Title: A practical approach to critical thinking among EFL learners

Authors: Valeria Thomson; Mercy Rani Yedidi

Addresses: The Language Centre, Muscat College, P.O. Box 2910, PC112, Ruwi, Muscat, Oman ' The Language Centre, Muscat College, P.O. Box 2910, PC112, Ruwi, Muscat, Oman

Abstract: There is no dispute among academicians when it is stated that critical thinking is an important study skill of the 21st century. It goes without saying that critical thinking has been playing a significant role in learning for the last few years but, the pertinent question is 'Are learners serious and focused in developing the skill during the learning process?' At the same time, teachers and lecturers as well are not so successful in developing the skill of analysis and evaluation among learners before they form opinions. We fail to see critical thinking skills among students even at the higher level of education. Bearing in mind these scenarios, this presentation aims to identify the need for integrating critical thinking into English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching in the general foundation program (GFP) and to provide an insight for teachers to design and use learning strategies to inculcate the skill of 'thinking out of the box' among learners. The study attempts to explore different strategies which enhance critical thinking among learners.

Keywords: critical thinking; strategy use; metacognitive skills.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2020.106560

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2020 Vol.17 No.1, pp.43 - 55

Received: 07 May 2018
Accepted: 23 Nov 2018
Published online: 15 Apr 2020 *

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