EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS IN HIGHER EDUCATION EFL CLASSROOMS
Keywords:
Critical Thinking, Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS), EFL, Socratic Questioning, Problem-Based Learning, Bloom’s Taxonomy.Abstract
In the 21st-century educational landscape, the ability to think critically is as vital as linguistic proficiency. This paper explores various methodological approaches to fostering critical thinking (CT) skills among university students in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. Drawing upon Bloom’s Taxonomy, the research analyzes the transition from basic comprehension to higher-order cognitive processes such as analysis, evaluation, and synthesis. The study highlights the effectiveness of Socratic questioning, debate-centered learning, and case-study analysis in promoting intellectual autonomy. The findings suggest that integrating CT strategies into the language curriculum not only enhances students' communicative competence but also prepares them for the complex analytical demands of the global professional world.
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