Abstract

The present mixed-method study aims to find out the status quo of critical thinking ability of university non-English majors by investigating 224 non-English majors from a university in China (105 male and 119 female students, 114 art and 110 science majors, 109 freshmen and 115 sophomores were included respectively) through questionnaires and interviews. Specifically, it compares critical thinking ability in English reading between students of different genders, majors as well as grades. The result shows that the critical thinking ability of university non-English majors in English reading is weak, namely, most students lack critical thinking ability in English as a Foreign Language reading class, which requires relevant training urgently. Also, differences of English critical thinking ability lie in gender, major, and grade. Teachers are well-advised to improve their teaching method and put more emphasis on arousing students’ awareness of critical thinking. Also, they need to teach students according to their characteristics so as to promote students’ critical thinking ability in English reading fully and harmoniously.

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