Formation of critical thinking during the study of the discipline «Methods of teaching and educating, the field of a foreign language»

This article is devoted to the possibilities of forming critical thinking in the classroom on the course of methods of teaching foreign languages. The introduction analyzes various definitions of the «critical thinking» concept by Russian and foreign authors. The individual features and qualities of critical thinking, as well as the leading principles of its formation, are considered. The author summarizes his experience of teaching this discipline with an emphasis on the development of critical thinking mainly in lectures. Such ways of formation as inductive perception of the material, discussion, project, case study are emphasized. The author identifies the techniques that help the formation of critical thinking: visual metaphor, independent compilation of diagrams and tables, presentation and self-presentation, mind map, generalization and analysis of experience and knowledge. The article traces the development of certain qualities of critical thinking, such as observation, reflection, the ability to look at things critically from a different angle, the ability to doubt, from the third to the fifth year of study and outlines ways to improve it in the master's program