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.

scholarly journals Enabling Criticality: A Top-down Bottom-up Approach to Using TED Talks in EAP Listening Classes

2021 ◽  
pp. 293-324
Author(s):  
Adam Gyenes ◽  
◽  
Luis F. Santos ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Current Theory ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Solid Foundation ◽  
Ted Talks

The use of TED talks in EAP has gained popularity in recent years and they are promoted through coursebooks as a means of simultaneously developing listening and critical thinking skills. However, a traditional comprehension approach to teaching listening; one that focuses on testing lower-order thinking skills through discrete questions may be inadequate as a gateway into a critical consideration of broader issues for second language learners. With the practical purpose of developing a teaching approach to using TED talks informed by current theory, the chapter begins with a consideration of how critical thinking processes and top-down and bottom-up listening processes can be integrated into a singular model. Based on this framework, a genre analysis of the TED talk is made by taking a learner’s perspective in order to identify cognitive and affective barriers to listening that may restrict opportunities for critical thinking. In the discussion that follows, five activities are suggested for use with TED talks in listening classes that support top-down and bottom-up listening processes, and which set students up to analyse and evaluate the thesis and underlying structure of a TED talk, providing a solid foundation from which to approach discussion topics critically and reflectively.

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 An Analysis of Critical Thinking from the Philosophical, Reflective, Cognitive and Cultural Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Chunxia Lu ◽  
Rosukhon Swatevacharkul
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Chinese College Students ◽  
Cultural Perspectives ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Language Context ◽  
Made In

In English as a foreign language context, to cultivate language learners’ critical thinking skills has become a part of the education goal. In China, great efforts have been made in order to increase Chinese college students’ critical thinking skills, but their critical thinking skills are not satisfying. As to the reasons, lack of sufficient and comprehensive understanding of critical thinking skills is supposed to be one of the reasons. Thus, this paper proposed to analyze critical thinking skills from the philosophical, reflective, cognitive, cultural perspectives hopefully to enhance understanding of critical thinking skills in Chinese EFL context.

scholarly journals The Effect of Group Reading Strategy on Critical Thinking Skills in Thai EFL University Learners

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-40
Author(s):  
Pasara Namsaeng ◽  
Apisak Sukying
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Active Learning ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Time Allocation ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Reading Strategy ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Group Reading

Group Reading Strategy (GRS), a collaborative reading activity, offers individual contributions to a shared goal using an active learning approach. This mixed-methods research examined the effect of GRS on the critical thinking skills of Thai EFL university learners and explored learners’ perceptions of the GRS process. The critical thinking self-assessment questionnaire, a logbook, and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The analysis of the quantitative findings revealed that GRS fostered critical thinking skills in Thai EFL university learners. The results also showed that some intrinsic characteristics of critical thinking skills were cultivated before others. Overall, the current study demonstrated an increase in critical thinking skills through the GRS learning process. The qualitative findings revealed that participants held positive opinions regarding the GRS approach to facilitate active learning environments. Specifically, Thai EFL university participants viewed GRS as peer-assisted learning and a collaborative learning approach, which could, in turn, lessen adverse learning factors. However, some factors, including culture, time-allocation for the GRS process, and types of assessment, also influenced the learning process of GRS activities. Overall, this study indicates that GRS could have an impact on Thai EFL university learners’ critical thinking skills, at least to some extent. However, longitudinal studies are still required in future investigations.

scholarly journals The role of teachers’ metacognitive awareness on language learners’ knowledge of grammar and critical thinking skills

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (32) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Hasan Haghani Zadeh ◽  
Parviz Behrouzi
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Metacognitive Awareness ◽  
Critical Thinking Ability ◽  
Thinking Ability ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Grammar Tests

The present study was an attempt to discover the probable effects of EFL teachers’ Metacognitive Awareness (MA) on Iranian EFL learners’ knowledge of grammar and critical thinking ability. The study aimed to see whether or not teachers’ MA can improve language learner’ knowledge of grammar and critical thinking skill. To this end, 100 EFL teachers were selected and completed Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI). Then, 10 teachers with lowest degree of MA and 10 with highest degree of MA were selected to teach 207 intermediate language learners. The learners selected took a grammar tests and a critical thinking ability questionnaire test before and after the treatment. Collecting and analyzing the data, it was revealed that teachers’ MA affected language learners’ knowledge of grammar, while it did not influence the participants’ critical thinking skills. The findings of the present study might be useful for language teachers and teacher trainers.

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.

Problem-Based Learning for Critical Thinking Skills in Mathematics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Rohmatul Aini ◽  
Syafrimen Syafril ◽  
Netriwati Netriwati ◽  
Agus Pahrudin ◽  
Titik Rahayu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Single Side ◽  
Active Debate ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Case Design

This study aims to find out how to develop student’s critical thinking skills through problem-based learning. Single-case single-side case design was selected as the method of this study and a lecture was involved to carry out the classroom instruction. The data were collected through observations, interviews, and document analyses. The findings suggest that the development of mathematical critical thinking skills using problem-based learning was performed in two stages: (i) controversial issues and (ii) active debate. Our study confirms that problem-based learning is an effective alternative to develop university student’s critical thinking skills in mathematics.

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