The Impact of Inquiry-based Learning approach on Critical Thinking Skill of EFL Students

To modify the way how the students are getting ready to encounter the needs of the new era, some other different teaching approaches are under research. Inquiry-based learning is such a method supposed to empower the skills students need to master. The hypothesis was that inquiry-based learning can have impact on critical thinking ability of students. The data was from language learners at Guyesh language institute placed in Alborz(Iran). To homogenize the participants, they had a language proficiency test (PET) as pre-test. Out of 62 students, 38 students were selected. The learners were put into one experimental and one control group based on their exam results. The researchers used independent sample T–Test to measure the statistical differences between the two groups. Before receiving instruction the students completed a critical thinking questionnaire. After sessions of inquiry-based instruction, the researchers gave the post-tests to both experimental and control groups. Finally, the results of the analysis of the data ensured that doing inquiry-based activities increased critical thinking ability of the subjects. The outcome of this study confirmed that participation in inquiry-based learning class had a significant impact on learners’ critical thinking skill.