Why Should You Consider Learning Latin At School?

September 16, 2021

• Advice for Parents

Studying Latin at school may seem like an outdated and frankly useless pursuit. Why study something which has no practical use in society any longer? It is, after all, a dead language. However, this viewpoint fails to recognise the numerous benefits of studying Latin at school. From aiding your linguistic ability to studying ancient civilisations and their histories, we have compiled in this blog a number of benefits and uses of studying Latin at school.

One of the most important benefits of studying this subject is that it can be extremely helpful to a child’s English skills. Whilst this may seem counter-intuitive, nearly 50 percent of the words in the English Language are derived from Latin. This means that an education in Latin can greatly improve any child’s vocabulary. Moreover, the skills in grammar which a strong education in Latin can bestow are second to none. It is not solely English, however, that an education in Latin can help. Whilst we may describe Latin as a ‘dead language’, it never truly went away. This language is the root of numerous European languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French and Romanian. By studying Latin, therefore, one is in fact studying the basis of a number of different languages, which is sure to make any subsequent language studies easier and more coherent.

Aside from its numerous linguistic benefits and uses, an education in this subject can open up the doors to a world of fascinating classical civilisations and their histories. Latin was the backbone of the Roman empire, and studying it therefore encourages an interest in such history. Indeed, many schools promote the study of this subject in conjunction with classical civilisation, and by university-level these subjects are often combined into ‘Classics’. Some of the most fascinating figures in history presided over the Roman Empire, including Julius Caesar and Nero, and the numerous traditions and historical events such as Gladiators and the Great Fire of Rome are riveting topics to study for young historians.

Not only can this subject open up the doors to a number of fascinating historical subjects and events, but it can further facilitate the study of the relics of such history. Some of the greatest literature and art has survived and been passed down through generations from the Roman Empire. The ability to study such art and literature in its original vernacular can be both fascinating and exceptionally useful, particularly when studying classics to a high level.

Finally, it is important to emphasise the problem-solving aspects of Latin. It is essentially an ancient, secret code, and the ability to decipher it is valued extremely highly by both higher education institutions and employers. Some of the most successful and influential figures in the world began by studying Latin and classics, so we would encourage everyone who has the opportunity to do so, to take it!