Latin as only language?

[Anonymous]

22:44, here again.

You should also consider college graduation requirements. While having only Latin didn't hurt my college admissions prospects (some 20+ years ago) IIRC, I needed 4 semesters of a modern foreign language to graduate. So it's not like I could have just continued to blissfully translate Latin literature for another two years. I had to take something else, I chose French, and got my ass handed to me. (Did take some Latin lit classes to rebuild the havoc that French wreaked on my GPA, though . . .)

[Anonymous]

It's fine to study Latin for four years in high school. But I think college shouldn't be the first time a student is introduced to a living language.

I would tell your child that he may continue to study Latin, but will also need the equivalent of 2 high school years ( = 1 college year, usually) of a different, living language, before starting college. If he doesn't want to take both (or the school won't offer both) he can either give up Latin in favor of a new language, or take a summer immersion course, or study independently through a program like Rosetta Stone or Fluenz (for Spanish anyhow -- there must be other programs out there for other languages).

[Anonymous]

more insight on languages in middle/high school and college admission:

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/does-middle-school-foreign-language-count-at-college-admission-time.htm

[Anonymous]

I have no idea from a college perspective, but I have a son on the autism spectrum and have been reading ASD forums (fora?). Latin is very appealing to high-functioning ASD kids because it is methodical and math-y, and because there's no speaking involved. No foreign-language class fake conversations, skits, etc., which are often a staple of regular language class. Just thought it was interesting.

[Anonymous]

I studied Latin all through MS and HS but not college. Even though I do not remember much now (some 15 years later) Latin was invaluable in other subjects (history, English lit., science) in learning not only roots of words but also mythological and literary references. My wife, siblings and many friends studied other languages (Spanish, French, German, etc.). And while their current abilities range from having a mere memory of their respective foreign language to being able to read novels or converse fluently on travel, none has been able to use their foreign language to professional advantage. I do know, however, many who have used it for such advantage, but they typically work for the State Dept., or for Int'l NGOs (and most of them took crash courses for their jobs). Of course, many Europeans are bilingual or trilingual for professional purposes merely b/c of daily reinforcement.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it will hurt at all in college admissions. Latin counts just like any other language. For practical life skills, I think it is good to know a second spoken langage, and it should be easy for a child who has studied Latin to pick up French, Spanish or Italian. MY DC studied Spanish in elementary school, has moved to Latin for middle, and intends to return to Spanish for high school, with the benefit of a foundation in Latin.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend not only further study in Latin, but also Ancient Greek. I have found these two to be invaluable.

As for communicating with Johnny Foreigner, anyone worth their salt can either speak in English - the current lingua franca - or Latin or Ancient Greek. I had a very stimulating conversation once with a Slovak in Latin, our only common tongue.

As for getting into good universities, I note that Cambridge has just bumped Harvard off the number one spot in the world, and I know many Cambridge alums who can't muster a word of any other tongue.

[Anonymous]

My DD took Latin for 5 years in MS + HS and also took Spanish at the same time. She loved both

[Anonymous]

OP again. Interested in all of these perspectives. Upon further investigation it turns out my DC will be required to take at least two years of high school Latin, and also two years of another language -- either a living langauge, or ancient Greek. The school seems to promote Greek for the stronger students (because it is more challenging, apparently) and says that the Latin/Greek combo is impressive to colleges. I think DC wants to go that path -- not sure why -- so I am glad to hear at least some others say that it would not be a tragedy not to learn a living language in high school. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Uh, with Latin your child will be able to master any Romance language...
I don't think that makes him exactly 'withouth a second language'
on the contrary, he/she will be able to read the codes of French, Italian, Spanish, and other languages...so let it go. Your child is lucky, wish more schools taught Latin

[Anonymous]

OP,
You've narrowed down what school DC attends! How neat to combine the two. You're in good hands with your school knowing what colleges expect, and it's good that your child likes this classical approach!

[Anonymous]

DC does Latin, but is also on the second year of French. French is an absolute breeze for DC after Latin. And I had the same experience with French and Spanish being a breeze after Latin.

My impression is that Latin alone wouldn't impress colleges today.

Latin and Greek would impress colleges - but possibly only if DC tells the colleges that he wants to be a classics major. I'm not sure if Latin and Greek would impress colleges if DC says he wants to work in international development. Then again it might if the colleges conclude that modern languages like Spanish and French (thinking for work in Latin America and parts of Africa) would be a breeze after the Latin. You might check this with your school's guidance counselor.

[Anonymous]

I studied only Latin in HS. As PPs have observed, most colleges require lang for graduation. I tried beginning French. Imagine my surprise when every other student in my "beginners" class had had at least 3 years of HS French - all looking for an easy A during freshman year. I struggled mightily since I had no experience listening to a language and in the end had to drop it 2nd semester. I ended up studying classical greek for the next 3 yrs. I loved greek but I really really wish I knew how to speak a modern language.

[Anonymous]

I studied Latin and Greek, and gained a lot from the experience. That said, I also studied French and if I had the choice of just one language, I would study a modern one rather than an ancient one.

[Anonymous]

I did Latin for the same reason your child is considering it because we had started in middle school. (Stone Ridge used to require it for middle schoolers in the 1980s.) Anyhow, I never took a spoken language until college. My spoken language was German and my Latin background turned out to be incredibly helpful from a grammatical perspective. As for the spoken piece, I took a one credit conversation section so I could work on my conversation skills.

And Latin? Definitely good for college admissions, but it gets hard so only do it if you want to.