DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS: AN INVESTIGATION INTO QUESTIONING STRATEGIES USED IN CLASSROOM

Abstract

The ability to think critically is a skill that is currently required of all students because it can lead to the acquisition of a great deal of beneficial learning outcomes. Teachers play a crucial role in preparing and contributing to the development of a classroom environment that fosters critical thinking. Among the various methods to cultivate critical thinking, questioning strategies remain the most commonly used approach by teachers in their classrooms. For example, during pre-activity sessions, teachers may ask students about previous lessons or activities they participated in over the weekend. Within the context of teaching and learning English as a foreign language, particularly in speaking classrooms, this study aims to investigate how instructors implement questioning tactics from multiple perspectives and methodologies, as informed by various experiences and literature. This literature review draws on 15 academic journal articles and several relevant books published in the last 10 years, focusing specifically on questioning strategies in EFL (English as a Foreign Language) speaking classes. The results provide practical insights into how questioning strategies can enhance students' critical thinking abilities, which is fundamental for successful teaching and learning as outlined in the curriculum.