Latin

Latin is the progenitor of the Romance languages: Italian, French, Spanish, and English. The word "progenitor" finds its roots in Latin, pro meaning forward and gingere meaning to beget. In short, Latin is the mother tongue, she birthed European language. Language and culture are inseparable. Thus, by learning Latin, a student directly receives Western Culture. 

 

Studying Latin habituates English speakers to their own language. Genes​ of the mother-tongue can be found in English as an estimated 50 percent of our vocabulary comes from Latin. Compound words such as transcontinental are often two Latin words combined.  When coming across a long word, I have personally fallen back on my Latin training and parsed out new words simply by recalling Latin vocabulary. As if that were not enough reason for studying Latin, there is the added bonus of being able to read plaques and statues all over the world commemorating historical events. 

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Another benefit of studying Latin is that it is heavily grammar based and systematic. Meaning in Latin is not found in tone like other world languages, but rather in word endings. Charts upon charts of endings must be memorized for proper usage. Mastering grammar charts creates categories in the brain. Without recognizing it, a boy fills his mind with a grid-like structure, similar to shelves in a library. When he is in fourth grade, perhaps the only thing on the shelves is his present tense verb endings. However, having developed the ability to construct shelves, in high school he can more easily find a place for geometry or romantic poetry. Systematic thinking directly correlates to logic, math, and law, yet it all begins in third grade with amo, amas, amat.  ​

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