Critical Thinking Using Instructional Strategies in English Classes

2019 ◽  
pp. 299-316
Author(s):  
Şenol Orakcı ◽  
Mehmet Durnali ◽  
Osman Aktan
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Critical Literacy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
English Classes

The aim of the chapter is to provide both theoretical and practical ideas about critical thinking development within English language teaching contexts. Encouraging language learners to be critical thinkers is important in teaching English as a foreign language. However, achieving the goal remains a challenge. Using various strategies together seem to be effective when properly implemented. Therefore this chapter outlines these strategies which include communicative language tasks, using authentic meaningful texts, using critical literacy, being aware of whole-brain learning, adopting a reflective teaching, enabling students to become autonomous, using explicit instruction, teacher questioning, using active and cooperative learning strategies, using literature in English classes, using creative drama, and adopting self-assessment. Teachers can enable learners to have critical thinking skills and more efficient English lessons by combining these strategies in a new way or by designing critical thinking activities in the classroom.

scholarly journals EXPLORING TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF 21ST CENTURY SKILLS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSROOMS IN OMAN’S HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
Victoria Tuzlukova ◽  
Saleh Al Busaidi ◽  
Samantha Burns ◽  
Galina Bugon
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
21St Century ◽  
English Language ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Professional Career ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
English Language Classrooms

This paper addresses the need to ensure that higher education is suitably adapted to equip students with effective skills, which are regarded key requirements for a successful professional career in the 21st century, and draws attention to the importance of these skills. In more detail, it reports on the result of a study conducted across higher education providers in the Sultanate of Oman that focused on teachers’ critical thinking skills’ conceptual knowledge and understanding; their views and perception of critical thinking in relation to the English language classroom; and the teaching and professional development of critical thinking. Findings reveal that teachers perceive the importance of employing critical thinking skills in their teaching, yet they lack support in their implementation. Both at an institutional level and in terms of professional development, there is scope for improving how critical thinking is incorporated in English language classrooms, instructional approaches and teaching materials.

Fostering Critical Thinking Using Instructional Strategies in English Classes

2021 ◽  
pp. 79-96
Author(s):  
Şenol Orakcı ◽  
Mehmet Durnali ◽  
Osman Aktan
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Critical Literacy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
English Classes

The aim of the chapter is to provide both theoretical and practical ideas about critical thinking development within English language teaching contexts. Encouraging language learners to be critical thinkers is important in teaching English as a foreign language. However, achieving the goal remains a challenge. Using various strategies together seem to be effective when properly implemented. Therefore this chapter outlines these strategies which include communicative language tasks, using authentic meaningful texts, using critical literacy, being aware of whole-brain learning, adopting a reflective teaching, enabling students to become autonomous, using explicit instruction, teacher questioning, using active and cooperative learning strategies, using literature in English classes, using creative drama, and adopting self-assessment. Teachers can enable learners to have critical thinking skills and more efficient English lessons by combining these strategies in a new way or by designing critical thinking activities in the classroom.

scholarly journals Incorporating Authentic Materials and Digital Taxonomy in Teaching English: Pragmatic Innovation Through Integrative CALL

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 292
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al Shlowiy ◽  
Marvin Wacnag Lidawan
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Authentic Materials ◽  
Assisted Instruction ◽  
Single Material

This article centers on the development of multimedia and technology that proliferates around 21st century English language learners creating a media&mdash;rich environment, but accessibility of these may not be similar on how other learners may benefit. This imparts how learners benefit indiscriminately through integrative Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) with pragmatic tasks from authentic materials incorporating digital taxonomy. As adapted methods, a rigid review of related studies and practical examples to underpin three conceptualized techniques. These were subjected for exemplification in the discussion: (a) producing varied independent outputs through different materials, (b) creating a single independent output through intertwined task from a single material, and (c) producing varied independent outputs from varied tasks through a single material. It is recommended that researches alluding to this paper must be conducted quantitatively to find out the correlation or significance of students&rsquo; critical thinking achievement with the engagement of digital taxonomy such as what Cotton (1991) emphasized that Computer Assisted Instruction aids the development of students&rsquo; critical thinking in which learners&rsquo; Higher Order Thinking skills (HOTs) activities are generated from varied computer manipulation. She further supported her study and claims through experimental researches conducted by Bass and Perkins (1984); Riding and Powell (1987); Pogrow (1988) and Baum (1990) that tend to be dominant manifestations prior to the formal discovery of digital taxonomy, its importance has been pioneered by several scholars.

scholarly journals The Impact of Dialogic Teaching on English Language Learners’ Speaking and Thinking Skills

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Ishraga Bashir Mohammed Elhassan ◽  
Mohammed Idris Adam
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Significant Issue ◽  
Dialogic Teaching ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Speaking Skills

This paper aims to investigate the influence of dialogic teaching on the development of the learners' speaking skills and critical thinking. It is questioning why Sudanese tertiary students are unable to express themselves efficiently and comfortably. This seems crucial and imperative for a college student and it shouldn’t shape any obstacle as a prerequisite for future development. Accordingly, this paper poses a significant issue that every learner of English needs to ponder. To collect data for the study, three tools has been used; a questionnaire, an interview and an observational checklist. The questionnaire was distributed throughout the students of second, third and fourth year university students who had been selected from different Sudanese universities. The collected data is analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Data analysis has shown that dialogic teaching enables students to develop the skills of argumentation, questioning and debate which contribute to the development of their critical thinking and speaking skills. Generally, the findings indicate that authentic dialogic teaching components are effective if students are given enough time to practice its skills. Hence recommendations for exposing learners to a variety of medium of speaking like dialogues, debate, argumentation and questioning are made to facilitate teachers to be more well-informed with dialogic teaching approach.

Promoting students’ critical thinking through reading strategy instruction in a reading class

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-151
Author(s):  
K.R. Vinitha Rani
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Strategy Instruction ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Reading Strategy ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Reading Strategy Instruction ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Bilingual School

This study examined the application of Reading Strategy Instruction (RSI) in a reading class to promote the critical thinking skills of the second language learners. It aims to find out (1) the critical thinking elements in the questions formulated by the participants before the application of RSI, and (2) the critical thinking elements found in the (a) three selected questions, (b) answers, and (c) reflections written by the participants after the application of RSI. This study included sixteen grade 11 participants of a bilingual school in Jakarta, aged between 16 to 18 years old. The participants underwent two stages (1) before the application of RSI, and (2) after the application of RSI. The RSI applied in this study was a modification of Rothstein & Santana’s (2014) “Question Formulation Technique” and Alder’s (2001) comprehension strategies in answering questions. The collected data were analysed by using the modified critical thinking indicators proposed by Mason (1991) and Henri (1992). The results of the study revealed that applying RSI in the reading class was beneficial in promoting the participants’ critical thinking skills. RSI helped the participants to (i) think differently, (ii) use prior background knowledge, (iii) question the facts given in the text, (iv) identify the issues given in the text, (v) give valid solutions to the problem, (vi) connect themselves with the text and the world, and (vii) justify their arguments using valid examples.

A Compass During the Storm: Offering Students Critical Rigor for Polarizing Times

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Wender ◽  
Valerie J. D’Erman
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Learning Objective ◽  
First Year

ABSTRACT Teaching and learning in higher education is occurring, unavoidably, within the broader civic context of today’s extraordinarily polarizing political times. We seek to help students situate themselves with respect to and, above all, thoughtfully assess others’ as well as their own perspectives on issues of profound contention, without contributing to exacerbated polarization ourselves. Specifically, we offer students in our first-year exploratory political science course a vital tool—critical rigor—for navigating but not being inundated by the storm. This article discusses our experiences in teaching the course titled, “The Worlds of Politics,” as we attempt to help students deeply engage in cognitive processes of critical thinking and analysis, without undue infringement from their own—and least of all our own—personal political biases. Our focal learning objective is the cultivation of critical-thinking skills that promote students’ drawing of distinctions between advocacy and analysis, as well as their discerning civic engagement.

Fostering Critical Thinking Skills in European and Asian Higher Education Institutions

2021 ◽  
pp. 138-150
Author(s):  
Svetlana Antonova ◽  
Tatyana Pletyago ◽  
Anna Ostapenko
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Classroom Environment ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
University Education ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Professional Activities

There is a demand for transformation in higher education. Undergraduates need to be taught critical thinking, an essential skill that should be central to the mission of all educational institutions. Critical thinking is a key focus of academic interest among researchers in the field of pedagogy and methodology. Despite this, there is still a lack of sufficient information on approaches, methods, techniques, and means of incorporating critical thinking skills in the classroom environment at the tertiary education level. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the hands-on experiences of some European and Asian universities in promoting critical thinking education using a range of academic models. The review shows that critical thinking has already been integrated into many major tertiary education programmes in both European and Asian universities. Further, majority of the academic models implemented are transferable and flexible. The results confirm that in terms of content, methods, and technologies, university education is focusing on cultivating the higher order skills necessary for innovative professional activities in modern world.

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