Humanities courses pro or against? Having humanities courses stands students’ all-rounded development in good stead. Bacon once said “Histories make men wise; poets witty；natural philosophy deep；moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.” There is many a truism in what Bacon said. Firstly, these courses can substantially broaden students’ horizons and expand their scope of knowledge. For instance, literature enables students to develop their creativity, enhances their thinking skills and helps improve their interpersonal communication skills. Humanities courses, usually as selective courses, have a large attendance. Students with different majors and from different provinces will get acquainted and communicate with other students, which is conducive to the improvement in interpersonal communication skills. Secondly, taking Humanities courses benefits students a lot not only as an individual being but also a social being in the years to come. A celebrated and influential HR manger with inter-disciplinary education background recalled his humanities courses experience and said “My studies in classics and in history really changed how I think, how I look at the world and have really taught me how to see things not in sort of clear answers, but try to see all the different elements of an issue. It will teach you how to be a critical thinker and how to analyze materials.” These capabilities，which are acquired through the study of humanities, are vitally important for future development. Be that as it may, some opponents frown on the act adopted by the noted university. Firstly, they argue that it is violation of freedom of choice to make it compulsory for students to take humanities courses. This can be called abuse of administer power. Secondly, the science and engineering students are engaged in their major study and cannot devote time and energy to humanities study, or they simply declare it is of no practical value for them to study humanities.

Humanities courses , Pro or Against? Humanities Courses, Pro or Against? When a prestigious university in China made it a rule that her undergraduates of science and engineering needed to obtain at least 8 credits in humanities courses, such as history, literature and philosophy, it soon became a hot-debated topic on the Internet. Opinions differed from person to person. A small number of netizens challenged its necessity and argued that every undergraduate should be given the freedom in their own choice of courses. The majority, however, thought it a wise move and appreciated it. The latter is the appropriate response. To start with, humanities play an important role in fostering and shaping our humanity spirit and humanity concern. Humanity spirit and humanity concern are to be cultivated in an atmosphere of humanities. People, usually exposed to humanities, are most likely to foster humanity spirit. From a social perspective, their significance cannot be too much emphasized. Look at those people who have suffered from catastrophic natural disasters, such as violent earthquake in Sichuan China and devastating tsunami in Japan. Look at those people who are extremely impoverished and subject to starvation and malnutrition. Look at those people who are living in war-shattered countries and those who are AIDS-afflicted. The vulnerable groups badly need the alms and relief from all walks of life. Statistics have shown that a massive number of volunteers who offered their aid to the people in earthquake-stricken areas have received humanities education. Thus the chances to deliver humanitarian assistance to them by the individuals who have been reared in and taught the humanities courses will enhance, which, in turn, will do the society as a whole a good turn.

Language Partners teach Chinese and its Culture

Hi I am Hanson. I live in Shanghai. I'm quite interested in foreign cultures. Actually I major in English. I also like to teach foreigners Chinese to share our thoughts and ideas. I hope we can be language partners. My Wechat is Hanson_90 Skype is Hanson90.