Eight Reasons We Learn Latin

#1 Improves Vocabulary

Learning Latin improves your vocabulary and helps you understand the English language.

Did you know that approximately 60% of all English words derive from Latin, and that 90% of English words with more than 2 syllables have a Latin root?

#2 Improves SAT Test Scores

A student's verbal, analytic, and problem- solving scores all increase after studying Latin. A profile of SAT scores was completed recently which shows Latin students as compared to those learning French, Spanish, German and Hebrew. The Latin students surpassed the test scores of every other group. This study showed that this trend did not just happen in one year. In all seven years of the study, they observed Latin students outperformed other students.

#3 Root Words

Latin provides many root words for the modern sciences, and it is the language of law, politics, logic and theology. While many scientific terns come from Greek as well, all legal terms come from Latin. The study of logic also comes to us from Latin translations of Aristotle's work from the Middle Ages. And in the West, theology was filtered through the Latin language, providing Christians with a rich and malleable language to discuss divine concepts.

#4 English Grammar

Many argue learning Latin grammar, which is organized better than English grammar, gives a student superior understanding of the English language, even more than studying the English language does. Latin students learn to compare and contrast the grammar of the two languages.

#5 Learning Other Languages

Having a grasp of Latin aids in learning other languages, especially the romance languages. Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian are all romance languages, and these languages derive more than 80% of words from Latin and their grammatical structure is similar to Latin.

#6 Intellectual Discipline

Latin is systematic and precise. Learning Latin demands intellectual discipline. The influential author and academic, Dorothy Sayers, pronounced, "I will say at once, quite firmly, that the best grounding for education is the Latin grammar. I say this not because Latin is traditional and medieval, but simply because even rudimentary knowledge of Latin cuts down the labor pains of learning almost any other subject by at least 50 percent."

#7 Access to Ancient Scholars

Students have access to ancient scholars when they become proficient in Latin, and are able to examine many classical pieces of influential literature in their original language.

#8 Love of Learning

Last, but not least.......

For the love of learning!