My students recently took a survey that asked three questions:
In your opinion, why is Latin important to learn?
How did Latin help you in another class, in another subject or another area of life?
What have you learned from your experience with Latin?
These are the results thus far from this survey. Enjoy: this is for your reading pleasure, but also to let you know that students do not always recognize the importance of something as they are learning it, but sometimes they do. I copied what students said; some of the below statements are historically inaccurate, but I feel the sentiment of the opinion is more important than the veracity of the comment.
If you wish to take the survey yourself, because you feel strongly about the answer to any or all of these questions, click here.
In your opinion, why is Latin important to learn?
I think that Latin is important since many words in the English (and other) languages have Latin bases, or are derived from Latin. Latin is also important to learn since all scientific names are Latin. Latin is extremely important in any education.
Hunter, 8th Grade
I think Latin is important because it can help someone in certain job positions like in law. I also think it can help in other classes since Latin is referenced much in other areas. Also, Latin involves a bit of the history of Ancient Rome.
Derek, 8th Grade
I think that Latin is important to learn because it can help you learn where all of the English words came from and all of the prefixes and roots.
Anonymous, 8th Grade
Latin is important today even though many people say it a dead language. The vocabulary is helpful with derivatives, which helps you greatly on SAT's. The culture itself is important because the Romans invented many things we still use today.
Anonymous, 8th Grade
I think Latin in important to learn because it helps to understand English grammar, and it also leads to a better understanding of other languages, such as Spanish. Personally, it had helped me learn the English grammar more than I learned in middle school English.
Meghan, 9th Grade
Latin is important to me because it helps me with my English grammar, and vocabulary. It is also important because I think that it will help with the SAT's.
Holly, 9th Grade
I think it is important to learn because of the history, and the derivatives. This will help a lot of the SAT’s. Also I think it is an ok class to help with grammar.
Anonymous, 9th Grade
Latin is important to learn because its words are the root of many English words, so it will help me to understand the English words better.
Anonymous, 9th Grade
It could help us if we went to a foreign country like France or Spain, it can help our vocabulary, and the grammar is very similar to English.
Jake, 9th Grade
Makes English much easier to learn and understand with the route words and grammar techniques given.
Dominick, 10th Grade
Latin is important to learn because it is the root of so many languages. If you know Latin, it makes learning other subjects so much easier.
Anonymous, 11th Grade
I believe Latin is important to learn because it helps with learning other languages and English. Many of the English words derive from Latin. Maintaining this knowledge will make me a better writer and have a more profound vocabulary.
Andrew, 10th Grade
It isn’t the most important but it helps in classes so you can use big words and sound smart.
Roland, 10th Grade
Because Latin is the base for all modern and noteworthy languages. Also the culture, you learn from it… the culture that invented democracy and basically medicine in general. We even use most of Roman techniques to cure all sorts of modern maladies. Also when you first speak the Latin language you don't really get the importance of what you’re saying. You’re speaking the language of Julius Caesar and Hippocrates all their genius was spoken and written in this language.
Zach, 8th Grade
I think that Latin is important to learn because it helps with English, and it helps with the understanding of the roots of English, French, Spanish, and it helps with learning other languages.
Anonymous
Because Latin had a strong impact on the English language, it helps with English grammar and other syntactical topics. It's also really fun, because it's so similar and yet so different to other foreign/ world languages that are offered.
Anonymous
It is important because it will be helpful for SAT’s
Anonymous, 8th Grade
I think Latin is important to learn because English has so many derivatives from Latin and it will help in that way. Latin is also important to learn because we can learn about Roman history.
Anonymous, 8th Grade
It is important to learn because we are also learning some history with it.
Delaney, 6th Grade
I think that Latin is important to take because it will help you with the SAT's and it is a fun class. I think that taking fun classes are important to have so kids don't turn out to hate school.
Nicole, 6th Grade
Latin teaches you the root of the word and helps you identify the meaning of a word that you don't know.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
We are trying to restore a dead language.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
Latin is important to learn, because you use a lot of words that are founded by the Latin language.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
It is important to learn because it teaches you another language.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
To me Latin is important to learn because it is sort of the root language of lots of other languages.
Amy, 6th Grade
It is good to learn another language and to know what some of the words we use now came from this language. It’s not only the language; we learn history about the Roman people and their culture.
Allison, 6th Grade
Latin is important because it is the root words to English.
Lucy, 6th Grade
You learn a lot of spelling that will help you in the future.
Chloe, 6th Grade
Because in modern day society a lot of things are in Latin like the Marine’s motto “always be faithful.”
Anonymous, 6th Grade
It helps you with other languages.
Madelyn, 6th Grade
I think that Latin is important because on test it helps people understand what a word means if they don't know what it means. All they will do is think of the origin of the word and remember which Latin helps with.
Rebecca, 7th Grade
Latin is important because it is the base of many languages I will have to take in high school. I am glad that are school offers Latin so I will have an easier time in Spanish.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
Latin is so important because it leads into so many other languages. Learning a new language is so much easier when you have the root word of everything.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
Latin is important to learn because most English words come from Latin. For instance persistence comes from the word persto which means to stand firm.
Anonymous, 7th Grade
Latin is important to learn because Latin is a root of 5 languages
Anonymous, 6th Grade
It helps you with where bases of words are and makes grammar easier
Anonymous, 6th Grade
I think it’s important to learn because it is always good to know another language and you can learn the history of Latin.
Lia, 6th Grade
It will help you in other languages because you know all the root words.
Oliver, 6th Grade
It helps me in English and with other languages.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
Latin helps me understand other languages.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
It is important because it can help you in other languages.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
I think Latin is important to learn because it helps with other languages too. It also helps with English. If you do not know what a word is, then you can break up the word and see what parts of the word you know in Latin.
Anonymous, 7th Grade
Latin is important because it will help you with vocabulary and your SATs.
Melody, 7th Grade
Latin is important because if you want to become a doctor, you need to know Latin. Also Latin is very important to history.
Kita, 7th Grade
To learn the beginning of all languages including English.
Andrew, 7th Grade
At first, I didn’t think Latin was that important because it’s a dead language. But after starting Latin, I can’t even count all the times I’ve taken an English test and thought of the Latin word for this and that, and it has really helped my spelling. Also, in History, a lot of the Latin history relates to World History, and it helps me remember facts.
Kaity, 7th Grade
It helps increase your SAT scores.
Chase, 8th Grade
Latin is important to learn because it is not only learning a language, it helps with learning English. Also, you learn a lot about Roman history and other ancient civilizations.
Anonymous, 8th Grade
How did Latin help you in another class, in another subject or another area of life?
Latin has helped me in life since when I look at certain animal information, I look at the Latin name, and without looking at anything else about the animal, I have a good idea about that animal just by looking at the Latin name.
Hunter, 8th Grade
Latin helped me when I was playing certain video games since many games have Latin words or references and taking this class has helped me detect these references and understand them.
Derek, 8th Grade
Latin helped me in math because some of the words like polygon came from Latin and that helped me understand what the word meant.
Anonymous, 8th Grade
In history class when talk about ancient Rome and that era. Also in english class when there might be a word i dont know i can look at the route and find a derivative out of it.
Anonymous, 8th Grade
It has helped in English primarily because I can now identify words that I don't know when I'm reading if they have Latin roots. I also understand the different parts of speech and parts of sentences better than I used to.
Meghan, 9th Grade
Latin helps me in History class, and English class. In History, I understand what is happening, and in more detail. In English, grammar and vocab are easy to understand.
Holly, 9th Grade
Latin has helped me in English class with Mr. Wright because many of the vocabulary words on his vocab tests have Latin derivatives.
Anonymous, 9th Grade
It helps me understand the grammar in English, and helps me remember the vocab.
Jake, 9th Grade
In particular it helped with my vocabulary for all around subjects and aspects of life.
Dominick, 10th Grade
Latin has helped me greatly in English. Learning new vocab was much easier because I knew Latin.
Anonymous, 11th Grade
Latin helps me with English and Spanish because the words come from Latin.
Andrew, 10th Grade
The derivatives help the most in boring, dull classes such as English.
Roland, 10th Grade
It helped me by teaching me the roots of words which has helped me in English classes with for lack of a better phrase "bigger words” (haha) by helping me know their base which in turn helped me find their meanings. Also it just gets you plain smart the Roman Culture was full of genius's and genius things, and by knowing the inventions and the quotes from these famous people and things just makes you a smarter person.
Zach, 8th Grade
Latin helps me in English and French, with the roots of words and similarities to English, it also helped with derivatives and learning the different tenses in French.
Anonymous
It helped me in Vocabulary and English
Mitchell, 8th Grade
It helped me in my English because it broadened my vocabulary
Anonymous, 8th Grade
Latin helped me in English when I had a vocabulary test and if I ever have Roman history, it will help me.
Anonymous, 8th Grade
It helped me in science because some of the words came from Latin.
Delaney, 6th Grade
It helped me in Humanities because we learned about Greek gods and we also learned about Greek gods in Latin. Also it helped me in science because a lot of science terms come from Latin words.
Nicole, 6th Grade
Latin helped me understand words that I didn't know in Humanities.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
It helped me in Humanities, Math and Science because there are some Latin words in the words that we learn. It also makes me trilingual.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
It helped me in another subject because in one class we used some Latin words.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
Sometimes in Humanities we would talk about Greeks and Romans. we also talked about the gods and that really helped.
Allison, 6th Grade
The base words for science, and vocabulary in Humanities
Lucy, 6th Grade
It helped in science because they use Latin words
Chloe, 6th Grade
In science with names of organs
Madelyn, 6th Grade
Latin helped me most in English because sometimes I forget the meaning of the word and all I have to do is think of the origin because most English words came from Latin.
Rebecca, 7th Grade
Latin helps in other languages because it gives you the root word of most other languages.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
Latin has helped me in English class because persistence was one of our vocab words in the beginning of the year, and Mrs. Manning told me persistence came from the word persto.
Anonymous, 7th Grade
Latin helped me in Humanities.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
Latin helped me in humanities because you learn about Greek gods in Latin and you also learn about it in humanities so it helps you a lot.
Lia, 6th Grade
It has helped me a little bit in Humanities.
Oliver, 6th Grade
Latin helped me with grammar.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
I learned in that some English words derive from Latin.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
Latin helped me with other languages like French. Because some parts of the word I know what they mean in Latin, so I could figure out what the word was.
Anonymous, 7th Grade
Latin helped me in English because of the vocabulary also it helped me when I was going through the spelling bee.
Melody, 7th Grade
Latin has helped me to understand some big words; I can figure out the derivative and find the meaning. Latin has also helped me with grammar.
Kita, 7th Grade
It didn't really help me in any part of my life.
Andrew, 7th Grade
Yes it helped me with Vocabulary in English
Chase, 8th Grade
Latin has helped in English class because it helps me to use bigger and more intelligent-sounding words in my papers. Also, it gives me a better understanding of what words mean.
Anonymous, 8th Grade
What have you learned from your experience with Latin?
I have learned about the Roman Empire, a topic that I think everyone should know about. I have learned about their culture, and how it affects us today. While a Greek History class would teach us the same stuff, we get the full effect of it from learning about their language at the same time, learning more than we would from online courses or just from learning from the book.
Hunter, 8th Grade
I have learned much from Latin class like, well, the obvious, how to translate Latin into English and also speak some Latin.
Derek, 8th Grade
I have learned about the ancient world of Alexandria, and the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
Anonymous, 8th Grade
I have learned a lot of vocabulary, many things about, Rome, Alexandria, Greece, and other cultures from back then. Also i learned about Pompeii and the eruption of Vesuvius.
Anonymous, 8th Grade
I have learned a lot about the specific way that both English and Latin words behave, and how to apply that to English writing to become more accurate.
Meghan, 9th Grade
I have learned from Latin different parts of speech, derivatives, Roman History, the Emperors, and much more.
Holly, 9th Grade
I have learned no to sit next to people who distract me, and i know have a better understanding of the Latin language.
Anonymous, 9th Grade
That English grammar is almost exactly the same.
Jake, 9th Grade
History of ancient Rome and different usages of vocabulary and grammar
Dominick, 10th Grade
It's hard to say what I have learned in Latin class. I have learned so much and not all of it was Latin. Latin class was a great experience and I'm glad I had the chance to take it.
Anonymous, 11th Grade
Latin has helped me in numerous areas. Mrs. Manning made us work hard and she taught us life lessons.
Andrew, 10th Grade
I’ve learned too many things to write down, but I've learned that a good part of the most amazing language in my opinion, and I have learned of the triumphs and the defeats of the Roman empire, and the Genius of the people who lived in Rome, I’d write more but my hand is getting cramped.
I have learned so much about roots of English words and derivatives, and i have also learned a lot about Roman and Greek culture, which i find very interesting
Anonymous
The proper question is, what haven't I learned? Seriously.
Anonymous
How to read Latin. What haven’t I learned haha
Mitchell, 8th Grade
I have learned how to read Latin
Anonymous, 8th Grade
I have learned about Romans and there life back then and a bunch of new words from all of the stories.
Anonymous, 8th Grade
I've learned the history of Pompeii.
Delaney, 6th Grade
I have learned a lot of new words and many interesting derivatives in Latin.
Nicole, 6th Grade
I learned what some Latin words mean.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
I have learned many different Greek myths and Latin words and how they relate to English words.
Amy, 6th Grade
I learned a lot about the English and the Latin comparisons and similarities. I learned some about the culture too.
Allison, 6th Grade
The base words of all English and that 98% of all words come from Greek or Latin. Another thing is the way Latin and Greek kind of control all the other words.
Lucy, 6th Grade
A lot about the culture
Chloe, 6th Grade
I learned a lot about the Greek gods
Anonymous, 6th Grade
That many words came from Latin, I mostly thought that words came from Spanish. Latin really helps with English and grammar because all you have to do is remember the meaning of a word from Latin and then you already know what the word means.
Rebecca, 7th Grade
I have learned that you may think a class is easier in the beginning but then after you go a little while through the class and figure out you need to try a little bit harder.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
I thought that it was a very fun class but it taught you a lot!! And even though it was hard sometimes you would always turn out to understand what you were taught.
Lia, 6th Grade
I have learned a lot of Latin words.
Oliver, 6th Grade
That most of our words come from the Latin language.
Anonymous, 6th Grade
I have learned how all words came from Latin. Latin helped me with a lot of other classes.
Anonymous, 7th Grade
It is easier to go through Latin when you have an absolutely amazing teacher.
Melody, 7th Grade
I have learned what a derivative is and more about Pompeii.
Kita, 7th Grade
The formation of sentences and the beginning of all languages and most important how the structure of the sentences.
Andrew, 7th Grade
Latin has helped me a lot in other classes, and also in everyday life. For some reason, Latin words help me remember things. For example, if I was thinking about cleaning my room while learning the word "canis," I would be in the car and suddenly remember I have to clean my room because I was thinking of Latin.
Kaity, 7th Grade
What haven't I learned?
Chase, 8th Grade
I have learned that all English words come from another language.
Anonymous, 8th Grade