Critical Reading Strategies in Language Learning: an Overview of Leading Approaches

Abstract

Fast changes in core skills required to perform a job include analytical thinking and active learning. Thus, „‟human‟‟ skills such as critical thinking, persuasion and negotiation increase their value and require attention to detail, flexibility and complex problem-solving. Our study presents texts as social acts and critical reading strategies as analytic pedagogic procedures in language learning. Based on critical discourse analysis and its three-dimensional framework the article aims at presenting critical reading activities as well as corresponding skill characteristics in accordance with the four-stage procedure (pre-reading speaking, while-reading and interpreting, follow-up writing and critical expansion tasks). Our contribution provides an overview of the leading approaches in providing a critical classroom community with the necessary tools to engage in complex discussion of the meaning of social texts and point out instances of socio-cultural practices (power manipulation, exploitation, gender inequalities, etc).