will a lack of Latin prejudice ds's chances?

[fircone]

ds is very academic.

he will be attending the local comprehensive next year. The school has an excellent reputation, but does not teach Latin. Assuming (rather early!) that ds might wish to study English at a (top) university, would his lack of Latin prejudice his chances of success?

I regret not studying Latin: we were encouraged at school to take 'living' languages, and I can't say I have ever felt a German A Level has been of any use in my life whatsoever.

Should I look to try to teach him at home, or find a tutor? And do Russell Group universities realise that state school pupils may not have had the opportunity to study classics?

You learn all about grammar when learning any languaage

Indeed North of t'border we've been awfy enlightened about this for some time. My own dept was founded as a separate entity in 1948...

But not, apparently, when learning English...

English language was not a degree subject in English universities when I was applying.

For the avoidance of doubt, I was NOT applying before 1948.

I trust you have a point, Dr Quattro?

well, I went to 2 adult learning language courses (same language, 2 different cities) no grammar there. Just phrases to use when talking to someone else.

I took English lit as one of my modules at uni and we weren't asked for Latin (it was a post-1992 uni though ) but when I swopped my degree for Law, that's when Latin would have been more useful to me on the odd occasion even though Latinate phrases were officially abolished in 1999 in courts, they're still sprinkled through older texts. It was quite common to see a Law student with a latin dictionary next to them in the library at exam time. Either that or buddied up with an Italian student. I don't think not studying Latin at secondary school will prove to be a problem in 7 years time. I

Aha. Should have broadened your horizons, missus...

In fairness, my degree is officially Eng Lang & Lit, but that involved taking a first year Eng Lit course and one Eng Lit paper in finals, so to all intents and purposes it was Eng Lang - you could mix and match how much you did of each.

I think you might end up with a chipus in vestri umerus humerus if you don't get him stated on some Latin immediately.

ah, yes my dad comes with lot of Latin law phrases (but again, not in UK, so follows a different kind of law/?Napoleon related??)

Aha, a french lawyer. The thing that is fascinating about french lawyers (apart from Napoleonic law of course and their loverly and entrancing french accents) is that they get called Maitre.

Fantastic. I wanna be a Maitre ... If you're a laydee lawyer in France, do you still get called Maitre? Or are you a Maitresse?

If you're going to an adult learning course, they often assume you want to be able to converse in the language, not know about its grammar.

If you study a language at school, then grammar comes into it.

Obv depends where you are learning and for what reaosn.

Grammar is taught once more when learning English in schools. The phase of no-grammar is long gone.

Although, quatt, you do seem to have all teh most rubbish schools in the world in your neck of the woods (judging by other threads of yours) so they probably do not teach any grammar for anything. In fact, I don't think any of your schools teach anything very well

Possibly I am too critical though Pointy. Actually my DCs do learn some grammar. They sort of know the parts of a sentence, though they couldn't conjugate a verb and have no idea what a mood is (other than when Mummy is shouting at them)

I studied English at an Oxbridge college. Latin wasn't needed then and that was about 22 years ago.

A mood...? Do tell.

Nickytwooooootimes - I did English at St Andrews too! Rather longer ago than you, I suspect!

I had to take Greek in my second year because I had no language or Latin A-level, failed it spectacularly and had to beg to be allowed into Honours.

My dd is doing Latin at her State secondary school and loving it. She said after the first term "It's a language that makes SENSE! I wish we spoke it all the time!"

I googled for a quick explanation

The mood of a verb is the manner in which the action or condition is conceived or intended.

In English there are three verb moods.

1. Indicative, a verb stating an apparent fact or asking a question. This is the way verbs are normally used in English.

1. Imperative, a verb stating a command or request.

1. Subjunctive, a verb expressing a doubt, desire, supposition, or condition contrary to fact.

interesting bride1

i think there should be more spontaneity in education actually

my son is planning on applying to a 'top' university and i am already weary of people saying 'he will need to do this/that/the other'

i want to say 'well actually NO = he is just going to do what he does and see is they want him for that'

life is too formulaic nowadays

Get them started on aspect, Quattro - that's even more fun.

Oh quatt. Quatt, quatt, quatt. That sounds so archaic. Where did you learn that?

I know 1, 2 and 3 well, but not mood.

Actually, fircone - I did A'levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths & Religious Studies, and ended up with a first degree, MPhil and PhD in English. It's easier that way round, I think - hard to get into science with Arts A'levels/Highers...

Pointy - I'd have described that as "mood" too - what would you have called it?

DS1s state comp offers Latin at GCSE for selected students (need to be top set double languages in Y8, and be willing to do an after school Latin club in Y9), and also at A level - that's DD1s "easy" subject choice (but she already has Maths as her "fun" subject). Quite rare in the state comps round here, but the grammars next door do Latin from Y7.