scholarly journals Post-critique in contemporary ELT praxis

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-280
Author(s):  
William Mineo Tagata
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Critical Literacy ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Literacy Research ◽  
Made In

Abstract This article investigates the importance of critical thinking in English language teaching. It begins with an examination of the notion of praxis and its relevance for current critical literacy research and teacher education programmes. One such programme was a distance-learning course offered to English teachers from Brazilian public schools from November 2016 to November 2017. An analysis of excerpts from posts on Moodle forums and online chats from this course was made in order to ascertain whether participants acknowledge the importance of critical literacy and are able to identify any hindrances to its implementation in the classroom. This article concludes by advocating a post-critical (HOY, 2005) approach to the development of English teachers’ critical praxis, based on the concepts of self-reflexivity and ethics.

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 Evaluation of Learning Outcomes: A Case Study of Secondary Level Compulsory English Textbooks of the Punjab Board, Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amna Fayyaz ◽  
Haseeb Ul Hasaan ◽  
Kausar Parveen
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
English Language ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
English Textbooks

This study examines the learning outcomes of selected English textbooks at the cognitive level. The aim of the present study is to explore the levels of criticality in the learning outcomes of compulsory English textbooks (Grade 6-10) published by the Punjab Board, based on which their activities and exercises are designed. Learning outcomes of compulsory English textbooks (Grade 6-10) were analyzed following the Critical Thinking Evaluation Model (CTEM). Post-use evaluation of the learning outcome of compulsory English textbooks (Grade 6-10) has not been carried out yet. To fill this gap, selected English textbooks were evaluated in terms of their critical thinking skills based learning outcomes. The evaluated textbooks were selected through stratified sampling. A mixed-method approach including both qualitative and quantitative data analysis was used to make findings more reliable and valid. Exploratory research design was adopted to explore the levels of criticality in compulsory English textbooks (Grade 6-10). The totality of results showed that the ‘implementation’ level of CTEM was the most frequent among the learning outcomes. The second most frequent level of criticality was ‘background knowledge’ and the third most frequent was ‘apprehension’. ‘Anatomization’ and ‘creativity’ levels of criticality appeared less frequently among the learning outcomes of compulsory English textbooks, while the ‘conceptualization’ level of CTEM was the least frequent. It was found that the learning outcomes of compulsory English textbooks (Grade 6-10) were not designed to enhance critical evaluation and self-directed learning. The results are beneficial for textbook designers, textbook evaluators, examiners, paper setters, teachers, students, and teacher trainers. This study contributes to the development of the English language teaching system in public schools.

A Case on Teaching Critical Thinking and Argument Mapping in a Teacher Education Context

2014 ◽  
pp. 119-139
Author(s):  
Yasemin Oral
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
State University ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Argument Mapping ◽  
Turkish State ◽  
Pre Service Teacher

This chapter is based on the classroom work of a course on critical thinking designed as part of a pre-service teacher education program in English language teaching at a large-size Turkish state university. With its dual focus on both modernist and postmodern approaches to critical thinking, the course offers scope for classwork that concentrates on the skills to identify the parts and structure of arguments. To this end, argument mapping has been utilized to enhance understanding of the components of arguments and to facilitate the analysis of arguments. This chapter seeks to illustrate the materials and activities used when argument maps have been constructed during the class sessions. Furthermore, drawing from the data gathered from students' journal entries, I argue for a high interplay of the perceived efficacy of argument mapping with the content, length, and complexity of arguments as well as the anxiety evoked by these factors.

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 Pelatihan Penulisan Comprehension Questions Berbasis High-Order Thinking Skills Bagi Guru Bahasa Inggris SMA/SMK/MA Swasta di Kabupaten Lombok Timur

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-73
Author(s):  
Lalu Thohir ◽  
Amrullah Amrullah ◽  
Udin Udin ◽  
Lalu Jaswadi Putera
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Service Program ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Social Service Program

Critical thinking is a skill which teachers and students need to have in order to be able to solve their problems appropriately. The teachers should incorporate critical thinking in the teaching and learning activities and one of them is through questioning in the form comprehension questions. This social service program was intended to provide teachers with room for improving their capability in generating comprehension questions which are critical-thinking based. This program was held in SMA Islam Al-Badriyah East Lombok and it was attended by 18 English teachers of Private Senior High Schools located in East Lombok district. The activities within this program included presentation, discussion, working in group, presenting group work task and evaluation. From this social service program, it was found that the English teachers participated in all activities enthusiastically, especially, in the discussion and in generating comprehension questions. The questions generated by the participants were not only in the level of lower-order thinking but also in the level of higher-order thinking. Further, the questionnaire result showed that in general the participants appreciated this program and hoped the similar program to come in the future to improve their competency or professionalism in English language teaching.

Another look at the Acceptability of Philippine English through the Lens of Basic Education Teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-115
Author(s):  
Jenifer Mangalus
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Academic Context ◽  
English Classes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test

While there have been studies and awareness seminars conducted in the promotion of Philippine English (PE), still PE has not fully-penetrated in most public schools. Hence, the study sought to identify the acceptability of PE among English teachers from a secondary high school in Pampanga. PE’s levels of acceptability were determined using Torres and Alieto’s (2019) Grammatical and Lexical Acceptability Questionnaire. Pre -test result revealed that teachers have low acceptability level of the PE grammatical and lexical items   and that they are not aware of the PE. A webinar was conducted to introduce the PE among teachers and the post-test showed a significant difference to their acceptability level. Furthermore, teachers’ answers to the follow up questions imply that they are willing to introduce PE in the classroom, which they believe will help the students to be more conversant and become more confident in speaking the English language. It is concluded that teachers are open to incorporating the PE in their classes to further improve their students’ confidence in learning the language. The following recommendations were given: (1) Teachers should be provided with more seminars that will update them with the current status of Philippine English; (2) Teachers should be encouraged to consider the Philippine English in motivating students to be confident speakers in the English classes; and (3) School administrators and English teachers should promote the acceptance of Philippine English in the academic context.

scholarly journals The peace tree in ELT: A problematizing exploration

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-57
Author(s):  
Yeraldine Aldana Gutiérrez
Keyword(s):  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Knowledge Construction ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Situated Knowledge ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Alternative Reading

The English language teaching (ELT) field has undergone transformations regarding its views on knowledge and language. Although instrumental perspectives situate English teachers in a passive, receptive and technical position, their research and pedagogical work displays an interest in extracurricular phenomena about Peace Construction (PC) in ELT. This qualitative exploratory study aimed at unveiling possible connections between PC and ELT in Colombia. Documental revision and semi-structured interviews were applied with 4 English teachers. Findings discuss an organic metaphor as facilitating “teachers’ situated knowledge construction” (Serna, 2018, p. 585). Thus, a critical reflection is developed on how ELT and PC may articulate one another towards an alternative reading on their possible relationality or the reduction of the canonical distance imagined between these two fields, in order to acknowledge their interconnection. Conclusions around the multifaceted transdisciplinary ELT field are presented.

scholarly journals ELT Student Teacher Identity Construction: Exploring Teacher Roles and Domains of Expertise

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Nafiye Cigdem Aktekin ◽  
Hatice Celebi
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Identity Construction ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Teacher Identity ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Teacher Roles

In this study, we direct our focus to identity construction in an English language teaching (ELT) teacher education program. We explore the teacher roles in which student teachers are struggling to position themselves comfortably and the teacher expertise domains (subject matter, didactics, and pedagogy) that they are dedicating themselves to improving. To address our research focus, we have collected reflections and survey responses from 18 student teachers in an ELT education department. Our findings indicate that ELT student teachers find it difficult to position themselves as experts in and about the English language and that they feel a need to be equipped with expertise first and foremost in the subject matter, and then in didactics, followed by pedagogy. These results imply that in ELT teacher education, certain language ideologies are still prevalent and need to be dealt with by teacher educators for transformative outcomes in education.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document