Should DD learn Latin?

[wangle99]

DD has the option to start learning latin from September when she goes into Year 4.

I didn't learn it at school, neither did DH so we don't really know what it entails.

DD doesn't really know what it's about either!

Any opinions?

Thanks

my ds will just be starting y6. He has done the Barbara Bell Minimus latin course since yr4 I think. He adores it!
They have done it as an after school, and a lunchtime extra class. They have a waiting list! It really is fun, look at this www.minimus-etc.co.uk/index.shtml
Is this the course. ds is on second course now. They eat latin made biscuits and have performed two plays all in latin. Apparently it is very good for developing the problem-solving bit of brain!

I loved Latin, and have also read that thing about helping the problem-solving bit of the brain, and that it suits kids who like to problem-solve.

Helps no end with yer gardening as well - you can ask for plants using their 'proper' names and you'll have a better clue what their nature is. I wouldn't be without it.

Oh it's midnight - doesn't Tempus Fugit?

Kaz33, Caecilius est in horto was exactly what came to me wandering round Pompeii last week - I wondered which house he might have lived in because I knew he had a garden! The children thought I'd had too much sun.

They talked about a Latin club at school a couple of years ago but it came to nothing. Might look for something in our area - I feel dd9 needs something a bit challenging.

Caecilius est in horto, Cerburus est in via. I can still remember these after 25yrs or so. Gives me a warm glow to think they are still telling the same stories. Still, I suppose they are kind of 'timeless'.

I did O Level and enjoyed it. The insights into Roman life were the really interesting bit. I thought it was easy at the time, a more simple language to me than French for example, with all those accents and male, female etc. You can also have fun if you're a bit sad, by spotting all the bits that ended up in modern languages.

Have to say it has served no practical purpose in my life, so I would not do Latin as a substitute for certain other subjects, as, as much as I enjoyed it, I often viewed it as my 'wasted' O Level in terms of qualifications for jobs or study.

Mind you, I still think 'Irritatus sum' has much more class than 'I'm p**d off'

ps - some of you had seriously odd teachers.

Tanzie is right - I would NEVER have made any headway with my Russian had it not been for enjoying Latin, which I started sooner.
My big regret is that I didn't keep it up beyond O Level...bizarre, as it was my best subject most years. Loved it. Book Five of De Bello Gallico!
Am I the only one here who did the Approach to Latin ancient creaky course then? With some Pseudolus Noster thrown in for light relief? My teacher was about 150, of course
Wangle, the School may be offering "Minimus", where kind hearted retired teachers or others with classical knowledge come and in and teach voluntarily in the lunch break or after school.

Marina, yes to Approach to Latin was the one but a couple of years on they brought in Ecce Romani which our new nice teacher used for revision with us

We also geekily did Classical studies O level as an extra with Latin A level and I have never met anyone else that did it!

Path to Latin
Kennedy's Latin Primer
Easy Exercises in Latin Syntax
Cupid & Psyche

Cambridge Latin was regarded with much scorn, as being inferior to the Latin Latin.

Awww, this is making me seriously nostalgic! I think it'd be brilliant for your child to learn Latin. I managed to do it (did the 16+ some 19 years ago: gulp) by squeezing it into early morning and lunchtime lessons, but then did the A level and then half a degree in Classics and I couldn't recommend it more highly. Plus, in my experience classics teachers are all wonderfully eccentric - take a bow, Professor Snodgrass (really, he was a lecturer at Cambridge!), Chris Martin, Richard Littlewood, Mrs Rogers, Paul Millett, Mary Beard - and at the very least a working knowledge of Latin is fantastically helpful for English language and literature. Although we were half-heartedly taught English grammar at school, none of it made much sense until I did Latin.

haven't read the thread - but yes, yes, yes. i am very grateful for having had the opportunity to learn latin at school - it has been very useful. i will be disappointed if ds and dd don't get the same opportunity.

in fact latin is making a bit of a comeback in primary schools - there is a series of text books called "minimus"... i am planning to suggest "latin club" to the head of our ultra traditional, catholic primary school - i mean as catholics, latin is our birthright no?

I would say if she's interested in either languages or English generally, then yes, she should go for it.

I did Latin ( at a comprehensive btw - but catholic ) and though I was rubbish at it I have never regretted it. It really helped me with other languages and gave me a (theoretical) grasp of basic English grammar which I didn't get elsewhere - even from my English teachers (grammar was not a trendy subject in 70s/80s - might be now..)

My grammar is still rubbish but at least I KNOW it's wrong iyswim. In that respect, it was invaluable. Good luck with the choice.

SueW - how I remember 'Ecce Romana' - puella est in agris.... Ah happy days... (only cause I fancied a boy in the class....)