The Relationship between Bilingualism, Critical Thinking, and Language Proficiency of Iranian EFL Learners

This research was designed to investigate whether there is any significant relationship between bilingualism, critical thinking and language proficiency. According to Carringer (۱۹۷۴), bilingualism improves thinking abilities and since a bilingual has two terms for one referent, his attention is focused on ideas and meanings rather than words and symbols. The sample of the study consisted of ۶۰ Persian monolinguals together with ۶۰ coordinate bilinguals who were selected from Tehran International School. The participants’ ages ranged from ۱۴-۱۷ and most of them were male, (۱۰۶ male students). The relationship between bilingualism, critical thinking, and language proficiency was examined through the administration of the Oxford Placement Test (OPT) and the Critical Thinking Assessment Practice Quiz (CTAP). The outcome of this study showed that bilinguals have better critical thinking abilities than monolinguals. They also have better language proficiency compared to monolinguals.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bilingualism ، Proficiency ، Critical Thinking ، Test ، EFL