Critical thinking skills are increasingly becoming more important in a fast changing and ever more globalized world. The Japanese university student, through reasons of culture, language, teaching, and the educational system seems to be lacking in these skills, or at least has not developed them sufficiently, especially when compared to students from other countries. It can be argued that with appropriate input, an alternative cultural viewpoint and the use of the English language, the EFL classroom can provide a unique space in the Japanese university setting to foster critical thinking skills among students. This paper will examine the reasons for a lack of critical thinking skills among Japanese students, and examine in what way the EFL classroom can be utilized to improve these skills.
Philip Zamrej Graham (Sat,) studied this question.