Introduction In the article, ‘critical thinking crucial to global success’, Alwasilah (2002) discusses in detail the need to convince Indonesian curriculum developers that language is a tool for thinking. He also argues that language education should be redesigned to address the critical thinking skills, like generating possibilities, analysis, comparison and contrast, inference and interpretation, evaluation and meta cognition. Throughout the argument he maintains his views on the issue that Indonesia is facing today. He has applied emotion and logic in delivering his argument. Application of Critical Thinking In this article, the author has brought out his concern about teaching Indonesian language in Indonesia.
He brings out the general and most common perception of Indonesian people on this subject by quoting education minister statement, which describes Indonesian language as boring subject. He has carried forward using the right level of emotion in the article by quoting that the Indonesian subject taught in the school doesn’t provide any required knowledge and skills to develop the students. By arguing that the language is a tool for thinking and a tool of civilization, he brings the right emotion to convey the message that professionally designed, language teaching will significantly improve students’ intellectual ability. While in some places the article does make assumption and commits fallacies by generalizing that the subject teacher has no vision and the teaching method is monotonous. However, he strengthens his argument immediately by quoting various logics like methods and techniques of language teaching like theory versus practice, product versus process, behaviorism versus intellectual development and perspective versus descriptive etc.
The Essay on One Way Is to Make English Language a Compulsory Subject
One way is to make English language a compulsory subject. In my school just as Mathematics, Science and other social subjects are taught English should also be introduced as proper course. All students from their very early education will be introduced to English. All students would be required to pass the English course before they can be promoted to the next grade. For example a grade one who is ...
Throughout the article, the author maintains right language and tone and this helps the readers to focus on the subject. The author has discussed this issue in detail and has used reasoning and detailed analysis to reach the conclusion as to what need to be done to fix the issue. Accordingly, he states that the school teachers and college professors should be made aware of the importance of language proficiency and the need to emphasis practice of language rather than theory. He wants them to be aware that the language is tool for thinking. He concludes his argument with recommending using public speaking, debating, role-playing, paper presenting, and essay writing. As these activities are expected to develop critical thinking and to be open-minded and accept criticism.
Concluding Thoughts In conclusion, the author has applied all the critical thinking processes in analyzing the subject. He has clearly brought the need for language teaching to be aimed at meeting global challenges. A well-written article, which has clearly brought out the key message, that the basic to success in global competition is the mastery of critical thinking. Reference M.
Neal Brown, Stuart M. Keeley, Morgan W. McCall, Jr. , and Robert E. Kaplan. Readings in Critical Thinking, [University of Phoenix e-text].
Needham Heights, MA. Pearson Custom Publishing, 2001 A Chadar Alwasilah (2002, May 2).
Critical thinking crucial to global success. Jakarta Post. Retrieved September 1, 2003 from EBSCOhost database (EBSCOhost database Business Source Premier) on the World Wide Web: web.
