The Relationship between proficiency in a foreign language and critical thinking skills

11 ABSTRACT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROFICIENCY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS Meryem MİRİO?LÜ (AKÇAYOGLÜ) Ph. D. Dissertation, English Language Teaching Department Supervisor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Erdoğan BADA December, 2002, 144 Pages The present study focuses mainly on the relationship between proficiency in a foreign language and critical thinking skills. In the Adult Second Language learning process, individuals utilize various language learning strategies, for example inferencing, hypothesis testing, deducting, etc., which correspond to the characteristics of critical thinking. The effective use of these language strategies may contribute to success in language learning as well as critical thinking skills. During the process of second language learning, the learner is engaged in cognitive strategies. This experience of learning a second language may result in an increase of critical thinking ability of second language learners. Our findings indicate that a relationship between language proficiency and critical thinking is existent. Besides language proficiency, family background was found to have an impact on critical thinking skills. Key words; Critical Thinking Skills, Second Language Proficiency Level, Second Language Learning Strategies