Integrating Critical Literacy into Communicative Language Teaching for EFL Learners at a Private Language Center

Ahmadi, Parviz

Volume 2, Issue 1 (January 2025) JCALS 2025, 2(1): 145-166 | Back to browse issues page

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Ahmadi P. Integrating Critical Literacy into Communicative Language Teaching for EFL Learners at a Private Language Center. JCALS 2025; 2 (1) : 6
URL: http://cals.gonbad.ac.ir/article-1-68-en.html

Integrating Critical Literacy into Communicative Language Teaching for EFL Learners at a Private Language Center

Parviz Ahmadi

Farhangian University

Abstract: (4 Views)

This study explored the integration of critical literacy into communicative language teaching (CLT) for upper-intermediate EFL learners at a private language center. The research aimed to investigate how critical literacy activities influence learners’ engagement, critical thinking, reflective skills, and communication in the classroom. Twenty teenage female learners and five teachers participated in the study. A qualitative research design was adopted, including classroom observations, teacher interviews, and learner reflection texts. Data were analyzed thematically to identify patterns related to critical literacy development. The findings revealed that learners demonstrated increased awareness of textual features, questioned assumptions, analyzed multiple perspectives, and connected content to personal experiences. They showed improvements in reasoning, justification of ideas, collaboration, and communication confidence. Peer discussion and teacher guidance supported learners’ reflective thinking and collaborative problem-solving, allowing learners to evaluate texts critically and articulate their understanding effectively. The study also found that integrating critical literacy encouraged metacognitive skills, including self-monitoring of understanding and deliberate planning of responses. Overall, the results indicate that critical literacy enhances both language proficiency and higher-order thinking, providing learners with tools to engage thoughtfully with texts, peers, and real-world contexts.

Article number: 6

Keywords: Critical literacy, Communicative language teaching, EFL learners, Reflective thinking, Collaborative learning, Classroom engagement

Full-Text [PDF 442 kb] (6 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: General
Received: 2024/08/27 | Accepted: 2024/11/25 | Published: 2025/01/1