Benefits of learning Latin

[Astarho]

Benefits of learning Latin
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 14, 2005 12:00 AM
Parents: Do you want your children to learn a foreign language that exposes them to the ancient cultures they read about in their history books or see in the movies?

Want them to improve their test scores and make themselves a little more appealing to colleges?

Valley Latin teachers think they have a way for all those wishes to come true.

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http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0314edlatin14.html

I've heard about this over the past few years, and I was curious if any other states were doing this. Thoughts?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. I know that members of the Classics Dept. at the U. of MN

travel around talking up Latin.

By the way, when I was in grad school, I knew a student of Classics who applied for a job as a hospital admitting clerk for the summer between undergrad and grad school. When they asked her what special qualifications she had beyond typing, she replied, "I know Latin and Greek, so I can spell the name of every disease and body part."

She got the job. :-)

[deadparrot]

2. As a Latin student for four years...

I can say that my knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary has improved dramatically because of my studies. It also began my love affair with Roman history. I've begun to study French and ancient Greek, and I'm taking Italian at college next year, and they are vastly easier because of Latin.

The miles and miles of translation can, admittedly, get a little old, but it's fascinated how interconnected Latin and English are. I know my writing has improved.

[Book Lover]

3. And it works the other way as well

Having studied Italian for four years prior to my study of Latin not only helped my Latin, but gave me a better understanding of Italian, particularly my Dante.

[rickrok66]

4. Not learning Latin, but.....

I took a class in Latin and Greek Etymology from my Classics department when I was a Freshman many years ago.

I was one of the best classes I ever took in my life. It helped build my vocabulary as well as explain really the backbone of our language.

It also inspired me to obtain a second minor in Classics.

[leyton]

5. Latin is good for thinking skills.

Decoding a Latin sentence is tricky, and I'd say that doing it efficiently and accurately requires good logical thinking skills more than anything else (though it helps to have a good knowledge of endings and vocabulary, but even there there are plenty of patterns).

[Manifestor_of_Light]

6. Had 2 years of Latin in high school.

Not only do you use it in law and medicine, it opens doors to the Romance languages too, which I love!!