Spanish or Latin?

[Anonymous]

My DC will be entering high school next year. DH really wants him to take Latin. He has already taken two years of high school Spanish (in middle school) and has aced it. Any opinions on whether Latin is wroth trying? We are letting him try it for one year and then if he wants, go back to Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Now that they've eliminated the crazy vocabulary portion of the SAT I really don't understand the purpose of taking Latin. On the other hand, a ton of people in real life speak Spanish. Continue with Spanish. Why does his dad want him to do Latin?

[Anonymous]

I loved Latin. A very logical language. And a great help wih vocabulary. I've studied French and Spanish, as well. Spanish seems to be closer to Latin. If he's interested, I can't see how it will hurt.

[Anonymous]

It could hurt in that he would lose the momentum he already has going with a living language. Why put that at risk?

[Anonymous]

Read the Latin thread from the other day. It has great answers on it. Latin is a fantastic language that prepares you for many things including understanding your own language. Anyhow, check it out.

[Anonymous]

Latin is the basis for many other languages. In Latin class your child will learn about the beginnings of Western civilization, in addition to learning grammar and a logical way of thinking. Colleges love kids who have studied Latin because it is generally the top students who are successful in Latin.
Kids who take Latin tend to do well when they take other languages later. I would allow him to take Latin freshman year and see how he likes it.

[Anonymous]

Being fluent in Latin is great for time travelers who want to be inconspicuous. That, and using a Blackberry.

[Anonymous]

If it were my kid, I would prefer that he stick with Spanish but I think it's important to let him follow his interests. Look, he's got two years of Spanish and that's what counts if he decides to study it later. When I was in high school, I studied French, Latin, and German but now as an adult I'm trying to learn Spanish. Because I learned French as a young person, it comes more naturally to me than Spanish even though I haven't studied it in years and I've been slowly but surely studying Spanish for the last 10 years or so. If I had had even a year or so of Spanish in high school, it would have been easier for me to pick it up as an adult.

He's got the foundation he needs if/when he decides to go back. Let him study Latin. BTW I rarely use Latin these days but I *loved* reading Cicero's defense of Sextus Roscius in high school. Still remember it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it were my kid, I would prefer that he stick with Spanish but I think it's important to let him follow his interests. Look, he's got two years of Spanish and that's what counts if he decides to study it later. When I was in high school, I studied French, Latin, and German but now as an adult I'm trying to learn Spanish. Because I learned French as a young person, it comes more naturally to me than Spanish even though I haven't studied it in years and I've been slowly but surely studying Spanish for the last 10 years or so. If I had had even a year or so of Spanish in high school, it would have been easier for me to pick it up as an adult.

He's got the foundation he needs if/when he decides to go back. Let him study Latin. BTW I rarely use Latin these days but I *loved* reading Cicero's defense of Sextus Roscius in high school. Still remember it!

Oh sorry, I thought you said your kid wanted to study Latin but it's your dh. Sorry about that. Yeah, screw that, the kid should study Spanish if that's what your son wants. But it won't kill him to take a year off and study Latin given his foundation in Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Spanish 2000 times!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spanish 2000 times!

Latin 400000 times!

[Anonymous]

NP here. I am a huge fan of Latin and raved about it on the other thread where the student wanted to study Latin and vs. the parents questioning its value. But -- here OP says the student has done well in Spanish and it is DH pushing for Latin. OP does not say what the student wants to study, and that is the most important factor in a language. Now, if DH knows the school has a great Latin program and terrible Spanish teachers, that would be different and should be shared with the student. Also relevant here is what level would the student be taking in high school? Some middle schools cover one year of high school Spanish in two years, so he'd only be going into level II, but others may do a full high school each year putting him in level three. That would be a huge difference from starting at Latin I because by junior year the student could take AP Spanish -- then if he wanted to he could take Latin senior year. But if student starts now with Latin I, he will only get up to level IV. From a college perspective, "finishing" a language through AP level I understand is usually viewed more favorably.

But again, if student wants one or the other language after knowing all the facts, that controls.

[Anonymous]

Latin. Without a doubt.

[Anonymous]

Our DC is also on the fence. Doing well in Spanish but wants to try Latin. I said to go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now that they've eliminated the crazy vocabulary portion of the SAT I really don't understand the purpose of taking Latin. On the other hand, a ton of people in real life speak Spanish. Continue with Spanish. Why does his dad want him to do Latin?

The "crazy vocabulary" is STILL included in the reading comprehension. Latin is a base language and the language of scientists and scholars. You can never go wrong in studying Latin.

Plus, as a little hook for college, everyone and their brother studies either French or Spanish in high school. Most public schools don't even offer Latin anymore.