Why teach Latin?

[*Amber*]

First let me preface by saying I haven't read TWTM, yet it is on it's way to me.

 

I am just wondering why Latin? What are the benefits to a latin centered curriculum?

 

 

Enlighten me please.

[dangermom]

That's two different questions really. Many people teach Latin, not so many have an LCC. I'll let someone else tackle that part, or you could go

 

There are a lot of benefits to Latin, but people focus on different things. Here is a summary of why we should study Latin from Memoria Press. And here's Dorothy Sayers on the subject (I prefer her reasons to MP's). I went through MP's entire article archive before deciding to try Latin, and then I was hooked once we did try it. Like most Americans with PS educations, the idea of studying Latin was entirely foreign to me!

 

Short list of reasons to study Latin--pick your favorite:

 

Latin is the root of many modern languages and makes studying them much easier

Has a lot of grammar--good for learning other languages and English too

Very structured--teaches careful thinking and logic

Most of the difficult words in English are Latin-based, so great for vocab. and SATs

Major language of Western civilization--history and religion in a package

[ereks mom]

http://www.memoriapress.com/articles/whylatin.html

[Joanna from CAP]

Also, here is an article by Karen Moore, author of the Latin Alive curriculum. It is posted on the CAP website.

http://www.classicalacademicpress.com/images/samples/why_latin.pdf

 

Hope this is helpful as well!

[*Amber*]

Thanks this helps.