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2007-08, UO-based
Critical Thinking Sessions

09/14/07 | Session 01
11/30/07 | Session 03

2005-06, Part I
Project-Based Learning

11/18/05 | Session 01
12/09/05 | Session 02
12/16/05 | Session 03
01/20/06 | Session 04
02/17/06 | Session 05

2005-06, Part II
Resource-Rich Class

06/06/06 | Session 06
06/16/06 | Session 07
07/14/06 | Session 08
07/28/06 | Session 09
08/11/06 | Session 10

Special Science/Math Session

07/17/06 | Special Session

Archived Sessions, 2004-05

2004-05 Videoconferences List

11/19/04 | Approaches
12/15/04 | Large Classes
01/21/05 | Critical Thinking, I
02/18/05 | Critical Thinking, II
03/18/05 | Integrated Skills
06/03/05 | Virtual Language Lab
06/24/05 | Content-based EFL
07/29/05 | Integrating Culture
08/19/05 | Project-based EFL
09/30/05 | Reflective Teaching

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2007-08 University of Oregon Session #1

Critical Thinking and Language Teaching

Deanna Hochstein and Leslie Opp-Beckman, Speakers
September 14, 2007

Overview

This is the first lecture in a 10-part professional development series for English as a Foreign Language educators in Thailand. University of Oregon (UO) is pleased to renew its partnership with the US Embassy in Bangkok, the Royal Thai Distance Learning Foundation, colleagues at Chulalongkorn University, and at ThaiTESOL on this innovative and exciting project.

This is the introductory session on Critical Thinking. The focus for this first session is on some of the theoretical or pedagogical aspects of integrating Critical Thinking into the language learning curriculum. The practical side of integrating Critical Thinking in the language curriculum will be continued in future sessions.

About the Speakers

Deanna Hochstein is a former Director of and currently a Senior Instructor at the UO's American English Institute.

Leslie Opp-Beckman is on faculty at the University of Oregon in the Linguistics Department and the American English Institute. She develops e-learning curriculum and teaches courses on Computer-Assisted Language Learning.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the definition of Critical Thinking (CT) in a Thai classroom context?
2. What is the value of incorporating CT in language classes?
3. At what age can teachers expect students to begin developing CT skills?
4. In what ways does the "describe-interpret-evaluate" activity from this session incorporate CT? How can it blend with an integrated skills or communicative language teaching approach?

Online Resources

Online Images

Images for this session are from the "Now That's Humor" site with a focus on:

• #299, Bicycle wheel.
  
  
• #293, Trick-or-treat dogs.
  

Teacher viewing discretion advised. Other suggested images from this site include:

• #27, Bird and cat .
  
  
• #70, Car in pool.
  
  
• #72, Horse in the back of a car.
  
  
• #76, Three dogs and a car.
  
  
• #78, Truck up in a tree.
  
  
• #84, Man on metal ladder.

Readings

The following readings are suggested as follow up to this session.

• A Brief History of Critical Thinking.
  
  
• What is Critical Thinking?
  
  
• Critical Thinking is an Important Issue in Education Today.
  
  
• AskEric Lesson Plans. (Use the search function to look for "Critical Thinking" lesson plan ideas.)