Webinar Review: How to integrate critical thinking at lower levels with National Geographic Learning

     This was a great treat after the first webinar i watched this webinar unlike the previous "Resilience" one was actually well paced and quick to the point. You quickly understand points being made and they are paced well enough to not overwhelm you.

Information clearly provided and explained, rest of the webinar was this well done too!

    

    The name of the webinar tells everything and hides nothing about the content of the webinar, it's about how we can use critical thinking when teaching to lower level students who often have a poor vocabulary and weak grasp of the rules of English. At a first glance it really does seem like its either impossible or not worth the hassle to integrate critical thinking to lower level students but this webinar has really won me over. Not only can it be done but with a little foresight it isn't even hard! But of course first we must make clear what exactly counts as critical thinking which is really well explained in the image above. We want the understood knowledge to be actually used, analyzed and be used to make whole new sentences.

    

            To able to use basic critical thinking questions the students need know some key bits and pieces of knowledge but worry not, the above words and phrases well within the envelope of a lover level students. Our webinar host John now tells us we by using personalized questions get students invested easier and improve their critical thinking.

These questions are easy to understand and intuitive to answer perfect for integrating critical thinking to class   

And finally we make the students write their own questions, nothing to fancy but the creating questions will help them use language in the future

    This is a great example, first a normal exercise where the students fill the gaps so when the second exercise comes they aren't confused and already have guidance.

    This webinar clearly explains why critical thinking in language teaching doesn't need to be locked in for higher cefr levels and even an A1 and A2 level students can their learning experience enhanced by critical thinking exercises. This webinar changed my mind on the topic and im sure it will convince you too that critical thinking can be integrated for lover level students if you don't believe it already.

And here is the webinar it self for those that want to watch and decide for themselves.