The Importance of Controversial-Topics Debates in Developing EFLStudents Critical Thinking

Abstract

Dealing with controversial topics in EFL classes provides students with academic context to think critically and communicate effectively. Nowadays, students are exposed to many issues that raise strong and diverse viewpoints. Those controversial topics need to be seen through the lenses of critical thinking; a cognitive ability through which those topics are analyzed, evaluated and rationally judged. However, EFL teachers usually tend to teach students what to think by focusing on transmitting the subject matter rather than giving the students the opportunity to actually think by encouraging them to be active participants. This study aims at investigating the role of controversial topics debates as a learning strategy in enhancing EFL students’ linguistic, cognitive and communicative competences as well as pointing out its importance in ameliorating their critical thinking. Therefore, we hypothesize that students awareness of the effectiveness of engaging in controversial topics debates will assist in developing their critical thinking skills. To test the hypothesis a quantitative descriptive design is adopted through administering online students’ questionnaire for first year Master students (N= 35 taken out from 160) at the Department of English, University 8 Mai 1945, Guelma. Based on the collected data, it has been revealed that EFL students recognize the significance of enhancing their critical thinking skills and the immense benefits of discussing controversial topics; which should be facilitated by their teacher in a supportive and comfortable classroom environment. This will allow them to participate in deep, meaningful discourses that correspondingly develop their self- regulation, argumentation, assessing claims, reasoning, emotional understanding and adaptability