EFL HIGH-SCHOOL TEACHERS’ PRACTICES OF STRATEGIES FOR CRITICAL THINKING INSTRUCTION IN WRITING CLASSES

Nguyen Thi Hong Duyen, Nguyen Thi Khanh Doan

Abstract


This study aims to investigate EFL high-school teachers’ practices of strategies for CT instruction in their writing classrooms. The study was designed as a mixed-method one, using a questionnaire, and classroom observation as collecting data instruments. The sample consists of 103 EFL teachers from 21 high schools in Camau province, in the Mekong Delta region for quantitative data; five out of 103 teachers were purposely chosen to be observed to collect qualitative data. The finding of the study revealed that EFL high-school teachers’ practices of CT strategies used in writing classrooms were at a high level but at the lowest rate. At the same time, the results from classroom observation showed that EFL teachers used three more including setting real writing tasks, presentation, and student questioning in addition to the seven CT strategies presented in the research. From the findings, some pedagogical implications and recommendations are promoted in the hope that EFL teachers can effectively employ strategies for teaching CT in writing classrooms. Finally, the study’s limitations and suggestions for further research were also highlighted.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter


Keywords


critical thinking, EFL high-school teachers, EFL writing, practices, strategies

Full Text:

PDF

References


Adderley, K., Askurin, C., Bradbury, P., Freeman J., Goodlad, S., Greene, J., Jenkins, D., Rae, J., & Uren, O. (1975). Project methods in higher education. Working party on teaching methods: Techniques group. London: Society for Research into Higher Education.

Anggraeny, E., & Khongput, S. (2022). Teachers’ perceptions and practices of critical thinking instruction in Indonesian senior high schools: A case study. TEFLIN Journal: A Publication on the Teaching & Learning of English, 33(1).

Applebee, A. N. (1984). Writing and reasoning. Review of educational research, 54(4), 577-596.

Applebee, A. N. (1986). Chapter VI: Problems in Process Approaches: Toward a Reconceptualization of Process Instruction. Teachers College Record, 87(6), 95-113.

Barnawi, O. Z. (2010). Promoting noticing through collaborative feedback tasks in EFL college writing classrooms. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 22(2), 209-217.

Baş, G. (2011). Investigating the effects of project-based learning on students’ academic achievement and attitudes towards English lesson. The online journal of New Horizons in Education, 1(4).

Bean, J. C. (1996). Engaging ideas: The professor’s guide to integrating writing, critical thinking, and active learning in the classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Bean, J. C. (2011). Engaging ideas: The professor's guide to integrating writing, critical thinking, and active learning in the classroom. ProQuest Ebook Central. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Bell, S. (2010). Project-based learning for the 21st century: Skills for the future. The Clearing House, 83(2), 39-43.

Benesch, S. (2001). Critical English for academic purposes: Theory, politics, and practice. Routledge.

Bloom, B. S. (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives. Handbook I: The cognitive domain. New York, NY: David McKay Company.

Blosser, B., & Patricia, E. (1995). How to ask the right questions. Arlington, VA: Science Teachers Association.

Bourke, R., Mentis, M., & Todd, L. (2011). Visibly learning: Teachers’ assessment practices for students with high and very high needs. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 15(4), 405-419.

Bozkurt, F. (2020). Teacher candidates' views on self and peer assessment as a tool for student development. Australian Journal of Teacher Education (Online), 45(1), 47-60.

Brown, H. D. (2004). Language assessment: Principles and classroom practice. New York: Pearson Education.

Browne, M. N., & Keeley, S. M. (2007). Asking the right questions: A guide to critical thinking. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Buck, G. A. (2002). Teaching discourses: Science teachers’ responses to the voices of adolescent girls. Learning Environments Research, 5, 29–50.

Buckley, S., Coleman, J., Davison, I., Khan, K. S., Zamora, J., Malick, S., ... & Sayers, J. (2009). The educational effects of portfolios on undergraduate student learning: a Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) systematic review. BEME Guide No. 11. Medical teacher, 31(4), 282-298.

Burbules, N. C. (1993). Dialogue in teaching: Theory and practice. Teachers College Press.

Carey, L. (2000). Measuring and evaluating school learning. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Chaffee, J. (2014). Thinking critically. Cengage Learning.

Charter Oak State College. (1997). In-house portfolio survey document. New Britain, CT.

Chau, L., & Cunningham, A. (2021). Thinking outside the box (Below and above it, too): Perspectives toward critical thinking in TESOL in Vietnam. Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 3(4), 09-17.

Chen, L. (2017). Understanding critical thinking in Chinese sociocultural contexts: A case study in a Chinese college. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 24, 140-151.

Condon, W., & Kelly-Riley, D. (2004). Assessing and teaching what we value: The relationship between college-level writing and critical thinking abilities. Assessing Writing, 9(1), 56-75.

Craft, A. (2000). Creativity across the primary curriculum: Framing and

developing practice. Routledge.

Crawford, A., Saul, E. W., Mathews, S., & Makinster, J. (2005). Teaching and learning strategies for the thinking classroom. The International Debate Education Association, 400. West 59th Street. New York.

Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2007). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Creswell, J.W. (2014). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (5th Ed.). French Forest, Sydney: Pearson Australia.

Dewey, J. (1910). How We Think, D. C Heath & Co Publishers: Chicago.

Dinuţă, N. (2015). The use of critical thinking in teaching geometric concepts in primary school. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 180, 788-794.

Ennis, R. H. (1987). "A Taxonomy of Critical Thinking Dispositions and Skills," in J.B. Baron & R.J. Sternberg (eds.) Teaching Thinking Skills: Theory and Practice, Hillsdale, NJ: Earlbaum Assocs, 1987.

Ennis, R. H. (1993). Critical thinking assessment. Theory into Practice, 32(3), 179-186.

Ennis, R. H. (1996). Critical thinking dispositions: Their nature and assessability,”. Informal Logic, 18(2&3), 165-182.

Ezzedeen, S. R. (2008). Facilitating class discussions around current and controversial issues: Ten recommendations for teachers. College Teaching, 56(4), 230-236.

Facione, P. A. (1990). Critical thinking: A statement of expert consensus for purposes of educational assessment and instruction. Millbrae, CA: The California Academic Press.

Fahim, M., & Reza Ghamari, M. (2011). Critical Thinking in Education: Globally Developed and Locally Applied. Theory & Practice in Language Studies, 1(11).

Farrell, T. S., & Mom, V. (2015). Exploring teacher questions through reflective practice. Reflective Practice, 16(6), 849-866.

Ferris, D. R. (2003). Response to Student Writing: Implications for Second Language Students. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Fisher, G. G. (2001). Work/personal life balance: A construct development study. Bowling Green State University.

Flick, U., Kardorff, E. & Steinke, I. (2004). A companion to qualitative research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Fraser, B. J. (1998). Classroom environment instruments: Development, validity, and applications. Learning Environments Research, 1, 7–33.

Genesee, E, & Upshur, J. (1996). Classroom-based evaluation in second language education. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Gibbs, P. (2001). Higher education as a market: a problem or solution?. Studies in higher education, 26(1), 85-94.

Gunning, T. G. (2008). Developing higher-level literacy in all students: Building reading, reasoning, and responding. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Halpern, D. F. (1998). Teaching critical thinking for transfer across domains: Dispositions skills, structure training, and metacognitive monitoring. American Psychologist, 53(4), 449-455.

Hamp-Lyons, L., & Condon, W. (2000). Assessing the portfolio: Issues for research, theory and practice. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Han, S., & Bhattacharya, K. (2001). Constructionism, learning by design, and project-based learning. Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology, 127-141.

Heyman, G. D. (2008). Children’s critical thinking when learning from others. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 17(5), 344-347.

Hidayati, R., & Nurjanah, S. (2017). Implementation of Project Based Learning Model with Windows Movie Maker Media in Improvement of Short Story Writing. Journal of Education, Teaching and Learning, 2(1), 105-107.

Ho, N., Nguyen, T. L., Nguyen, T. T. & Ngo, V. T. H. (2018). The development of critical thinking for students in Vietnamese schools: From policies to practices. American Journal of Educational Research, 6 (5), 431-435.

Indah, R. (2017). Critical thinking, writing performance and topic familiarity of Indonesian EFL learners. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 8(2), 229-236

Jahng, N. (2012). A systematic review of small-group communication in post-secondary online courses. Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, 16(2), 26-40.

Jick, T. D. (1979). Mixing qualitative and quantitative methods: Triangulation in action. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24, 602-611.

Kennedy, M., Fisher, M. B., & Ennis, R. H. (1991). Critical thinking: Literature review and needed research. In L. Idol & B.F. Jones (Eds.), Educational values and cognitive instruction: Implications for reform (pp. 11-40). Hillsdale, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum & Associates.

King, A. (1995). Designing the instructional process to enhance critical thinking across the curriculum. Teaching of Psychology, 22(1), 13-17.

Kirkova–Bogdanova A. (2007). Contemporary Methods of Assessment, Diploma Work, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".

Krathwohl, D. R. (2002). A revision of Bloom's taxonomy: An overview. Theory into practice, 41(4), 212-218.

Kubiatko, M., & Vaculová, I. (2011). Project-based learning: characteristic and the experiences with application in the science subjects. Energy Education Science and Technology Part B: Social and Educational Studies, 3(1), 65-74.

Kurland, D. J. (1995). I know what it says--What does it mean? Critical skills for critical Reading. Wadsworth Publishing Company.

Lam, R. (2018). Portfolio assessment for the teaching and learning of writing. Singapore: Springer.

Li, L., & Walsh, S. (2011). ‘Seeing is believing’: Looking at EFL teachers’

beliefs through classroom interaction. Classroom Discourse, 2(1), 39-57.

Lin, Y., & Lin, Y. (2018). Critical Thinking and Writing. Developing Critical Thinking in EFL Classes: An Infusion Approach, 19-23.

Lipowski, E. E. (2008). Developing great research questions. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 65(17), 1667-1670.

Liu, J. (2018). Cultivation of critical thinking abilities in English writing teaching. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 8(8), 982-987.

Malhotra, N.K. (2006). Questionnaire design and scale development. The handbook of marketing research: Uses, misuses, and future advances, pp. 83-94.

Maphosa, C., & Wadesango, N. (2016). Questioning ‘questioning’: examining the use of questioning as an interactive teaching tool in higher education. Journal of Communication, 7(1), 111-117.

Mathews, S. R., & Lowe, K. (2011). Classroom environments that foster a disposition for critical thinking. Learning Environments Research, 14(1), 59-73.

Marzano, R. J., & Pollock, J. E. (2001). Standards-based thinking and reasoning skills. In A. L. Costa (Ed.). Developing minds, a resource book for teaching thinking (pp.29-35). Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Min, H. T. (2005). Training students to become successful peer reviewers. System, 33(2), 293-308.

MOET. (2017). Chương trình giáo dục phổ thông tổng thể - The new general educational programs in Vietnam. Hanoi.

Moon, J. (2007). Critical thinking: An exploration of theory and practice. Routledge.

Moss, G. (2004). Teacher-students dialogue to promote critical thinking. Middle School Journal, 35(5), 40-49.

Mulnix, J. W., & Mulnix, M. J. (2010). Using a writing portfolio project to teach critical thinking skills. Teaching philosophy, 33(1), 27-54.

Nguyen, K. T. (2016). Critical thinking’s effects on Vietnamese students’ writing attitude and performance. Journal of Research & Method in Education, 6(6), 38-48

Numrich, C. (2010). Raise the issues: An integrated approach to critical thinking. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Onozawa, C. (2010). A study of the process writing approach - A suggestion for an eclectic writing approach. Research Note. Gunma University Academic Information Repository.

Orlich, D. C., Harder, R. J., Callahan, R. C., Trevisan, M. s., Brown, A. H., & Miller, D. E. (2013). Teaching strategies: A guide to effective instruction (10th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Paul, R. W. (1985). Bloom’s taxonomy and critical thinking intervention. Educational Leadership, 42(8), 36–39.

Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2006). A miniature guide to critical thinking: Concepts and tools. Billon

Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking Press.

Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2007). Critical thinking: The art of Socratic questioning. Journal of developmental education, 31(1), 36.

Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2012). Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your learning and your life (3rd ed.). London: Pearson.

Peterson, D. S., & Taylor, B. M. (2012). Using higher order questioning to accelerate students’ growth in reading. The Reading Teacher, 65(5), 295-304.

Pham, V. P. H., & Truong, M. H. (2021). Teaching writing in Vietnam’s secondary and high schools. Education Sciences, 11(10), 632.

Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223-231.

Quitadamo, I. J., & Kurtz, M. I. (2007). Learning to improve: Using writing to increase critical thinking performance in general education biology. Life Sciences Education, 6, 140-154.

Rao, Z. (2007). Training in brainstorming and developing writing skills. ELT journal, 61(2), 100-106.

Rashtchi, M., & Khoshnevisan, B. (2020). Lessons from critical thinking: how to promote thinking skills in EFL writing classes. European Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 5(1).

Reinholz, D. (2016). The assessment cycle: A model for learning through peer assessment. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 41(2), 301-315. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2015.1008982

Resnick, L. B. (1987). Education and learning to thinking. Washington DC: National Academy Press.

Rezaei, S., Derakhshan, A., & Bagherkazemi, M. (2011). Critical thinking in language education. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 2(4), 769.

Schafersman, S.D. (1991). An Introduction to Critical Thinking. [Online]. Tersedia: http://facultycenter.ischool.syr.edu/files/2012/02/Critical-Thinking.pdf. [3 April 2013].

Şeker, H., & Kömür, S. (2008). The relationship between critical thinking skills and in‐class questioning behaviours of English language teaching students. European journal of teacher education, 31(4), 389-402.

Shirkhani, S., & Fahim, M. (2011). Enhancing critical thinking in foreign language learners. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 29, 111-115.

Solomon, G. (2003). Project-based learning: A primer. Technology and learning-dayton, 23(6), 20-20.

Somekh, B. & Jones, L. (2005). Observation. Research Methods of the Social Sciences (pp. 138-145). London: SAGE Publications.

Sternberg, R. J. (1986). Critical thinking: Its nature, measurement, and improvement. New Haven, CT: Yale University.

Swaran Singh, C. K., Muhammad, M. M., Mostafa, N. A., Noordin, N., Darmi, R., Md Yunus, M., & Masa Singh, T. S. (2022). Challenges and Needs of ESL Teachers in Implementing Portfolio Assessment as Alternative Assessment in Teaching English. Asian Journal of University Education, 18(3), 710-723.

Thomas, J. W. 2000. A review of research on PBL. http://www.bobpearlman.org/BestPractices/PBL Research.pdf (accessed February 28, 2009).

Tredway, L. (1995). Socratic Seminars: Engaging Students in Intellectual Discourse. Educational Leadership 53(1), 26-29.

Tsui, L. (1999). Courses and instruction affecting critical thinking. Research in Higher Education, 40(2), 185-200.

Unrau, J. N. (1997). Thoughtful teachers, thoughtful learners: A guide to helping adolescents think critically. Ontario: Pippin Publishing Corporation.

Vygotsky, L. (1987). Thinking in speech, In R. W. Rieber & A. S., Carton (Eds.), The collected works of L. S. Vygotsky (pp.39-288). New York: Plenum Press.

Wen, Q. (2009). To construct the theoretical framework of Chinese foreign language college students' thinking ability. Foreign Language World,1,37-43.

Wilkinson, D., & Birmingham, P. (2003). Using research instruments: A guide for researchers. Psychology Press.

Wilson, L. O. (2016). Anderson and Krathwohl–Bloom’s taxonomy revised. Understanding the new version of Bloom's taxonomy.

Zeng, M. R. (2012). Argumentative writing and the cultivation of critical thinking ability. In Education Teaching Forum (Vol. 23, pp. 67-70).

Zhang, C., Chen, X., Li, Y., Ding, W., & Fu, G. (2018). Water-energy-food nexus: Concepts, questions and methodologies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 195, 625-639.

Zhao, C., Pandian. A. & Singh, M. K. M.., (2016). Instructions strategies for developing critical thinking in EFL Classrooms. English Language Teaching, 9(10), 14-21.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejfl.v7i2.4976

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright © 2015 - 2023. European Journal of Foreign Language Teaching (ISSN 2537-1754) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing GroupAll rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms.

All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).