Fostering Critical Thinking in an English Communication Class: A Plan for a Master in Tourism

To face digital disinformation individuals must be educated to acquire, use and communicate information in a critical way. Kuhlthau et al. (2015) suggest educating people from a young age through the joint efforts of teachers, librarians and subject experts. Motivation is triggered by activating the Third Space,which connects curriculum to real life. The first part of the paper moves from a literature review to answer some questions based on these assumptions. Subsequently, two experiences focused on tourism communication are related: embedding information and media literacy in a Communication in English class in a Master’s degree course at the Université Gustave Eiffel, and organising a workshop at BOBCATSSS2020 Conference in Paris. Moving from Fake News in information about tourism on social media, the Third Space is easily activated by an everyday experience of being a tourist. Building on the two cases, the authors reflect from their different viewpoints of librarian and teacher on increasing critical awareness of learners as global citizens while teaching English for Special Purposes.