Latin

The teaching of Latin

The teaching of Latin has been a key component of the classical school’s curriculum, which sets it apart from other educational models. Not only does the study of Latin contribute to higher SAT scores, but it also increases vocabulary, helps improve English grammar, and introduces students to the base of a wide variety of modern languages.

Scholars in 1st-5th grade will be introduced to Latin through songs and chants. Students will begin to build their Latin vocabulary and a rudimentary understanding of Latin grammar.

Scholars will be introduced to Latin and Greek roots in 4th and 5th grade, which provides foundational knowledge of the origin and meaning of words. Formal Latin training begins in the 6th grade.

Research shows the linguistic relevance of Latin in building the English vocabulary and reading skills of students from various backgrounds and learning abilities. By teaching a language that is logical, follows a specific order and rules, and requires accuracy and organization, scholars truly start to see how their own language works. This opens a whole new perspective on how they think about language, which is a difficult task since scholars use language naturally to communicate. By studying Latin, scholars contrast and compare, and see the function of each part of speech and its role in language. The complex grammar structure of Latin enables students to gain a foundational knowledge of English sentence structure. It takes perseverance, hard work, stamina, will, and grit to master the study of Latin. Scholars benefit from studying Latin as a systematic language over a long period of time as their minds are stretched and challenged with higher-order thinking skills in language acquisition.

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