Speakers
Description
Critical thinking in a more globalized world is an essential competence that allows EFL learners to engage in international communication, solve real issues of the world, and contribute to sustainable development. This workshop aims to provide EFL teachers with useful and applicable strategies for integrating critical thinking into language teaching, building both language skills and global competences. Grounded in task-based language teaching and task-based learning, the workshop begins with the demonstration of class practices utilizing critical thinking activity such as task ranking, reason questions, discussions and reflection in textbook-based lessons. These examples reveal ways in which critical thinking can spark learners' enthusiasm, interaction, and problem-solving abilities even if resources are inadequate. Challenges like student resistance, language barriers, and time constraint will also be brought up, along with useful suggestions to overcome them. Educators who attend this session will be learning from model tasks and creating their own critical thinking questions or activities to use in their own classrooms in groups. By the end of the session, they will be equipped with practical tools that can be used to implement in their classrooms, increase confidence to facilitate and engage students in critical thinking, global competence, and learner autonomy. This workshop aims to facilitate teachers as change agents who would be equipped to integrate sustainability and 21st-century competencies into their practice of teaching English towards more meaningful and diverse learning contexts.
Biography
CHEATH Marylin has been an English language teacher since 2017, committed to empowering learners with both language proficiency and 21st-century skills. She currently teaches General English to teenagers, and young adults at COERR Language Skills Center, and Teaching Methodology, English for Engineering and Cultural Studies at the National University of Battambang. Passionate about professional growth and educational innovation, Marylin actively engages in workshops, conferences, webinars, and international programs to enhance her teaching practice. Her dedication has earned her two Certificates of Recognition as an Outstanding Teacher, nominations for four U.S. Department of State's OPEN Program courses, and the opportunity to present at a few local and international conferences. Her professional interests include integrating educational technology, designing interactive tasks, and embedding critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication (the 4Cs) into ELT classrooms. She is particularly driven to explore how language education can develop learners' global competence and readiness to tackle real-world challenges. Through her teaching and sharing, Marylin aspires to contribute to sustainable and inclusive English language teaching practices in Southeast Asia and beyond.
