Exploring Students' Perceptions of Debates for Enhancing English Communication and Critical Thinking: A Swinburne Vietnam Study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54855/ijte.23342

Keywords:

debates; global citizenship education; critical thinking skills; communication skills; English teaching

Abstract

In recent years, Vietnam has witnessed the emergence of numerous innovative approaches to English language instruction. One such method gaining traction is the integration of debates as a means to augment students' communication skills and cultivate critical thinking abilities. This study seeks to investigate university students' attitudes toward incorporating debate into their academic curriculum. The research was conducted with first-year students at Swinburne Vietnam, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The results illuminate the suitability, advantages, disadvantages, and areas for improvement in optimizing debate as an effective educational tool. By highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses, this research contributes to the ongoing enhancements of debate practices, fostering continuous development and refinement of this pedagogical approach in Vietnam's educational landscape.

Author Biography

  • Vu Ngoc Cuong, Swinburne Vietnam, Ha Noi, Vietnam

    Vu Ngoc Cuong is currently the Global Citizenship Education Program Coordinator cum lecturer at Swinburne Vietnam. He holds a Master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Foreign Language Teaching from the University of Canberra (Australia).

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Published

17-11-2023

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Research Article

How to Cite

Vu, N. C. (2023). Exploring Students’ Perceptions of Debates for Enhancing English Communication and Critical Thinking: A Swinburne Vietnam Study. International Journal of TESOL & Education, 3(4), 15-31. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijte.23342