Investigation Into The Critical Thinking Dispositions Of The English Majors In A Normal University

Critical thinking is purposeful, self-regulatory judgment which results ininterpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference, as well as explanation of theevidential, conceptual, methodological, criteriological, or contextual considerationsupon which that judgment is based. In this information-based age, critical thinking hasbeen an essential ability for one to be successful in life. Emphasis on the cultivation ofcritical thinking in education is a trend. As for the English majors, the traditionalteaching-learning methods overemphasis the basic skills they need to grasp instead ofcritical thinking ability they should have. What’s more, the English majors in normaluniversity, are more likely to be English teachers in the future. They shoulder theresponsibility, not only the pass-on of the knowledge but also the transition ofthinking abilities. Hence, having an understanding of the current situation of thecritical thinking ability of English majors in normal university is of great significance.This study was conducted among153undergraduate English majors in a normaluniversity with the questionnaire CTDI-CV (California Critical Thinking DispositionInventory-Chinese Version) and interview. It aims to investigate the overall featuresof the critical thinking dispositions of the English majors，to explore the correlationbetween the English performance and critical thinking dispositions, and the differencein critical thinking dispositions between the students from different familybackground.Data analysis reveals that:1） the mean score of critical thinking dispositions is255, which is lower than280, suggesting English majors in normal university have anegative disposition on critical thinking. And as for the seven sub-dimensions, theyonly have a positive disposition on maturity disposition. And the sub-dimensions,truth-seeking and open-mindedness, are close to the positive level, while the rest ofthe sub-dimensions, analyticity, systematicity, self-confidence and inquisitiveness are far from the positive level.2）there is a significant correlation between the Englishmajors’ English performance and their critical thinking dispositions. The results showthat the stronger dispositions of critical thinking the students have, the better thestudents’ English performance are.3）a significant difference is existed between thestudents from the countryside and the cities and towns in critical thinking dispositions,that is, the English majors from the cities and towns have a stronger dispositions thanthose from countryside.Based on the findings, some implications are put forward to the cultivation of thecritical thinking： the students should realize the importance of their activeparticipation in critical thinking abilities cultivation; the instructors should takedifferent strategies in stimulating the students’ motivation and help them to be criticalthinkers etc.