Igniting Curiosity and Critical Thinking: the Impact of Higher-Order Questions in EFL Class

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46991/FLHE/2024.28.1.170

Keywords:

critical thinking, lower/ higher-order questions, EFL, EAP/ESP, funneling technique, closed/open-ended questions

Abstract

Effective questioning plays a significant role in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction. Well-crafted questions stimulate student interaction and engagement, boosting their language learning experience in meaningful ways. The paper examines the potential of integrating questioning techniques into teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP)/English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and offers guidance for designing communicative tasks that foster the development of foundational critical thinking abilities. It discusses the importance of higher-order thinking in nurturing inquisitive and independent learners and highlights the role of student-generated queries in enhancing creativity, autonomy and problem-solving skills.

Author Biography

Lusik Hovakimyan, Associate professor, Faculty of European Languages and Communication of YSU

Lusik Hovakimyan is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at the Second Department of English, Faculty of European Languages and Communication, Yerevan State University. Her research interests include Cognitive Linguistics, Frame Semantics, and Applied Linguistics. She currently teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Business Communication, Business English, and English for Public Administration/Islamic Studies. She is the author of two textbooks for university students.

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Published

2024-06-27

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 1 (36) (2024): FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Section

Methodology

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Liana Barseghyan, Lusik Hovakimyan

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.