Full-text resources of CEJSH and other databases are now available in the new Library of Science.
Visit https://bibliotekanauki.pl

PL EN


2016 | 6 | 4 | 697-716

Article title

Critical thinking in the intercultural context: Investigating EFL textbooks

Content

Title variants

Languages of publication

EN

Abstracts

EN
The multicultural world has made intercultural teaching necessary. It should focus on students’ ability to comprehend quickly and accurately, and then act appropriately and effectively in a culturally complex environment in order to achieve the desired goal. Intercultural competence is important for successful communication across cultures, and so is critical thinking since the two, if they are not “parallel” (Bennett, 2013), at least overlap (Deardorff, 2009). This article tries to shed light on the linkage between intercultural and critical thinking skills and reports on the findings of research done on whether and to what extent EFL textbooks used in Polish schools contribute to fostering critical thinking skills in students. The study analyzed the cultural content of 20 coursebooks to check whether they go beyond merely depicting the target culture, or various foreign cultures, and involve students in practicing critical thinking, that is, prompt them to explore intercultural encounters and processes, and scrutinize how diverse cultures influence their own understanding of reality. The research revealed an insignificant and limited capacity of the textbooks to develop students’ critical thinking.

Year

Volume

6

Issue

4

Pages

697-716

Physical description

Dates

published
2016-12-30

Contributors

  • Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań

References

  • Aleksandrowicz-Pędich, L. (2005). Międzykulturowość na lekcjach języków obcych. Białystok: Białystok University Press.
  • Baker, W. (2015). Research into practice: Cultural and intercultural awareness. Language Teaching Research, 48, 130-141.
  • Bennett, J. M. (2009). Transformative training: Designing programs for culture learning. In M. Moodian (Ed.), Contemporary leadership and intercultural competence (pp. 95-110). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Bennett, M. J. (2013). Intercultural practices: International/multicultural education. In M. J. Bennett (Ed.), Basic concepts of intercultural communication: Paradigms, principles and practices (2nd ed.; pp. 105-136). Boston, MA: Intercultural Press.
  • Berardo, K., & Deardorff, D. (2012). Building cultural competence: Innovative activities and models. Sterling, VA: Stylus.
  • Byram, M., & Fleming, M. (Eds.). (2000). Language learning in intercultural perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Byram, M. (1997). Teaching and assessing intercultural communicative competence. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
  • Corbett, J. (2003). An intercultural approach to English language teaching. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
  • Deardorff, D. (2009). Implementing intercultural assessment. In D. Deardorff (Ed.), Sage handbook of intercultural competence (pp. 477-492). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Dewey, J. (1910). How we think. New York: Heath.
  • Ennis, R. (1985). A logical basis for measuring critical thinking skills. Educational Leadership, 43, 44-48.
  • Facione, P. (2010). Critical thinking: What it is and why it counts?. Millbrae, CA: Peter A. Facione, Measured Reasons and the California Academic Press.
  • Hallett, G. (1984). Logic for the labirynth: A guide to critical thinking. Lanham, MA: University Press of America.
  • Houghton, S. (2012). Intercultural dialogue in practice. Managing value judgment through foreign language education. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
  • Kohls, L., & Knight, J. (1994). Developing intercultural awareness: A cross-cultural training handbook. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural.
  • Kramsch, C. (1993). Context and culture in language teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Liddicoat, A., & Scarino, A. (2013). Intercultural language teaching and learning. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Miller, J., & Tucker, J. (2015). Addressing and assessing critical thinking in intercultural contexts: Investigating the distance learning outcomes of military leaders. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 48, 120-136.
  • Nam, K-A., & Condon, J. (2010). The DIE is cast: The continuing evolution of intercultural communication’s favorite classroom exercise. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 34, 81-87.
  • Paul, R. (1992). Critical thinking: Basic questions and answers. Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/critical-thinking-basic-questions-amp-answers/409
  • Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2006). The miniature guide to critical thinking: Concepts and tools. Tomales, CA: The Foundation for Critical Thinking.
  • Petress, K. (2004). Critical thinking: An extended definition. Education, 124, 461-466.
  • Scriven, M., & Paul, R. (2003). Defining critical thinking: A draft statement prepared for the National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking. Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org/university/univlibrary/library.nclk
  • Sercu, L. (2000). Acquiring intercultural communicative competence from textbooks. Leuven: Leuven University Press.
  • Sobkowiak, P. (2012a). Cross-cultural perspective of FL teaching and learning in the Polish context. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching, 2, 527-541.
  • Sobkowiak, P. (2012b). Dialog interkulturowy na lekcji języka angielskiego w kontekście polskim. Neofilolog, 38, 107-128.
  • Sobkowiak, P. (2013). Intercultural dimension of FL Teaching in the Polish context. In M. Kleban & E. Willim (Eds.), PASE papers in linguistics (pp. 291-309). Kraków: Jagiellonian University Press.
  • Sobkowiak, P. (2014). Intercultural teaching in the Polish context. In M. Pawlak, J. Bielak, & A. Mystkowska-Wiertelak (Eds.), Classroom-oriented research: Achievements and challenges (pp. 185-202). Cham: Springer.
  • Sobkowiak, P. (2015a). Interkulturowość w edukacji językowej. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Naukowe UAM.
  • Sobkowiak, P. (2015b). Developing students’ intercultural competence in foreign language textbooks. US-China Education Review B, 5, 794-805.
  • Stier, J. (2006). Internationalization, intercultural communication and intercultural competence. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 11, 1-12.
  • Ting-Toomey, S. (1999). Communication across cultures. New York: Guilford.
  • Vande Berg, M. (2007). Intervening in the learning of US students abroad. Journal of Studies in International Education, 11(3-4), 392-399.

Document Type

Publication order reference

Identifiers

YADDA identifier

bwmeta1.element.ojs-doi-10_14746_ssllt_2016_6_4_7
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.