Developing critical thinking skills through the lens of understanding intercultural values

Abstract

In today’s globalized world intercultural competence, criticalthinking skills are necessary to interact successfully with peoplefrom different cultures with their different values, practices, andways of communicating to avoid conflicts and misunderstanding.English teachers as foreign language (EFL) teachers, we arepreparing our students for future intercultural encounters makingthem flexible in their thinking and recognize that people arecomplex. Through reading, writing, listening and speakingactivities we always can find powerful and appropriate ways toinclude culture and critical thinking in EFL classes. The givenlesson plan «Changing lives: charity and volunteering» isdeveloped for a group of thirteen first-year students aged 15-16,of level A2+/B1, having 6 academic hours of English as anobligatory subject per week at Cherkasy State Business Collegeand aimed at working on the following critical thinking aspects aswell as intercultural awareness and culture aspects: examiningexisting bias and prejudice; distinguishing observation andinterpretation; understanding other students’ point of view;cultivating applying «universal intellectual values» (clarity,accuracy, consistency, depth, breadth, fairness); applying activelistening techniques; considering values which impact people’sactivity, encouraging compassion, volunteerism and charity.