TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION OF CRITICAL THINKING DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROCESS OF TEACHING ENGLISH IN HIGHER SCHOOL

Abstract

The article attempts to reveal the essence of the concept«critical thinking» and to consider the development of this kindof thinking in higher school students at foreign languageclasses. It is noted that the ability to acquire skills independentlyand use them in practical activities, and not only the amount ofacquired knowledge, has an essential role to play in the adaptationof a graduate to the realities of modern society. Therefore, thecritical thinking technology applying, as well as the traditionalforms of activity in higher education in the process of foreignlanguage teaching, is seen as a clear necessity. The articlenotes that the main purpose of critical thinking development ofstudents who do not have the developed skills to think criticallyis to extend the mental competence to solve social, scientific andpractical problems effectively. Students of higher educationalestablishments have a range of considerable knowledge andsufficient social experience. They are able to transform theexisting knowledge and skills into competencies, provided thatthey are highly motivated and there are active cognitive activities.Thus, the task of teaching critical thinking skills is to developthe cognitive activity of students based on logical, research andcritical thinking. On the basis of the analysis of the practicalexperience of a foreign language course teaching in a higherschool, the development opportunities are revealed andstrategies of the critical thinking development of students inforeign language classes are considered (annotation, preview,contextualization, self-questioning, reflexion, evaluative judgment,comparison and contrasting). Certain methods, promoting criticalthinking at different stages of learning have been proposedin the paper (Basket of ideas, concepts; Cluster; Margin notes;Сinquain making; Training brainstorming; Essay writing). It hasbeen concluded that the critical thinking technology applied atforeign language classes at higher schools significantly increasesthe time of language practice for each student, helps to facilitatetheir learning acquisition, addresses a wide range of educationaland developmental tasks. The teacher becomes an organizerof students' independent educational, communicative andcreative activities and has the opportunity to improve the learningprocess, develop students' communicative skills and developtheir personality comprehensively.