giving students a voice - lenguas extranjeras cep santander...critical thinking outside the box...
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A P A R T O F C E N G A G E
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Giving Students a VoiceCritical Thinking in English Classes
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Critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to
reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way. People who think
critically consistently attempt to live rationally, reasonably, empathically. They
realize that no matter how skilled they are as thinkers, they can always
improve their reasoning abilities and they will always at times fall prey to
mistakes in reasoning, human irrationality, prejudices, biases,
distortions, uncritically accepted social rules and taboos, self-interest,
and vested interest. They strive to improve the world in whatever ways they
can and contribute to a more rational, civilized society. At the same time, they
recognize the complexities often inherent in doing so. They strive never to
think simplistically about complicated issues and always consider the rights
and needs of relevant others.
~ Linda Elder, September 2007http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/our-conception-of-critical-thinking/411 (accessed 4/3/18)
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Critical thinking is one of the most sought after qualities that employers
look for in job candidates in almost any industry. Critical thinking refers
to the ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned
judgment.
Critical thinking involves the evaluation of sources such as data, facts,
observable phenomenon, and research findings. Good critical thinkers
can draw reasonable conclusions from a set of information and
discriminate between useful and less useful details for solving a
problem or making a decision. This is important for almost any job in
any industry. Employers want job candidates who can evaluate a
situation using logical thought and come up with the best solution.
Someone with critical thinking skills can be trusted to make decisions
on his or her own, and will not need constant handholding.https://www.thebalance.com/critical-thinking-definition-with-examples-2063745 (accessed 4/3/18)
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Five Critical Thinking skillsAnalysis
Communication
Creativity
Open-mindedness
Problem-solving skills
Put the five CT skills in order of importance.
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Some more critical thinking questions• Should we teach these skills at all in an English class? Why /
why not?• If so, which is the most important skill?• What’s the best way to teach skills in general? What about
thinking skills?• Why might an ELT book have a critical thinking box?• How might a box help? What might be bad about it? Is there a
better way?• How far are your practices as a teacher reinforcing or
contradicting critical thinking? What are your prejudices or vested interests as a teacher?
• Why am I giving this talk? What are my vested interests?
.
© Lynn Johnson/ National Geographic Creative in Outcomes Upper-Intermediate
p140
Critical Thinking
and Vested
interestsNoticing what’s not
there, asking why,
getting alternative
perspectives
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Vested interests are complexPublisher rep
Writer
Trainer / Methodologist
Teacher
Language student
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Interests and prejudices of (some) teachers• Prepare as little as possible
• Be the boss
• Avoid embarrassment
• Keep control
• Deliver exam results
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These interests may counter CT!• “It teaches itself!”
• One answer
• Avoid challenge
• Avoid divergence from the text (language students may not
know)
• Can it be tested? What’s in the test? Give the students the
answers.
Technology often has the same tendency but better!
It may be more in our interest to encourage divergence in the class!
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Divergence and critical thinking: giving students a voice.
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What’s good about the box?Writer/Publisher – can speak directly to teacher and student
Teacher – signals what the point is, what is intended to be taught
Student – if they are struggling, then maybe this helps
WHY have a box?Publisher – marketing, USP
Writer – present something new, USP
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The potential to turn it into grammar!• Learning about rather than doing
• One in every unit!
• Only about one thing (no interaction with other skills).
• No repetitions (unless it’s more complex)
• Done the boxed section, done the teaching and learning
What’s bad about a critical thinking box?
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Ticked boxes?Evaluating ideas
Interpreting data
Supporting arguments
Understanding and evaluating ideas
Asking critical questions
Assessing information
Fact and opinion
Understanding other perspectives
Detecting bias
Thinking through consequencesfrom Perspectives Upper Intermediate
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Different Perspectives on boxes
Writers perspective
What do I put in the box?
Shortage of space – 20-50 words?
Would more help or hinder (talking about not doing)
Writer-Teacher
What do I do with the box?
Student
Do I need to be told this? I know it already!
Methodologist – teacher
Skills – and language! - come from practising the same thing over time –
in different contexts.
The Box / the Explanation
is the smallest part of teaching and learning.
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What is the most important critical
thinking skill in a English class?
Communication and language!
NOTE: This is my opinion rather than a fact!!
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Critical thinking outside the box
Language for critical thinking
Critical thinking about language
Critical thinking tasks to generate (unknown) language.
Repeated encounters and interacting with other skills.
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Language for critical thinking
What language might you teach to:
• challenge stereotypes?
• evaluate research and arguments?
• help students at an A1/A2 level express their opinions
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A P A R T O F C E N G A G E
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A P A R T O F C E N G A G E
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A P A R T O F C E N G A G E
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Critical
thinking
about
language
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How to practice with these
skills in mind?
Analysis
Communication
Creativity
Open-mindedness
Problem-solving skills
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Skills don’t just happen once and they rarely
happen in isolation. In general, they improve
in the doing and with repetition over time.
Creativity – how might that be taught and
practised and with what other skills?
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A P A R T O F C E N G A G E
Bringing the world to the classroom and the classroom to life
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A P A R T O F C E N G A G E
Bringing the world to the classroom and the classroom to life
NGL.CENGAGE.COM/ELT
A P A R T O F C E N G A G E
Bringing the world to the classroom and the classroom to life
NGL.CENGAGE.COM/ELT
A P A R T O F C E N G A G E
Bringing the world to the classroom and the classroom to life
NGL.CENGAGE.COM/ELT
A P A R T O F C E N G A G E
Bringing the world to the classroom and the classroom to life
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A P A R T O F C E N G A G E
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A P A R T O F C E N G A G E
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Should we teach critical thinking
skills at all in an English class?
Yes! Because I think they are often the same skills
of good language learning:
- language and communication focused
- student-focused
- divergent (uncontrolled) possibilities and
development
NOTE: That is my opinion not a fact!
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Should you use a coursebook to do it?
That’s entirely up to you!
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Lexical Lab Summer School
2nd July to 10th August 2018
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