Specifically, the study was aimed to reveal teachers’ strategies in maximizing
students’ critical thinking especially in apperception stage, the initial stage in the
teaching learning process. The method used was descriptive-qualitative which
focused on collecting information. The sample of the research was the certified
English teachers who teach in piloting junior high schools in Purwokerto. The
technique for collecting data was closed-questionnaire as the main data, semistructured
interview, and participant-observation as the supporting data to gain depth
information and to ensure that the teachers implemented those activities in their
classroom. The results of questionnaire as the main data were converted into
percentages. In summary, it was revealed that there are 17 effective teachers’
strategies which should be applied by the teacher in order to build and maximize
students’ critical thinking in apperception stage. Three of them were: 1) having good
skill in designing teaching learning process that appropriate with the material that
will be taught. It was revealed that 100 % was got for that point. By having good
ability in designing the teaching learning process, teacher will be easy to maximize
students’ critical thinking 2) Using media in giving case or problem. All of the
teachers strongly agreed to use the media, 100 % was got for this kind of activity. In
this strategy, the teacher might use LCD, power point slide, video, picture, and others
media. 3) Connecting the case or problem given with students’ experiences and
environment. Nearly 65 % agreed to implement that activity. By connecting the case
with students’ experiences and environment, the students would be more critical
because they have known well about their experiences and environment.