I do not know any american kid that can speak Spanish after 2 or 3 curses and have a logical conversation.
Is funny most people in USA say that they can speak Spanish because they took some curses in high school and often the can not even put a sentence together.

I'm a little too late to this party, but. . .

my vote would be for Spanish unless you think he's already well-enough equipped on Spanish and can add Latin as a bonus to his language skills.

I agree with those who comment on the utility of Latin, it's useful for understanding the underpinnings of the Romance languages. But honestly, I think it's underrated how much it also goes in reverse. If you study Spanish you also get insights into Latin, French, Italian, etc. The insights don't all flow in one direction. For practical utility Spanish is obviously useful, of course, but it shares with Latin the property of being a window into the common elements underlying the romance languages.

OP. Thanks for the input. Upon further investigation, I found that although Latin would be recognized as the language requirements for HS, it likely will not be recognized by most universities. So Spanish it is next year. Then sophomore year we may look at Latin as an elective. Both DS and DH want Latin...but I am trying to be practical. If he skips Spanish this year, he will lose ground on the two years of HS spanish he had already completed in middle school.

I took 4 yrs of Spanish in high school and don't remember a thing. If he is thinking medical, or stem related, Latin is the better pick.

My daughter hates Spanish and she is moving to Latin which I am okay with. I think it looks better to do 4yrs of one language than a starting all over again but it is her choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both are fine choices but those of you who are dissing Latin are so ignorant it is embarrassing. Please stop. Any intelligent person can understand the reasons for both. I also have news for you, high school Spanish classes won't make you fluent in a modern language. It's a start, but that's about it.

Yes. Plus, like I said in a prior post, Latin and Spanish are very similar. Taking Latin would likely enhance rather than detract from his knowledge of Spanish.

Of course, everyone who doesn't think like you guys is an ignorant and dumb person. Speaking of tolerance and ways of communicating.....
OP, I would analyze the manners of the supporters of every option. It is, at least, interesting.

Anonymous wrote:Both are fine choices but those of you who are dissing Latin are so ignorant it is embarrassing. Please stop. Any intelligent person can understand the reasons for both. I also have news for you, high school Spanish classes won't make you fluent in a modern language. It's a start, but that's about it.

Yes. Plus, like I said in a prior post, Latin and Spanish are very similar. Taking Latin would likely enhance rather than detract from his knowledge of Spanish.

Anonymous wrote:Both are fine choices but those of you who are dissing Latin are so ignorant it is embarrassing. Please stop. Any intelligent person can understand the reasons for both. I also have news for you, high school Spanish classes won't make you fluent in a modern language. It's a start, but that's about it.

I studied Latin at high school. I got all straight As (I was an outstanding student). Apart from the "Rosa rosae rosa", "quo vadis", " Excusatio non petita, accusatio manifesta", and "ceteris paribus" I can't barely remember anything (some prefixes, and sufixes, and..) I am not ignorant. On the contrary, I am giving an informed opinion.
Y si, no hablo latin pero escribo en espanol estupendamente. I won't have my current job if I didn't speak Spanish ( and I am not the yard boy...)

Both are fine choices but those of you who are dissing Latin are so ignorant it is embarrassing. Please stop. Any intelligent person can understand the reasons for both. I also have news for you, high school Spanish classes won't make you fluent in a modern language. It's a start, but that's about it.

Anonymous wrote:Do you want him to be the President of a company one day?-Have him take Latin. Do you want him to be able to chat with the yard boy?-Have him take Spanish.

I'm not the President, but rather the Founder and CEO of a multi-million dollar company and my Spanish (not a native speaker) was a driving factor in my success. I won't say what industry, but nothing to do with yard boys, food service, cleaning service, or any other stereotypes you may have of Spanish speakers.

If he takes Latin he can chat with the priests next time he is in Rome.

Anonymous wrote:Do you want him to be the President of a company one day?-Have him take Latin. Do you want him to be able to chat with the yard boy?-Have him take Spanish.

Yes! So the hidden reason why probably some posters support Latin.... Spanish, that language of the immigrants, or the poor, of the despaired people....
Ab imo pectore, Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the world. Globalization... umm yes, in fact it does exist. And its growing... There are soo many reasons why your statement, apart from xenophobic, is incorrect that it would be overwhelming to include them all in this post. Nevertheless, let me just quote the National Education Association: "A pervasive lack of knowledge about foreign cultures and foreign languages threatens the security of the United States as well as its ability to compete in the global marketplace and produce an informed citizenry." (NEA, 2007)
Si vis amari ama.....

Anonymous wrote:Do you want him to be the President of a company one day?-Have him take Latin. Do you want him to be able to chat with the yard boy?-Have him take Spanish.

You are no better than Newt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rF694NzjPU

Do you think he will want to actually become proficient in the language at some point? I took four years of Latin and loved it at the time, but I now wish I had spent the time on something I actually could have continued to pursue in college and would now speak.

Also, FWIW, Latin may have helped me on the SAT a bit (big maybe... who knows), but I don't remember a bit of the vocab anymore. That's usually the first thing to go when you don't use a language.

If it were my kid, I'd go for Spanish. I loved Latin, and it was a conversation starter when I was in HS and early college, but soon thereafter it lost its utility.

Do you want him to be the President of a company one day?-Have him take Latin. Do you want him to be able to chat with the yard boy?-Have him take Spanish.

I am totally shocked with this post. Yes, for sure, as a recruiter I prefer someone who is fluent in Latin.... WT?!

Latin. It's where Romance languages came from (Spanish, French, etc). .... knowing Latin will help him
Master Spanish & also understand its evolution. Also, there are plenty of places around town to learn Spanish, but few
That offer Latin.