Learning Latin doesn’t sound like fun, does it?
After all, it’s a dead language that no one speaks anymore. If you learn it, you won’t be able to use it to order food or converse about the weather. So, what’s the point?
Even more of a question mark is whether or not your child is ready to tackle an ancient language. It may not appeal to them because you don’t exactly earn cool points for conjugating the pluperfect tense (but you’ll always be a winner in my book if you can).
It’s reasonable to think that Latin is better suited for college professors and not for the modern 13-year-old. Are they really capable of studying and succeeding in Latin?
Absolutely!
I don’t have to tell you that your teen is capable of amazing feats. While Latin is challenging, it also gives your child an academic edge that they can’t get from any other language.
Here are a few questions to gauge whether your child is ready to learn Latin:
Is your child at least 10 years old?
While children of any age can learn Latin, our popular Visual Latin courses 1 and 2 are recommended for ages 10 and above. Watch this video to learn more about the appropriate age for taking Visual Latin:
Would your child like to learn a Romance language such as Spanish, French, Italian, or Portuguese sometime in the future?
Learning Latin as a foundation makes it easier to learn other Romance languages because they all evolved from Latin. If your child has a good working knowledge of Latin, they’ll be able to read other Romance languages, too, because these languages share so much in common.
Would you like your child to understand English better?
While not a Romance language, English does borrow a lot from Latin. Over 60% of English words have Latin roots. That’s insane when you think about it. “Dead” Latin is still very much a part of our living language. Understanding Latin will improve your child’s knowledge and comprehension of English.
Would you like for your student to get higher standardized test scores?
This is a no-brainer. Who doesn’t want a higher SAT score? It turns out that students who’ve taken at least two years of Latin have higher analytical and verbal skills than those who’ve studied any of the other popular foreign languages, like French, German, or even Hebrew. Students who learn Latin are at the head of the class.
Would your teen like to pursue a career in the law or sciences?
Latin is the traditional language of science. Familiarization with Latin is also crucial for teens who wish to pursue a career in law, whether as an attorney, a law enforcement officer, or a government official. Many legal terms derive from Latin, such as pro bono (for the public good), pro se (without a lawyer), and alibi (in another place).
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, your child is not only ready for Latin but will also benefit greatly from a thorough study of it.
Latin builds a sturdy academic foundation that will help your child achieve better understanding and higher test scores. Learning Latin can even directly assist your career with their career goal.
Final Thoughts
Latin is one of the most important languages in all of human history. It’s the source for many other languages also, including French, Italian, and Spanish. Your child will gain an academic advantage from learning this classical language.
And while the thought of studying a classical language may be intimidating, don’t worry. It’s not as difficult as it looks. Learning Latin is actually fun and stress-free when you take our Visual Latin course with Dwane Thomas. Try it for yourself for free here.
