Critical thinking is a fundamental skill for today’s college students, since it aids in the acquisition of knowledge, correct judgements, and self-adjustment. However, traditional English teaching in China only focuses on the development of students’ language skills and the inculcation of language knowledge, rather than the cultivation of students’ critical thinking skills. This study addresses the aforementioned problem and discusses the definition and significance of critical thinking. Subsequently, it analyzes the causes of L2 students’ ineffective critical thinking and proposes several procedures for the training of students in English reading, listening, speaking, and writing.