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What is so important about a child learning Latin?


Susie in MS
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I am very curious about this. :confused: I can understand learning living languages in order to communicate with other people groups. But I don't understand learning a dead language. Makes me think of the Catholic Mass being said in Latin when no one understands it. Is there some benifit to learning it that I have missed? I raised 3 kiddos already and they learned some of Spanish cuz they may need it someday with all of the boarders being torn down, or they may end up in missions. Did I fail them by not requiring Latin? I would love your thoughts.:) I am all ears. :bigear:

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WOW! Thank you both! I never knew there were so many benefits. I thought it was kinda funny when I read this:

 

"If you've chosen to teach Latin, and particularly if you're placing it at the center of your curriculum, it's only a matter of time until someone asks you,"Why Latin?"Â May you never lack for answers!"

 

So now I know why. :)

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Okay, so I'm just about convinced to at least try Latin w/ my dc. Why not, eh? :) I have LC1 on the shelf, just waiting to be implemented. So my question is this: When is the best/most optimal time to start Latin instruction? I know that most children will pick up a language must more quickly at a younger age (the younger the better...I'm seeing this already w/ dd2 who picks up Spanish like "that"). But, what about Latin? I had Prima Latina and sold it...I wasn't ready to start Latin w/ my younger dc and neither were they interested. So now I have a dd11, ds9 and ds8 whom I will start LC1 with over the summer. Ds6 is still struggling w/ the "core" subjects (I know, many of you consider Latin core!) and actually getting those done consistently.

 

I never had Latin (just sang it!). Dh had 2 years of Latin in high school...none before. Why couldn't I, shouldn't I wait until high school to teach Latin? Dd11 is already learning Spanish (her request). My boys have never shown an interest in a language. Okay, so talk to me...:)

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Here's a short response to the "why Latin early?" question.

 

It is certainly possible to start Latin as late as 9th grade and still be able to read some Latin literature before graduation. If that's your main goal with Latin, or if you just want your dc to have 2-3 years of a foreign language on their high school transcripts, there's no pressing reason to begin Latin in elementary school.

 

But if you are interested in the intellectual training that Latin provides, or you want to use it as a medium for English grammar instruction, then an early start, with slow and steady progress, makes sense.

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Here's a short response to the "why Latin early?" question.

 

It is certainly possible to start Latin as late as 9th grade and still be able to read some Latin literature before graduation. If that's your main goal with Latin, or if you just want your dc to have 2-3 years of a foreign language on their high school transcripts, there's no pressing reason to begin Latin in elementary school.

 

But if you are interested in the intellectual training that Latin provides, or you want to use it as a medium for English grammar instruction, then an early start, with slow and steady progress, makes sense.

 

:D Thanks for the advice. I do think we will start all my dc this summer. My next question is...what program. I hear great things about Latin Prep for my dd11 (and possible ds10) but what about ds8? Perhaps I'll just wait until he's a bit older. I do have LC1 but heard it's not that terrific in that it doesn't really "teach" Latin...just uses mostly vocab. words. Would that be enough? Any thoughts? Thanks.

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Prima Latina is primarily vocabulary, but Latina Christiana I does teach grammar. I think it would be a fine choice for an 8yo.

 

Awesome...saves me money! Would I go from LC1 to Latin Prep when he's 10 or would that be redundant? Just curious b/c if I buy Latin Prep for ds10 and dd11 I'd like to be able to re-use it, KWIM? Thanks again!

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After finishing LCI, you would begin LPrep 1. You would still begin at the first level for many reasons -

 

different vocabulary

much faster pace

hefty translation work

grammar not covered in LCI.

 

The good news is, LC will have laid a nice, firm foundation, and you may find that you move more quickly thru grammar you've already seen.

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