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