Critical Thinking Instruction: Laying the Groundwork for Success in CLIL Courses

This paper investigates the development of critical thinking skills (CTS) through the discussion of topical social issues in a first-year English as a foreign language (EFL) course conducted online via Zoom. The classroom materials were designed to promote the development of intellectual traits identified by Paul and Elder (2001) as essential components of critical thinking (CT), including intellectual autonomy, intellectual empathy, and fair-mindedness. The classroom activities are in part intended to help first-year students acquire the thinking skills and thinking dispositions needed for subsequent participation in second and third-year Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) courses, which emphasize CTS and active group discussions. A survey was conducted at the end of the semester to collect student feedback about the classroom activities as well as their views on CT.