Why Study Latin?

All students take Latin every year starting in third grade. We believe there are at least five solid reasons for classical language study.

1. Latin reveals a great deal about English and greatly enhances the student’s power of expression in his/her native language.
   1. About 80% of English vocabulary comes from Latin and Greek.
   2. English vocabulary tests reveal that students of Latin score higher.
2. Latin develops and deepens the student’s understanding of and appreciation for literature.
   1. A doorway is opened to great classical literature- Virgil, for example.
   2. The student’s appreciation for English literature grows because great English literature is filled with classical allusions. A student who understands those has an increased advantage.
3. Latin provides an understanding of the classical impact on our modern culture.
   1. This is evident in wedding rings, dollar signs, political structure, architecture, the names of constellations and planets, etc.
4. Latin trains the student in the essentials of scientific method: observation, comparison, and generalization.
   1. Students of Latin are equipped with the methodology of rigorous analysis.
   2. Latin trains minds to encounter unfamiliar material in science and other disciplines.
5. Latin provides a wonderful foundation for the study of other languages.
   1. Latin is not a “dead language,” but rather a language that lives on in almost all major Western languages, including French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian.
   2. Students gain an understanding of how inflected languages work. This will prepare them to study the languages of German, Russian, and Greek.