CRITICAL THINKING THROUGH ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

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 6-To’plam 4-son Iyun , 2025 325 Ilm fan taraqqiyotida raqamli iqtisodiyot va zamonaviy ta'limning o'rni hamda rivojlanish omillari 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 ta’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 Elder (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 6-To’plam 4-son Iyun , 2025 326 Ilm fan taraqqiyotida raqamli iqtisodiyot va zamonaviy ta'limning o'rni hamda rivojlanish omillari 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