The Integration of Critical Thinking Skills into College Students� Spoken English Classes

Abstract

Solving problems and making worthwhile decisions is valued in our rapidly changing environment today. Nowadays we see students as too often being passive receptors of information and knowledge. Surely students need a guide to weed through the information and not just passively accept it. Students need to develop and effectively apply critical thinking skills to their academic studies, to the complex problems that they will face, and to the critical choices they will be forced to make as a result of the information explosion and other rapid technological changes (Oliver & Utermohlen, R.1995) (1) . This paper reviews the literature of critical thinking and problem solving skills ;focuses on the need for the instruction of critical thinking and problem solving skills ; suggests strategies how to integrate thinking skills into the classroom teaching and provides the positive findings of critical thinking encouragement in the daily classes. Index Terms - critical thinking, problem solving, teaching strategies, spoken English classes 1. Introduction of Critical Thinking Skills The development of improved critical thinking and problem solving skills has been areas of great interest to educators around the world for many years. Today with the ongoing progress in technology and an increased demand for improved skills in the workplace, critical thinking and problem solving skills have become more crucial than ever before. It is the responsibility of educators to provide students with the skills and knowledge that will be required for their future careers. Thus, the ability to transfer knowledge becomes crucial and critical thinking and problems solving skills step in to play a prominent role for our students.