Ilm fan taraqqiyotida raqamli iqtisodiyot va zamonaviy
ta'limning o'rni hamda rivojlanish omillari
6-
To’plam
4-son Iyun , 2025
325
CRITICAL THINKING THROUGH ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TEACHING
Umarova Vazira Kholmurad qizi
English teacher of
Surkhandarya Ministry of Internal Affairs Academic Lyceum
Annotation:
This article explores the integration of critical thinking skills
in English Language Teaching (ELT). It highlights the importance of developing
learners’ higher
-order thinking abilities through language learning and provides
practical classroom strategies and examples for fostering analytical, reflective,
and evaluative skills. The article also outlines the theoretical foundation behind
critical thinking and its role in communicative competence and lifelong learning.
Keywords:
Critical thinking, English language teaching, higher-order
thinking, learner autonomy, communicative competence, interactive methods,
reflective learning
Аннотация:
В данной статье рассматривается интеграция навыков
критического мышления в процесс преподавания английского языка (ELT).
Подчеркивается важность развития у учащихся способностей к мышлению
более высокого порядка через изучение языка. Также представлены
практические стратегии и примеры для формирования аналитических,
рефлексивных и оценочных навыков. В статье изложены теоретические
основы критического мышления и его роль в развитии коммуникативной
компетенции и непрерывного образования.
Ключевые
слова:
Критическое
мышление,
преподавание
английского языка, мышление высокого порядка, автономия учащихся,
коммуникативная компетенция, интерактивные методы, рефлексивное
обучение.
Annotatsiya:
Ushbu maqolada ingliz tilini o‘qitishda (ELT) tanqidiy
fikrlash ko‘nikmalarini integratsiya qilish masalasi ko‘rib chiqiladi. Til o‘rganish
orqali o‘quvchilarning yuqori darajadagi fikrlash qobiliyatlarini rivojlantirishning
Ilm fan taraqqiyotida raqamli iqtisodiyot va zamonaviy
ta'limning o'rni hamda rivojlanish omillari
6-
To’plam
4-son Iyun , 2025
326
ahamiyati ta’kidlanadi. Maqolada shuningdek, tahliliy, reflektiv va baholovchi
ko‘nikmalarni shakllantirish uchun amaliy dars strategiyalari va misollar
keltirilgan. Tanqidiy fikrlashning nazariy asoslari va uning kommunikativ
kompetensiya hamda uzluksiz t
a’limdagi o‘rni ham yoritilgan.
Kalit so‘zlar:
Tanqidiy fikrlash, ingliz tilini o‘qitish, yuqori darajadagi
fikrlash, o‘quvchi mustaqilligi, kommunikativ kompetensiya, interaktiv usullar,
reflektiv ta’lim.
In the 21st century, education must go beyond rote memorization and focus
on equipping learners with critical thinking skills to analyze, evaluate, and
synthesize information. English Language Teaching (ELT) provides a rich
environment for fostering such skills, as language learning inherently involves
comprehension, interpretation, and meaningful communication. Incorporating
critical thinking into ELT not only enhances language proficiency but also
prepares learners for real-life problem-solving, decision-making, and intercultural
understanding.
1. Defining Critical Thinking in ELT
Critical thinking involves the ability to think clearly and rationally,
understanding the logical connection between ideas. In ELT, this means teaching
learners to question information, infer meaning, and form reasoned conclusions.
According to Paul and El
der (2006), critical thinkers “raise vital questions, gather
and assess relevant information, and come to well-
reasoned conclusions.”
2. Why Integrate Critical Thinking in ELT
•
Improves language skills:
Learners engage more deeply with language
when they analyze and evaluate texts or arguments.
•
Fosters learner autonomy:
Students become independent thinkers and
decision-makers.
•
Promotes active learning:
Encourages participation, collaboration, and
exploration of diverse perspectives.
3. Strategies for Teaching Critical Thinking in ELT
a) Socratic Questioning
Ilm fan taraqqiyotida raqamli iqtisodiyot va zamonaviy
ta'limning o'rni hamda rivojlanish omillari
6-
To’plam
4-son Iyun , 2025
327
Teachers can stimulate critical discussion through open-ended questions such
as:
•
"What do you
think the author’s intention is?"
•
"Do you agree with this viewpoint? Why or why not?"
This strategy encourages deeper engagement with reading and listening
materials.
b) Debates and Discussions
Organizing debates on global issues (e.g., climate change, social media)
helps students practice persuasive language, use evidence, and evaluate
arguments.
Example:
Topic
–
“Should mobile phones be allowed in schools?”
•
Group A: Proponents
•
Group B: Opponents
•
Outcome: Students present structured arguments, counterarguments, and
conclusions.
c) Problem-Based Learning (PBL)
PBL places students in real-world scenarios where they must use English
to solve problems collaboratively.
Example:
Task
–
“Design an eco
-
friendly school”
•
Skills: Vocabulary for environment, modal verbs, presentation skills
•
Thinking: Research, critical evaluation of solutions, teamwork
d) Analyzing Texts and Media
Students can examine biased news articles, social media posts, or
advertisements to identify persuasive language, logical fallacies, and hidden
messages.
e) Reflective Journals
Encouraging students to write journals on their learning process promotes
metacognition
—
thinking about thinking. Prompts include:
Ilm fan taraqqiyotida raqamli iqtisodiyot va zamonaviy
ta'limning o'rni hamda rivojlanish omillari
6-
To’plam
4-son Iyun , 2025
328
•
“What did I learn today?”
•
“What would I do differently next time?”
Conclusion
Integrating critical thinking into English Language Teaching enriches both
language acquisition and cognitive development. Through inquiry-based tasks,
reflective activities, and meaningful communication, learners develop into
thoughtful, articulate, and responsible global citizens. Educators should
continuously seek innovative strategies to balance language instruction with the
cultivation of critical and independent thought.
References
1.
Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2006).
Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of
Your Learning and Your Life
. Pearson.
2.
Brookfield, S. D. (2012).
Teaching for Critical Thinking: Tools and
Techniques to Help Students Question Their Assumptions
. Jossey-Bass.
3.
Facione, P. A. (2011).
Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts
.
Insight Assessment.
4.
Harmer, J. (2007).
The Practice of English Language Teaching
(4th ed.).
Longman.
5.
Richards, J. C., & Schmidt, R. (2010).
Longman Dictionary of Language
Teaching and Applied Linguistics
. Pearson Education.
