This research explored the ultimate direction and value of discussion course in the college liberal arts education. The goal of this research is to explore the possibility of specific methodology to realize this. Discussion course of liberal arts education in a college aims at learning two competencies, ‘critical and creative thinking ability’ and ‘rational and logical speaking skill’. For this, this research emphasized the basic aim of liberal arts education, which is liberal culture education, and humanistic value.
To realize this, this research suggested two methods of teaching. First, the design of free discussion course with the mediation of liberal arts and art. For example, free discussion of <Art and Culture> and <Contemporary Art and Human> of Keimyung University was conducted after providing students with abundant humanities knowledge and artistic experience. This led students to feel the necessity of internal communication and conduct an autonomous and active discussion.
Second, reading discussion of ‘tasting reading(味讀)’, which is a deep and slow-learning of a book. Tasting reading is slow reading, slow and deep reading by tasting and appreciating the taste of a book. The model of the lecture of tasting reading is ‘<Silver Spoon> class’, where Hashimoto Takeshi, a Japanese middle school teacher, read a coming of age novel, <Silver Spoon>, in 1950s. This way, students can discover their own tastes and preferences through a reading discussion by deeply and thoroughly reading a novel. Such reading is to enable students to ‘explore life in their own way’ and ‘discover and extend their possibility’.
Based on these two cases, this research insisted that university discussion classes should go back to the ‘foundations again’. In other words, as the liberal arts course of the university, discussion class should aim at the basic value of liberal arts, which is liberal arts and personality education.