Rationale
Why a Latin Course?
What skills will the young people of today need to be successful in the 21st century? All would agree that effective communication skills will continue to be a vital aspect of a sound educational program. Effective communication requires the development of proficiency in the listening, reading, and writing skills as well as an understanding of cultural values. We accept these abilities as "givens" in our native language. But what about the importance of developing these same skills in a foreign language - specifically Latin?
I sometimes hear the comment that, since English has become a "world" language, the need to learn a second language is not as great as it used to be. But it is for this very reason that learning another language has become so important. We cannot allow ourselves to think that the languages and cultures of other peoples of the world can be translated into English. To do so would give us a very narrow, limited view of the world we live in. Learning another language gives us a tool with which we can broaden our view of the world and expand our horizons. It gives us the opportunity to add a dimension to our lives and the ability to see our own language and culture through different eyes.
Learning Latin also will heighten your awareness of your own tongue, a natural consequence of studying a second language. Aside from vocabulary, it is through contrast with English that you will become "consciously aware" of Latin: It indicates meaning by word endings, whereas English signals meaning by position; it exhibits word inflection (i.e., the forms of words can change to reflect their function), a concept rarely available in English; and it has a greater number of signals for meaning than English.
As a student of Latin, you not only will become aware of how your own language functions but will also become more aware of how language itself operates. In doing so, you will become a better learner of other languages as well.
The study of Latin can also provide a key for your future. Knowledge of Latin is extremely helpful in the study of medicine, the sciences, and law.
I'm sure some of you have reasons for taking Latin that I have not mentioned here. But no matter what your motivation, my goal is to provide you with the basic skills necessary to develop effective and efficient language learning techniques. Again, the added advantage here is that learning a second language will teach you more about your own language!
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