Developing Critical Thinking Through English Language Activities
Keywords:
critical thinking, English language learning, EFL, critical readingAbstract
Critical thinking is an essential competence that enables learners to analyze information, evaluate arguments, identify assumptions, compare viewpoints, and make reasoned judgments. English language education provides favorable conditions for developing these abilities because language activities naturally involve interpretation, communication, problem solving, and expression of personal viewpoints. This thesis examines the pedagogical potential of English language activities for developing critical thinking. A qualitative analysis of established research on critical thinking and English as a foreign language was conducted. The findings indicate that discussion, debate, problem-solving tasks, critical reading, argumentative writing, questioning, peer feedback, and reflective activities can simultaneously strengthen language proficiency and higher-order thinking. Effective integration requires purposeful task design, meaningful communication, evidence-based reasoning, and teacher guidance.
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