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