TESOL educators in general assume that Asian L2 students are challenged in using critical thinking for L2 academic purposes. They believe that the students’ native hierarchical and collectivistic cultural background render them less capable of expressing controversial viewpoints in their L2 writing and speech. This widespread assumption will be challenged here on the basis of studies demonstrating Asian L2 students’ unique, yet adequate critical abilities. The present paper argues that what undermines accurate understanding of Asian L2 students’ critical cues in L2 classrooms may be the Western ESL teacher’s presupposition that these students have somewhat defective critical abilities. It also probes in the differences between monological and dialogical critical thinking. Dialogical critical thinking, which, unlike the monological type, recognizes a variety of opposing viewpoints and opinions, offers students both in the East and West an equally relevant and beneficial approach to critical thinking. Similarities between such Western modes of dialogical critical thinking and Eastern modes of thought are illustrated to provide a new definition of critical thinking that is inclusive of both Eastern and Western values as a valuable option in L2 classrooms. The paper concludes with pedagogical implications.
목차
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION IS CRITICAL THINKING A WESTERN CONCEPT? EVIDENCE OF CRITICAL THINKING IN THE EAST AN EXAMINATION OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EASTERN AND WESTERN STYLES OF CRITICAL THINKING TOWARD AN INTEGRATIVE DEFINITION OF CRITICAL THINKING BETWEEN EAST AND WEST PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS CONCLUSION THE AUTHOR REFERENCES
키워드
critical thinkingmonological and dialogical critical thinkingL2 academic writing
저자
Megumi Oda [ Wat Suthiwararam High School, Bangkok, Thailand ]
The goals of Asia TEFL are to promote scholarship, disseminate information, and facilitate cross-cultural understanding among persons concerned with the teaching and learning of English in Asia. In order to accomplish this, Asia TEFL will pursue the following goals:
1. To link ELT professionals in joint research on issues and concerns regarding English teaching and learning in the Asian context.
2. To publish an academic journal, The Asia TEFL Journal, as an internationally recognized journal in the field of English language teaching.
3. To host conferences and seminars addressing important issues concerning ELT in Asia.
4. To develop proficiency guidelines and assessment methods designed for the needs of the Asian context.
5. To develop programs for Asian learners and teachers of English to build their English language proficiency and cultural understanding and provide them with the skills required to be efficient English teaching professionals.