Asian Adaptation of Critical Thinking Education

本研究的目的是通过对日本和其他亚洲国家（主要是泰国）批判性思维教学的研究和实践，寻找适合亚洲教育环境的理论/实践表现最佳的批判性思维教育模式。在亚洲的课堂上，不依赖于批判性思维的教科书，使用苏格拉底对话等哲学实践方法和提问艺术（相互提问）来练习批判性思维的要点是什么？然而，当这些实践被引入亚洲学院和大学的课堂时，出现了以下问题：1)当使用日语作为工作语言与以日语为母语的学生进行苏格拉底对话和哲学咨询时，辅导员通常很难像用英语一样清晰地提出监管问题。即使在日本学生中，也可以通过使用英语来解决这个问题。2)日本和泰国学生在使用批判性思维技能方面存在显著差异。与泰国学生相比，日本学生倾向于避免在小组中使用批判性思维。相比之下，泰国学生倾向于在小组中积极运用批判性思维。通过以上观察，可以得出以下结论：批判性思维在使用英语作为教学/学习媒介语言的国际项目的课堂上是有效的。即使在一个以亚洲学生为主的教室里，国际学生的存在也能提高批判性思维的运用。此外，重要的是选择一个好的实际主题，可以在所有参与者之间共享。

The aim of the present research is to find a theoretical/ practical best-performance model of critical thinking education which fits the Asian educational environment through the research and practice of teaching of critical thinking in Japan and other Asian countries(mainly Thailand). What are the points when practicing critical thinking in Asian classrooms, using the method of philosophical practices like Socratic dialogue and the art of questioning(mutual questioning) without relying on critical thinking textbooks? When these practices are introduced into classrooms in Asian colleges and universities, however, the following problems emerge : 1) When using Japanese as working language with native Japanese speaking students in conducting Socratic dialogue and philosophical counseling, it is often difficult for facilitators to formulate regulatory questions as clearly as they do in English. This problem can be solved by using English even among Japanese students. 2) A meaningful difference is observed between Japanese and Thai students in using the skill of critical thinking. Compared to Thai students, Japanese students tend to refrain from using critical thinking in a group. In contrast, Thai students tend to actively use critical thinking in a group. Through the above observations, it can be concluded as follows : Critical thinking is effective in the classroom of an international program using English as teaching/ learning medium language. The presence of international students enhances the use of critical thinking even in a classroom where the majority are Asian. Moreover, it is important to choose a good actual topic that can be shared among all participants.