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Giving Students a VoiceCritical Thinking in English Classes

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Critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to

reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way. People who think

critically consistently attempt to live rationally, reasonably, empathically. They

realize that no matter how skilled they are as thinkers, they can always

improve their reasoning abilities and they will always at times fall prey to

mistakes in reasoning, human irrationality, prejudices, biases,

distortions, uncritically accepted social rules and taboos, self-interest,

and vested interest. They strive to improve the world in whatever ways they

can and contribute to a more rational, civilized society. At the same time, they

recognize the complexities often inherent in doing so. They strive never to

think simplistically about complicated issues and always consider the rights

and needs of relevant others.

~ Linda Elder, September 2007http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/our-conception-of-critical-thinking/411 (accessed 4/3/18)

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Critical thinking is one of the most sought after qualities that employers

look for in job candidates in almost any industry. Critical thinking refers

to the ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned

judgment.

Critical thinking involves the evaluation of sources such as data, facts,

observable phenomenon, and research findings. Good critical thinkers

can draw reasonable conclusions from a set of information and

discriminate between useful and less useful details for solving a

problem or making a decision. This is important for almost any job in

any industry. Employers want job candidates who can evaluate a

situation using logical thought and come up with the best solution.

Someone with critical thinking skills can be trusted to make decisions

on his or her own, and will not need constant handholding.https://www.thebalance.com/critical-thinking-definition-with-examples-2063745 (accessed 4/3/18)

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Five Critical Thinking skillsAnalysis

Communication

Creativity

Open-mindedness

Problem-solving skills

Put the five CT skills in order of importance.

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Some more critical thinking questions• Should we teach these skills at all in an English class? Why /

why not?• If so, which is the most important skill?• What’s the best way to teach skills in general? What about

thinking skills?• Why might an ELT book have a critical thinking box?• How might a box help? What might be bad about it? Is there a

better way?• How far are your practices as a teacher reinforcing or

contradicting critical thinking? What are your prejudices or vested interests as a teacher?

• Why am I giving this talk? What are my vested interests?

.

© Lynn Johnson/ National Geographic Creative in Outcomes Upper-Intermediate

p140

Critical Thinking

and Vested

interestsNoticing what’s not

there, asking why,

getting alternative

perspectives

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Vested interests are complexPublisher rep

Writer

Trainer / Methodologist

Teacher

Language student

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Interests and prejudices of (some) teachers• Prepare as little as possible

• Be the boss

• Avoid embarrassment

• Keep control

• Deliver exam results

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These interests may counter CT!• “It teaches itself!”

• One answer

• Avoid challenge

• Avoid divergence from the text (language students may not

know)

• Can it be tested? What’s in the test? Give the students the

answers.

Technology often has the same tendency but better!

It may be more in our interest to encourage divergence in the class!

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Divergence and critical thinking: giving students a voice.

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What’s good about the box?Writer/Publisher – can speak directly to teacher and student

Teacher – signals what the point is, what is intended to be taught

Student – if they are struggling, then maybe this helps

WHY have a box?Publisher – marketing, USP

Writer – present something new, USP

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The potential to turn it into grammar!• Learning about rather than doing

• One in every unit!

• Only about one thing (no interaction with other skills).

• No repetitions (unless it’s more complex)

• Done the boxed section, done the teaching and learning

What’s bad about a critical thinking box?

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Ticked boxes?Evaluating ideas

Interpreting data

Supporting arguments

Understanding and evaluating ideas

Asking critical questions

Assessing information

Fact and opinion

Understanding other perspectives

Detecting bias

Thinking through consequencesfrom Perspectives Upper Intermediate

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Different Perspectives on boxes

Writers perspective

What do I put in the box?

Shortage of space – 20-50 words?

Would more help or hinder (talking about not doing)

Writer-Teacher

What do I do with the box?

Student

Do I need to be told this? I know it already!

Methodologist – teacher

Skills – and language! - come from practising the same thing over time –

in different contexts.

The Box / the Explanation

is the smallest part of teaching and learning.

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What is the most important critical

thinking skill in a English class?

Communication and language!

NOTE: This is my opinion rather than a fact!!

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Critical thinking outside the box

Language for critical thinking

Critical thinking about language

Critical thinking tasks to generate (unknown) language.

Repeated encounters and interacting with other skills.

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Language for critical thinking

What language might you teach to:

• challenge stereotypes?

• evaluate research and arguments?

• help students at an A1/A2 level express their opinions

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Critical

thinking

about

language

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How to practice with these

skills in mind?

Analysis

Communication

Creativity

Open-mindedness

Problem-solving skills

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Skills don’t just happen once and they rarely

happen in isolation. In general, they improve

in the doing and with repetition over time.

Creativity – how might that be taught and

practised and with what other skills?

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Should we teach critical thinking

skills at all in an English class?

Yes! Because I think they are often the same skills

of good language learning:

- language and communication focused

- student-focused

- divergent (uncontrolled) possibilities and

development

NOTE: That is my opinion not a fact!

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Should you use a coursebook to do it?

That’s entirely up to you!

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Lexical Lab Summer School

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