Practice and Exploration of Cultivating Students’ Critical Thinking by Using Problem-Based Learning

Abstract

Currently, the English teaching at elementary schools in China is generally lack of training of students’ thinking ability. However, critical thinking is the most important and valuable ability for learning. In order to develop students’ critical thinking skill, teachers introduced problem-based learning into English teaching at elementary schools by taking three stages as setting prior-, during-, and post-reading as an example, explored students’ critical thinking ability through creating a questioning atmosphere, setting up a thinking platform, and improving the quality of problems. Our practical performance showed that problem-based learning can significantly improve students’ thinking quality.