English in Liberal Arts education

This is an attempt to illuminate the study of English in liberal arts education taking both international and local contexts into account. The significance of liberal arts education in university has never been understated. However, people’s understanding of liberal arts education has gone through major changes depending on socio-cultural, economic and political contexts in the given society. And as English study in liberal arts education cannot be independent of such perceptual changes, it needs an active review in order to meet challenges brought about by shifting international and local contexts. In order for the argument about what English study as liberal art education should be like to take its departure, a brief visit to the history of liberal arts education, main purposes of liberal arts education delineated by 7 major universities in Korea, and main English courses offered by 5 universities in Seoul is paid. As a result, English study as liberal art education needs to promote critical thinking for not only acquisition of knowledge but also creative application of their knowledge in tandem with their communicative competence in multilingual and cultural contexts.