| Latin was the language of the Roman | | | | learning it can be considered a boring |
| Empire. All of the Romance languages, | | | | series of memorization or vocabulary |
| including French, Spanish, Portuguese, | | | | words and noun and verb endings. It is |
| and Italian, are directly descended from | | | | important for the Latin teacher to make |
| this native tongue. Our own English | | | | learning the language for those students |
| language is heavily influenced by roots | | | | that do decide to tackle it interesting |
| from the Latin Language (as many as 80 | | | | and not just a matter of memorizing verb |
| percent of our language can be traced to | | | | conjugations and noun declension charts. |
| Latin). Today, Ecclesiastical Latin is | | | | There are several ways in which success |
| the official language of the Roman | | | | in teaching Latin in high school can be |
| Catholic Church and the Vatican. With so | | | | achieved. |
| much influence on our own language | | | | Using modern technology to teach an |
| coming from Latin, it is surprising that | | | | ancient language might seem unlikely. |
| students are not encouraged to study it | | | | But, there are many resources available |
| in high school and college. Though | | | | online to assist the Latin teacher in |
| considered a "dead language", Latin | | | | his or her pursuits. Many websites offer |
| education can actually help students | | | | charts, tutorials, and games to not only |
| improve English grammar, as well as | | | | help the teacher, but to help engage the |
| provide a historical foundation for | | | | students. Learning Latin can be made |
| their educations. | | | | easier using technology, while allowing |
| Today, Latin is taught primarily for the | | | | the students to use the Internet as a |
| purpose of translating ancient | | | | means of education. Students today are |
| literature. It is not really taught | | | | all but required to use the Internet |
| conversationally. Proficiency in Latin | | | | academically, and eventually |
| is achieved in reading and translating. | | | | professionally. Combining learning Latin |
| Often, students that study Latin in | | | | with learning Internet skills is a |
| college are majors in Classical Studies, | | | | perfect way to bridge the gap between |
| wherein they study all aspects of | | | | ancient and modern. |
| Ancient Greek and Roman history and | | | | Another way to make learning the Latin |
| Culture, or they are pre-Law or | | | | language interesting is by incorporating |
| pre-Medicine students. Having a | | | | Roman history and Mythology into the |
| knowledge of the Latin language has | | | | subject. By bringing history and myth |
| obvious benefits for Law and Medical | | | | into the study of the Latin language, |
| students in that they will be better | | | | students will understand the origins of |
| able to learn technical terminology, | | | | the language, as well as understand the |
| most of which is comprised of Latin | | | | impact the language and the history of |
| words and phrases. Classical studies | | | | Rome has had on our modern world. Games |
| majors often go on to earn Master's | | | | can be played and plays can be put on, |
| degrees and Doctoral degrees either in | | | | utilizing Roman mythological stories and |
| Art History or Archaeology, where | | | | literature, and students can learn |
| knowledge of the Latin language helps | | | | everything from Roman military strategy |
| them in their research, or they often | | | | to Roman engineering to Roman cooking to |
| devote their graduate studies to the | | | | how Roman people dressed. |
| language itself, where they can go on to | | | | As a high school Latin teacher, it can |
| teach Latin in high schools or earn a | | | | be frustrating that the language is |
| place as a professor of Classics at a | | | | misunderstood and under-appreciated. |
| college or University. | | | | But, by using modern technology and |
| Teaching the Latin language in high | | | | creative teaching methods, The "dead" |
| school can be challenging. Most students | | | | Latin language can be brought to life, |
| take foreign languages to satisfy | | | | and students will learn not only the |
| requirements for graduation, not for the | | | | language, but have a clearer |
| enjoyment of learning a new language. | | | | understanding of English grammar, as |
| And they often take "easier" language | | | | well as a foundation that will open up |
| such as Spanish or French. And since | | | | their options as they enter college. |
| Latin is not taught conversationally, | | | | |