JALT2025 - Tokyo

Eating the Dogs! Critical Thinking in the Language Classroom

Nov 1, 2025, 11:35 AM

1h

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center / 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター

Room 403

Speaker

Andy Boon (Toyo Gakuen University)

Description

In today’s world of “fake news” and unreliable sources, critical thinking is essential—especially when learning new languages. This talk explores how to build critical thinking in the language classroom by defining it, introducing a practical teaching cycle, demonstrating classroom activities, and offering curriculum integration tips. The session also shares insights from a critical thinking course taught to 4th-year Japanese university students. (Sponsored by Kinseido Publishing Co., Ltd)

Summary

In today’s world of “fake news” and unreliable sources, critical thinking is essential—especially when learning new languages. This talk explores how to build critical thinking in the language classroom by defining it, introducing a practical teaching cycle, demonstrating classroom activities, and offering curriculum integration tips. The session also shares insights from a critical thinking course taught to 4th-year Japanese university students.