INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS INTO ENGLISH LESSONS TO DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING
Keywords:
environmental education; English language teaching; critical thinking; communicative competence; project-based learning; sustainable development; CLIL; authentic materials; ecological awareness; interdisciplinary learning.Abstract
This article examines the importance of integrating environmental topics into English language lessons as a means of developing students’ critical thinking skills. The study highlights the role of environmental education in modern language teaching and explains how global ecological issues can be used as authentic and meaningful classroom content. The article discusses theoretical perspectives related to critical pedagogy, communicative language teaching, and interdisciplinary learning approaches such as Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). Furthermore, practical strategies including debates, project-based learning, role-play activities, and the use of authentic materials are analyzed as effective methods for enhancing students’ analytical, communicative, and problem-solving abilities. The study concludes that incorporating environmental themes into English lessons not only improves language proficiency but also fosters environmental awareness, social responsibility, and higher-order thinking skills among learners.
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