The Perspective of Pre-service English Teachers on Employing the Higher Order Thinking Skills in Their In-Service Classes

Abstract

This current study is intended to investigate to what extent the pre-service English teachers
perceive in employing the higher order thinking skills when they become service English
teachers someday. This study is considered strategic since one of the main important educational
goals in 21st century is the competence to think critically. In addition, the pre-service English
teachers today are the in service English teachers tomorrow. Consequently, what they perceive
on their teaching practice today affect their in service teaching someday. This study employs a
survey involving 109 subjects who fall into two categories; the experienced and the
inexperienced pre-service English teachers at an Islamic university in Indonesia. A questionnaire
is used to collect the data. The finding of this current study reveals that overall the sum score
gained is 3848, the mean score is 35.62 and the standard deviation is 4.71. It can be said that the
pre-service English teachers are not definitely sure. The standard deviation score 4.71 means that
although the average pre-service English teachers does not strongly take a stand whether they are
going to promote the higher order thinking skills in their teaching service later. Anyway, some of
them have strong preference to promote the higher order thinking skills during their teaching
service at schools later.