Question about teaching Latin

[hsmommyx3]

I was wanting my children to start learning Spanish over the summer, but I know that TWTM recommends Latin. I am sure that it will tell me in the book, but before it arrives I was wondering if there is a reason for teaching Latin first?

[Colleen in NS]

I was wanting my children to start learning Spanish over the summer, but I know that TWTM recommends Latin. I am sure that it will tell me in the book, but before it arrives I was wondering if there is a reason for teaching Latin first?

Latin will be a base for English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese.......

Latin also trains the mind to think clearly. Very helpful in other areas.

This is very basic, but WTM will expand on it for you. And I'm sure others will chime in here, too. I'm glad we started with it - I'd never have considered it, had I not read about it in WTM.

[Cadam]

What she said.

[dangermom]

However, if you have some wonderful opportunity to learn Spanish (or Bulgarian, or Korean)--say a native speaker in your home, or an obliging neighbor--then by all means do the Spanish. I love Latin, but it isn't so important that it should push unique opportunities out of your life.

[San Marcos Classical]

My children are actually learning both Latin and Italian simultaneously. It works really well since, obviously, Italian comes directly from Latin. I believe the same would be true with Spanish. It is amazing how many "lightbulb" moments the kids have when they realize that the words are either exactly the same or really close. My feeling is that any language that you have the opportunity to learn should be learned. Good luck to you and your children!!

[Beth in Central TX]

I think Cheryl Lowe of Memoria Press does a better job of explaining why I teach Latin (and why I teach it first) in this article: http://www.memoriapress.com/articles/whylatin.html

[WTMindy]

so we are doing both. He has learned Spanish himself and he doesn't understand the argument that Latin will *help* you learn Spanish, why not just learn Spanish? In our case, because the kids started Spanish first, Spanish has actually helped the kids in their Latin.

It does help teach grammar, but you could also do grammar. :-)

I do teach Latin to my kids, but it isn't mandatory for a good education.

My dh thinks Latin is a waste of time, actually....and he has read all the pro-Latin articles and arguments. So far, the kids like Latin, so it hasn't been an issue, but if we had to choose one, it would be Spanish for us.