Critical Thinking: A Path to Understanding to Global Issues

by

Prateek Sharma


1. Objectives and Overview

Activity Overview:

A significant part of intercultural education is to educate learners on some of the pressing global issues that the world faces today. Social differences and economic disparity are two such challenges that numerous countries still face. This activity will help learners critically analyze how, mostly, one problem leads to another, or how these challenges are interconnected.

General Learning Objectives:

  • to raise social and cultural awareness
  • to develop critical thinking skills
  • to allow learners to demonstrate critical thinking abilities through their classroom discussion

Specific Learning Objectives (optional):

  • to encourage and promote classroom discussion
  • to learn vocabulary for explaining social issues

Keywords:

critical thinking, social issues, intercultural awareness, vocabulary, discussion-based activity

2. Activity Context

Activity context description

This activity is ideal for university students (any year) and will expose them to some of the global issues facing the world today. Issues in India are used as reference, however, using the same format teachers can adapt this activity to raise awareness about issues existing in their countries.


Students

Suggested range of students:
10
15
20
30
Do students need to use a second language?
Yes
What is the second language?
English
Level(s) in target language:
Pre-intermediate | CEFR A2 | IELTS 2.5-3.0 | TOEIC 225-500
  • These levels are approximations 
Comments

3: Activity Duration

Estimated duration (multiple ranges possible):
1 - 1.5 hours
How many sessions?
1
Any homework?
No