Barriers to Teaching Higher Order Thinking Skills to EFL School Learners: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) are an essential 21^st-century cognitive skill. It has proved its effectiveness for EFL learners too. Therefore, it is very necessary for EFL teachers to apply different strategies to promote learners' critical thinking skills. However, it is still not clear about the effectiveness of the strategies utilized in promoting HOT skills in EFL classrooms, which demanded greater attention. This review systematically synthesized the HOTS concept by focusing on the barriers that can hamper the EFL learners and teachers from employing HOTS in the learning and teaching process. It also aims to highlight some strategies and possible solutions that can contribute to teaching HOTS in EFL classrooms. This study concluded with a set of suggestions for promoting EFL learners’ HOTS.