试析英语专业技能课程与批判性思维能力培养的关系

On the Relationship Between English Language Skills Training and the Development of Critical Thinking

"思辨缺席症"是长期困扰我国高校英语专业本科人才培养的软肋。究其根源,构成英语专业课程设置主体的技能课程难辞其咎。笔者认为,技能课教学改革关系到英语专业整个人才培养目标的实现。理论和实践均显示,英语技能课与批判性思维能力培养并非必然背道而驰。通过压缩技能课的课时比例、调整教学和改革教学方法,英语专业完全有可能在巩固和加强听、说、读、写、译等基本功的同时,实现提高批判性思维能力这一人才培养的核心目标。

The fact that English majors of undergraduate degree programs lack critical thinking has become a major concern for many universities in China. This is primarily due to the skill-based courses which constitute the majority of the English curriculum. The author thinks that the reform of skill-based courses is vital for English departments to achieve their goal of talent development. Both theory and practice indicate that skill-based courses do not necessarily go against the development of critical thinking. Rather, critical thinking ability can be enhanced as language skills are developed and fostered so long as we reduce the number of skills training hours, overhaul the syllabus, and adjust teaching methods.