The Impact of Critical Thinking-Focused Learning Logs : Enhancing Japanese Students’ CT Performance in Written Communication

The complex nature of critical thinking (CT) presents significant challenges in teaching, particularly in non-Western English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts.Despite its acknowledged importance in higher education, there is a notable lack of established methodologies for enhancing CT performance, especially in written communication.This study addresses this gap by exploring the use of CT-focused learning logs in Japanese EFL university-level classrooms.Learning logs, tools for students to record their learning experiences or reflections, are augmented by CT-infused tasks such as opinion paragraph writing, text summarization, and perspective sharing.These tasks are implemented in oral communication courses with 34 lower-intermediate to intermediate-level students.Pre-and postopinion paragraph writing tests assessed improvements in students' abilities to construct and articulate well-reasoned and coherently structured arguments.The findings indicate that CT-infused tasks using learning logs significantly improve students' reasoning abilities and fluency in written communication.While the study revealed students' weaknesses in presenting effective topic sentences and conclusions, it highlights the novel potential of CT-focused learning logs to enhance students' abilities to express critical thoughts and produce higher-quality writing.These findings offer valuable insights for EFL educators aiming to foster critical written competencies among their students.