Developing soft skills during English lessons: creative and critical thinking

Abstract

Soft skills are no longer considered secondary to professional skills. They are essential for personal and professional success in a rapidly changing, interconnected world. Developing these skills can lead to better career prospects, improved relationships, and a more enriching life overall. In this article the author is going to consider the ways to develop such soft skills as creative and critical thinking during English lessons. Creative and critical thinking are valuable soft skills that play a crucial role in problem-solving, decisionmaking, and innovation. Both creative and critical thinking can complement each other in various scenarios. Creative thinking can generate a wide range of potential solutions, while critical thinking helps select the most viable and effective ones. They also enhance an individual’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and excel in various professional roles. Developing creative and critical thinking skills during English lessons can be both fun and beneficial. The author suggests using creative writing prompts, role play, storytelling, creative projects and collaborative brainstorming for improving creative thinking skills. The ways to develop critical thinking lies in using Socratic seminars, text analysis, debates, media literacy, logical puzzles, comparative literature studies as well as feedback and revision. Incorporating a mix of these activities into English lessons can help students develop both creative and critical thinking skills. It’s also essential to create a supportive and open environment where students feel comfortable expressing their ideas and engaging in discussions.