Teaching critical reading of authentic Publicistic texts from the internet editions to pre-service English teachers

Abstract

The article deals with one of the current problems related to modern foreign language and culture teaching methodology – the development of pre-service English teachers’ critical reading skills on the material of authentic publicistic texts from the Internet editions. Particularly, the notions of critical thinking and critical reading are defined. Various points of view in the psychological and pedagogical literature concerning the concept “critical thinking” are described; the key features of critical thinking in the educational dimension are outlined. The attention is focused on theoretical methodological background of developing pre-service English teachers’ critical reading skills on the material of authentic publicistic texts taken from the Internet editions. The main methodological types of reading are outlined, the peculiarities of critical reading as compared to analytical reading are revealed. The critical reading skills are considered. The main stages of developing critical thinking skills in correlation with building up critical reading skills are characterized. It is substantiated that the potential of authentic publicistic texts from the Internet editions in developing pre-service English teachers’ critical reading skills is considerable. It is determined that the main goal of developing pre-service English teachers’ critical reading skills on the material of authentic publicistic texts from the Internet editions is to expand students’ cognitive skills and competencies to solve social, scientific, practical and professional problems effectively. The article considers the strategies of forming pre-service English teachers’ critical thinking skills on the material of authentic publicistic texts from the Internet editions that are annotating, pre-scanning, contextualization, putting questions, reflexion, outlining and summarizing, evaluating statements, comparing and contrasting of thematically relevant texts, etc. The teaching techniques of developing critical thinking skills in the process of teaching critical reading to pre-service English teachers are offered.