Welcome to English
English has long held a central place in education. To study English is to learn the history of the English language and the importance of literature in our culture. The skills learned in studying English – the close reading and careful analysis of texts, the ability to write clearly and concisely, and the ability to both make and critique arguments – are essential to success not only in education, but also in a wide range of work environments. Even more importantly, English studies promote an active engagement with cultural values. That is to say, our discipline encourages us to examine accepted truths, to question and test them as part of our everyday work. By doing so, we foster open debates about power, knowledge, and identity. It's our firm conviction that such debates are crucial to the ongoing process of developing a culturally diverse society. Like other subjects in the Humanities, English studies help us to think about what it means to be human, and to understand the cultural and natural environments we inhabit.