PHILOSOPHICAL CHAIRS DISCUSSION TO TEACH STUDENTS CRITICAL THINKING (USING THE EXAMPLE OF A NON-LINGUISTIC UNIVERSITY)

The article presents the Philosophical Chairs discussion format for English classes at a non-linguistic university. The topicality of the research is determined by the need to form interdisciplinary skills of critical thinking in university students. Moreover, the study is forged by the ongoing demand for new and working methods of moulding the named skills. In the Philosophical Chairs discussion students perform on the spot and in the multitasking mode. They listen to the opponents’ arguments, analyze and evaluate them, agree or disagree and present their own viewpoints. Also, they practice summarizing skills. Alongside with discussion formats traditionally used in English classes, such as panel talk, movie-based discussion, role play, forum, debates, etc., Philosophical Chairs may be introduced to groups with levels Intermediate+ to Advanced. The format has a number of advantages presented in accordance with the concepts of foreign language (classroom) anxiety (FLA/FLCA), foreign language boredom (FLB) and foreign language enjoyment (FLE). It creates an informal, friendly and positive atmosphere, does not infer formative assessment, and involves students in physical activity, which is of special importance due to their sedentary lifestyles. Philosophical Chairs raises motivation and FLE levels, reduces FLA и FLB levels, which is backed up by the students’ survey results. Russian and foreign research papers on teaching discussion with the aim of forming critical thinking skills are analyzed, alongside with works on FLA and FLE. Application results in several student groups are provided, together with the authors’ hands-on recommendations.

critical thinking, discussion, teaching method, foreign language (classroom) anxiety (FLA/FLCA), foreign language boredom (FLB), foreign language enjoyment (FLE), motivation, English for academic purposes (EAP), non-linguis- tic university, non-linguistic majors

Belorukova M. V., Zolotova M. V., Skurikhin N. A. Philosophical Chairs discussion to teach students critical thinking (using the example of a non-linguistic university). Biznes. Obrazovanie. Pravo = Business. Education. Law. 2025;2(71):295—302. DOI: 10.25683/VOLBI.2025.71.1264.