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Why The Classics? | The Benefits for Young Learners

There is a lot of emphasis in the test prep world about studying Latin and Greek roots in order to boost scores on any and all tests — ACT, SAT, GRE, MCAT, you name it.

There is also a lot of anecdotal evidence, suggesting Classics majors are “smarter”, or have a better success rate of getting into medical school, or have higher success rates in law school. These kind of stories are persistent, even when disproven or are, at the very least, cases where correlation is not exactly causation.

While it is true the English language is comprised of many Greek and Latin root words, prefixes and suffixes, and the more “classical” professions (e.g. medicine and law) use a great deal of terminology rooted in the Classical languages, many educators shy away from recommending studying the Classics as simply a means for a higher score on a test.

 So why take an ancient history course? Why take Latin?

Although Classics is by nature an interdisciplinary study, it can be difficult to describe its scope and complex relationships to other disciplines. — Liz Gephardt from her article, Classics in American Schools

Gephardt explains that the American Classical League and the American Philological Association created Standards for Classical Language Learning, which provide recommendations specific to Greek and Latin. They emphasize five goals: communication, culture, connections, comparison, and communities. Let’s explore how these five goals relate to success in all academic areas.

Communication 

Approaching learning Latin simply to improve a student’s vocabulary and ability to decipher unknown words detracts from the even more complex communication skills being developed as the language is studied.

Gephardt writes, “Because reading is integral to the classroom and part of the daily life of Latin students, it is important to articulate the skills it develops: comprehension, analytical thinking, and flexible thinking. Latin students improve reading comprehension by using root words, prefixes, and suffixes to increase word recognition. Students also use context clues to define unfamiliar words and interpret words that have multiple meanings. While navigating the matrices of Latin morphology and supporting arguments with examples from primary sources, students develop analytical thinking. Finally, students exercise flexible thinking by finding synonyms, creating alternate translations and making predictions about narratives." 

Culture

From science and inventions, to law and philosophy, to their gods, goddesses, and heroes, understanding the influence of ancient Greece and Rome on western civilization helps students comprehend their world.

Alexandra Carlson, a CTD Latin instructor and recent presenter at the Northern Illinois Computing Educators Mini-Con on Engaging Ways for Students to Demonstrate Understanding of History and Culture, writes, “The curious world of the Romans and their mythology appeals to the adolescent brain. The stories of the gods and goddesses are still fascinating by modern standards. As well, our art, architecture, government organization, and even some customs and practices still derive from those of the Romans."

Connections

Making connections, in any subject, requires analytical ability. Comparing and contrasting, determining how the parts interrelate to one another or to an overall structure, these are all skills beneficial to academic study. 

Catherine Wickham, who teaches AP Latin at both Evanston Township High School and CTD, shares, “Latin helped me become a better student and a better thinker. I also think the connections we can make between ourselves and a 2000-year-old culture are remarkable."

Comparison

Comparison skills ultimately help students make better decisions, whether that be on a multiple-choice exam or in determining a hypothesis. 

Gepardt writes, “These can be cultural comparisons…or linguistic comparisons students make between Latin and their native tongue(s). In this way, studying Latin does more than raise SAT Verbal scores, it expands students’ linguistic awareness. While students do increase their English vocabulary through word study and derivatives, they also develop a deeper understanding of grammar, syntax, and word relationships."

Community

In this digital age, when so much can seem impersonal, it’s important for young people to remember they are a part of a bigger, interconnected picture. For many students who enjoy Latin, taking courses means finding others who share their interests.

A current AP Latin student, shared, “I love learning about how similar ancient civilizations are to our own. Even after all these years, humanity really hasn't changed”. Another student said, “I have found that my peers in my Latin classes all like a good challenge, like me, and we’re all interested in how everything is linked in some way."

CTD offers a variety of Classics online, from 9-week enrichment courses, such as Introduction to Latin I, II and III for grades 4-6, to The History of Ancient Rome, for grades 8-12, as well as 36-week credit-bearing courses including Latin Honors: Wheelock, Latin Honors: Ecce Romani (for 6-12 grades), and AP Latin (for grades 9-12).

Explore Current CTD Online Courses.

 

 

 

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