Latin @ ETHS

Introduction

Salvete omnes and welcome to the ETHS Latin Homepage! Latin, the language of the ancient Romans , is offered from levels I-IV, and it can betaken in the highest level for AP credit. About 120 discipuli currently take Latin at ETHS at various levels, and the courses are taught by Magistra Green . Because Latin is no longer spoken as a native language, we do not learn how to speak Latin, so we never have any oral exams or conversations in a different tongue. Instead, we focus on learning the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of the language in written form. For more specific information about the content of each level, please take a moment to visit the course pages on the left.

In addition to studying the Latin language, our students also learn about the culture, history, and mythology of the ancient Romans. For example, in Latin I students study and build models of Roman houses, in Latin II they create Trivial Pursuit games about the Roman Republic, and in Latin III/IV they study gods and goddesses like Jupiter and Venus! The culmination of such cultural studies comes with applying to go on the biennial Trip to the Mediterranean to visit important ancient cultural sites. We visit sites like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, the Parthenon, Agamemnon's tomb, and other fascinating locations! You can discover more about the trip and view pictures from our most recent trip on the Classical Mediterranean Trip page.

Why should you study Latin, even though it's not spoken? That's a good question, but here are some good answers:

I) Latin is the root of many foreign languages, such as French, Spanish,Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian. This means that once someone learns Latin, it is much easier to learn one of the above languages. The opposite is also true- if one has studied a Romance language already, he/she will quickly find similarities, especially in vocabulary ! Students of Latin will also find that it is easier to learn any other language because they have a solid linguistic foundation that provides them with the tools to become successful language learners.

II) Studying Latin increases English comprehension by expanding vocabulary and teaching students how to make connections between the roots of words and their meanings. Actually 90% of English words that are more than 2 syllables derive from Latin. For example, were you wondering why so many words on this page are italicized? It's because they all contain Latin roots! So you can see how even on a simple website you can find many connections between Latin and English.

III) In addition to improving English vocabulary, the study of Latin also increases general comprehension of how the English language functions. This improves students' grammar and writing skills.

IV) Latin is like a puzzle or sudoku. One has to assemble all of the words and endings to make everything fit. This leads to improved critical thinking and analysis skills. Therefore, students of Latin tend to score an average of 100 points higher on both the Math and Verbal sections of the SAT.

V) Latin contributes many words directly to the technical vocabularies of such fields as medicine, science, and law. After studying Latin, students find themselves prepared to go into these professions with the upper hand.

Further considerations

For more information about Latin at ETHS, please contact greenmi@eths202.org. Valete!