The challenges of critical thinking

The role of critical thinking in EAP has been the subject of heated debate among scholars and practitioners for at least twenty years. In the centre of this debate are several principal issues: whether critical thinking is a culturally-specific phenomenon, what role is played by language in critical thinking and whether critical thinking is a generic or a subject-specific skill. This article will discuss issues related to teaching critical thinking skills in International Foundation Programmes in a way that will prepare international students for the challenges of university studies.