Throughout this course we have gone through several aspects involved in culture and civilization. We also found out the diverse ways we see other people and face situations in life. What’s more we learned the importance of critical thinking in education. Due to the latter, I have concluded that without the ability of critical thinking we would not be able to get the gist of out of the information examined in all our subjects. Thus, I will write about critical thinking in EFL students and to what extent culture impacts our teaching.

According to Chance, Critical Thinking is "The ability to analyze facts, generate and organize ideas, defend opinions, make comparisons, draw inferences, evaluate arguments and solve problems"( 1986, p.6). In my opinion, that is an accurate and very close definition of the whole concept and aim of being critical. Therefore, when learning, it is not only important to know something by heart, like rote learning, but to be an active subject. By this I mean, one needs to question oneself: how? Why? What's my input in this subject? Is this a reliable source? Etc. So, it is a powerful skill we should all be able to manage.



It takes discipline to be efficiently critical, though. That is why teachers’ should aspire to model critical thinking skills as a process, so as to progressively provide hints, questions, activities and so on for students to digest and internalize what’s being learnt. But how? We should explicitly pass on our own thought processes by explaining how we come to certain solution or reason something, evaluating evidence given, as well as sources and probing their credibility, and also by telling them which things confused us or complicated us while studying or trying to understand something. Activities like grouping students, collaborative work, in which they “think aloud” and are able to widen their options, regarding views and ideas related to the main topic of study. We could develop critical thinking through questionnaires and interviews, through research projects or reflective journals too. This way we would also develop self-awareness and metacognitive strategies.


However, is not only important to know how, but why critical thinking is so important for our EFL students. As mentioned in the introduction, believing that memorizing facts is the right way people should learn is a completely mistaken belief. In contrast, we all know how important is to contextualize information in order to accurately internalize it. Especially when teaching EFL, we can’t pretend teaching grammar as a set of disconnected rules will be instantly or even accurately learned. We need to contextualize information for making learning more meaningful for our students. That is the why is important. We are empowering students, not only by helping them understand what has been shown to them, but through building up their knowledge without guiding them the entire time, we should promote independent thinkers at the same time.On the other hand, Culture can impact TEFL in the sense that we are immersed in a culture so we are used to certain ways of life in our society. Still, when teaching L2, in this case English, we can encourage students’ interest in the target countries, where the language is spoken. If we’re promoting critical thinking, we can take part through guiding our students’ to open their minds when faced to other cultures. Perhaps, they won’t go to the UK or Canada, but we should be able to transmit knowledge about those so they can relate to it. I would say it will be beneficial for our students’ knowledge of cultural facts. Consequently, it plays an important role in general education. Besides, we’re increasing tolerance towards, religions, ideologies, customs, people etc. I mean, as we are teaching aspects of other cultures we are helping them being aware of their own culture, so they critically think over these facts. This will be helpful because they’ll be able to have a say when asked about diverse topics.

In conclusion, as a future English teacher I believe I have the chance to encourage critical thinking while teaching different social and cultural contexts so as to put this skill into practice. Giving them the opportunity to know and understand other countries’ cultures will enable them to feel as equal and intelligent as people who have travelled everywhere. Teachers ought to use the power of promoting, encouraging and helping our students in a beneficial and constructive way for them.

Almost finished

Outline

I. Introduction

II. Critical Thinking
a. What is Critical Thinking
b. How to promote it
c. Importance for EFL students

III. Interaction between Culture and Critical Thinking
a. How is Culture related with Critical Thinking

IV Conclusion


Introduction: Throughout this course we have gone through several aspects of culture and civilization. In order to understand and comprehend the topics and history studied this semester, I found necessary to underline one of its highlights, this is Critical Thinking. Was there another way to get the gist out of Culture and civilization contents? I will, then, explain why it is a must promoting it in every classroom. What’s more, it will be discussed and analyzed culture implications and interferences in the process of developing it.


According to Chance, Critical Thinking is “The ability to analyze facts, generate and organize ideas, defend opinions, make comparisons, draw inferences, evaluate arguments and solve problems”( 1986, p.6). In my opinion, that is an accurate and very close definition of the whole concept and aim of being critical. When learning, it is not only important to know something by heart, like rote learning, but to be an active subject. By this I mean, one needs to question oneself: how? Why? What’s my input in this subject? Is this a reliable source? Etc. So, it is a powerful skill we should all be able to manage. It takes discipline to be efficiently critical, though. That is why we could follow Bloom’s taxonomy of the cognitive domain, if we are ready to undertake the process of developing it in our every day lives.

How is Critical Thinking promoted? Our labour as teachers is not only teaching a second language, unless you mean to teach disconnected chunks of language. If you want to develop and enhance your students` abilities and skills, you should integrate activities for making one’s learning more critical and beneficial at the same time. For instance, when given an activity, students`task will be relating the topic with something from their own daily lives, or something they know. This will help them use knowledge meaningfully, consequently you can ask them to work in groups; you are enhancing collaborative work in which they can compare answers, defend opinions, understanding and respecting different views, and so on.

Chaplin's outlook in Modern Times

“Modern Times” is a movie that tries to illustrate the consequences of Industrialism, in this case, through the Great depression. Charlie Chaplin represents a factory worker, who ends up having a nervous breakdown. After going through medical treatment, he is advised to relax. Although, it was a good thing that he was released from hospital, he would not even imagine or conceive what would be happening in the streets...

As a general view, if you are going to watch it, you’ll find that the aim of this movie is to explain and to increase people’s awareness, regarding the situation suffered by workers and families back then. It is important to underline, that is not shown in such a cruel way, but rather in a humorous aspect which will keep you interested and expectant.

So, “Modern Times”, why is the movie called that way? The name probably relies on, new technological instruments and machines. Also, it can be called modern because thanks to the Industrialism, several things changed, regarding working conditions and so on. What’s interesting of this movie is that no matter the situation they were living in, people were starting to realize the unreasonable treatment they had put up with, for so long. You should definitely watch the movie, and come up with an idea of the reason of its name.




I enjoyed Chaplin’s role in the movie. He was, after all, quite positive, brave and he would take risks no matter what. The role of the girl in the movie implies the difficulties that a homeless girl would have to deal with in those times. I strongly feel that Chaplin saw in her a bit of his personality too, strong persons and fighters regardless the problems.

In conclusion, “Modern Times” it is an entertaining, but still, interesting movie. In fact, it also lectures us on tough times and how to cope with difficulties. Moreover, it gives us a lesson of no matter how low we can feel and regardless life’s obstacles. You can still set goals and try to accomplish them, as long you are really willing to improve and have a better future. Finally, the movie will encourage you to reflect on the ways you would cope with a crisis, unjust actions and social frustration. You should definitely watch it and create your own views of it.

King James II

James II was a stuart king of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1685 until 1688. At the beginning of his reign, he had to face a rebellion, which failed, resulting in savage punishments of all of those involved. Later on, the king clashed with the parliament for trying to give civic equality to catholics and protestants. So, he decided to dissolve it and ruled alone. He attempted to promote Catholicism by signing up Catholics to military, political positions and into universities. In 1687 he even issued a Declaration of Indulgence aiming at complete religious toleration .


When his second wife’s son was born, and fearing that a Catholic succession was now assured, a group of Protestant aristocrats appealed to William of Orange, husband of James's older, and Protestant, daughter Mary. In November, William landed with an army in Devon. But the King was abandoned by an army and navy who he had completely alienated; James completely lost his nerve and fled abroad. In February 1689, parliament declared that James's flight represented an abdication (or abandonment) and William and Mary were crowned joint monarchs.

When James landed in Ireland, with French support, he raised an army. Despite of this, he was defeated at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690. Dying in exile in France on September 1701.



Not enough???

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/james_ii.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_II_of_England

Not another Historical Thriller movie

Elizabeth: The golden age
It is an Impressive movie about the protestant queen of England, Elizabeth I. She stands against king Phillip of Spain and his feverous Catholicism. The story illustrates the “Enterprise of England”, a plan engineered in order to assassinate the queen, bring Mary Stuart “Queen of Scots” into the throne, and therefore convert England into Catholicism.
Elizabeth is also known as the “Virgin Queen”, since she hasn’t married. For that reason, her majesty hasn’t conceived an heir. The film confirms her image as a powerful woman, vain and intelligent, mother of her country. However, virtuous Elizabeth I is shown in the movie as human as we are, when perhaps falling in love with a (as described in the movie) pirate, Sir Walter Raleigh, who ends up in one of her favourite wards’ arms. Anyway, as soon as Mary Stuart is beheaded for treason, Spain calls to a holy war. How will both countries end this war? Will god be on Spain’s side or protestant England?



I do personally wonder about a couple of things… Mary Stuart was the Queen of England’s cousin, why couldn’t they just get along? Obviously, very different and difficult times, back then, Elizabeth I was in great danger, her cousin wanted her crown, and if she didn’t keep her in prison, she might have called to a rebellion or something against her. And was there another reason for her to be called “Virgin Queen”? An affirmative answer is possible; perhaps Catholics didn’t like her to be virgin, because that way she would be compared, in virginity, to Mary, mother of god’s son. Moreover, in England protestants loved their Queen, and they might have seen her as a goddess, a Queen so powerful and caring but also pure. The reasons I believe she didn’t want to get married are pretty obvious for me, probably she just didn’t want to share the power of the crown, she felt probably that she didn’t want to ask for her husband’s opinion, or wind up like her mother did.




Changing the subject, I can’t help but thinking about her conflict with the King of Spain, it is important to underline that the king was taking over several countries, and it was a political decision in the aspect that Elizabeth I didn’t want to be managed by any King and his beliefs, also since she didn’t want him in her plans for discovering “The new world” which was America. Religiously, she had to stand up for England so that inquisition didn’t take over her protestant country. She is very clear on this, when she says: “… God don’t permit that it succeeds for that there will be no more liberty in England, or conscious, or thought. We cannot be defeated.”
Undoubtedly, an enjoyable film for its diverse conflicts: power, religion, wealth, love, treason and so on. Its interesting look on the unknown private life of Elizabeth I, speculations of the reasons she neither married nor cared for having a husband. Also how Protestants in England are shown in the good side and Catholics like some drastic and cruel people: Is that so?
I was impressed by the locations, the setting ,really adequately chosen, specially the sights of churches and castles, not mentioning the beautiful garments like the queen’s dresses and men’s clothing.
You should definitely go and rent it, you won’t regret!

Secrets Revealed

Several myths related to the existence of Stonehenge have been developed over the years. Which Myths? Well, according to the article by C. Hibbert there were tales of esoteric ceremonies, priestly incantations, human sacrifices and it was even seen as a sanctuary connected with a “sun cult”. But it was not until archaeologists Geoffrey Wainwright and Timothy Darvill excavated Stonehenge, that the secrets of the mysteries and reasons of existence of this monument have been discovered. For instance, they can accurately say now the first bluestones arrived not during 2,600 B.C, but in 2,300 B.C. And skeletons findings have facilitated a new theory to arise: Stonehenge = a healing Center. What evidence makes them believe so? People buried around Stonehenge that came from Europe.
So, when will we really find out what the Stonehenge really meant 2,300 year ago? That is something we don’t know, but we’ll wait for an official and accurate answer. After learning about the mysteries and origins of this world’s wonder, I’ve come to think that it might have been a place for all the theories that Stonehenge carries. But since there is an uncertain belief of its origins, people see it as a holy place or temple in which ancestors left their energy and power for the people to come , feel and enjoy …maybe heal, who knows? We don’t know how powerful faith can be, let us see it this way… perhaps Stonehenge as one of the recent archaeologists that dug around it said “ a prehistoric Lourdes”.

Nicol Verdejo

Nicole’s presentation was okay, although the organization wasn’t quite it was shown in the first slide, her speech was clear, and easy to follow and understand. I have nothing to say about her domain on the topic, she answered questions with no problem. The pictures to represent”Collaborative Work“were very explicit, and clear.
Nicole: Fine presentation. Nevertheless, I do believe you should be careful with the organization of the contents. Also, as an advice, you can use as many slides as you want in order to prevent the overload of one single slide. It can be imposing or overwhelming for the “audience” to digest or process, in one single slide, so much information (then several with the same content interconnected).


Congrats!!

from the Latin HUMANITAS = CIVILIZATION

Different theories and definitions have been encountered for the complex word Civilization. My view of it, after reading several definitions, shall be regarded as the one that believes in a non-stop process which gets rationalized or modernized by the improvements and evolutions of society itself. Let us see it like antivirus software that needs to have more resources to undertake the task to fulfill worldwide expectative, considering all facts that change every day. In other words, the term civilization is continuously changing due to the growth of society’s continuous renovating characteristics.
Nowadays civilization involves customs in culture, development in institutions, such as social, legal, economic, religious and political, within the society. It doesn’t rely just on the resources they have in immediate terms, but in exploiting them and trying to improve their own way of life, by interacting with other civilizations as well. By no means has the term referred to economic growth only, but to perspectives of life such as art and language and so on.
I must say that the complexity of this word comes because of the several characteristics than belong to it, what it surprises me the most is that it doesn’t only refer to economical facts nor wealth status of the civilization but it is so wide spread that merges all arts, reflection, expression, and what I have underlined above which makes it a treasure worth while the human beings attention.