Why Latin?
Many people ask me, "Why do you study Latin? Why should my child study Latin?"
Although many people think that Latin is "dead" and antiquated, I find that it is very relevant and useful to students. Aside from obvious advantages like word roots, the logical nature of the language demands that the student learn to think rationally and sequentially, processes that many students are intensely developing for the first time. Many Latin students begin in a slight state of confusion, because they aren't used to thinking about the intricacies of language. As they continue, however, their brains are trained to pay attention to details and analyze the components of words. These skills lend themselves to other fields by teaching students attention to detail and how to tackle problems efficiently by breaking them down into simple steps.
Latin is a fun language to learn, because it is not just the language that is studied. Latin class is also about history, art, literature, philosophy, theater, and more. The language itself has always seemed like a jigsaw puzzle; part of the challenge is putting the pieces together, figuring out how the sentence works.
Quotes about the value of Latin study from college and university admissions personnel:
"Latin trains abstract thinking, provides a key to all modern Romance languages, is a model for interdisciplinary study (language, history, culture) and can be a lot of fun."--Michael C. Behnke, Vice President of Admissions, University of Chicago
"Students taking Latin are typically scholarly. They pursue academic study in the purest sense, they are not simply fulfilling a requirement."--Matthew Potts, Admissions Counselor, University of Notre Dame
"We add on extra 'weight' when we see Latin on a transcript."--Philip Ballinger, Dean of Admissions, Gonzaga University
"This year, I was particularly impressed by a student with average test scores and grades who had taken Latin throughout middle and high school. We ended up offering the student admission, and I think it is fair to say that it was his commitment to Latin that tipped the scales."--Andrea Thomas, Assistant Dean of Admissions, Hamilton College
The Latin Advantage, from Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
Why Latin? from PromoteLatin.org