INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR FOSTERING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS OF EFL STUDENTS

Abstract

Critical thinking occupies a significant part in mastering of a foreign language because comes up with a deep study of the language at high-order thinking processes. Developing critical thinking skills requires constant and active practice in a student-centered approach where the teacher takes action as a facilitator and learners in turn freely express their thinking abilities in the form of analysis, fact-finding, evidence, arguments, evaluation and conclusion. In the context of the EFL for the successful development of critical thinking teachers need to provide and organize language practice based on activation of critical thinking skills, interest and motivation of EFL learners. Therefore, teachers need to develop critical thinking strategies where students may think critically in the context of the target foreign language. While there is no single exact strategy for developing critical thinking, there are some practical instructions that may be beneficial in a language classroom. This article focuses on four instructional strategies that promote developing critical thinking skills and may be beneficial in use on English lesson: questioning, debate, active cooperative learning and group discussion.