Latin

[Razor Keen]

I've got the chance to study Latin next year if I want. I dunno really if its worth it, because the classes are after school and I will have quite a bit going on. Also I don't know much about Latin itself, so I've no idea if I'd like it or not. Any advice? is it worth taking?

[moog]

latin, although being a dead language, is the basis for many european languages including english and is also useful if studying anatomy or something similar.

I would definitely take it.

[Destrukto]

I took Latin and for me it was a very good choice...

Latin helps you construct your sentences better and having a knowledge of the roots of our culture is something that is lacking today anyway...

It can be quite hard, because it's syntax is so different from Germanic languages, but once you get past that it is actually quite easy to understand...

I was not a particular good languagetudent, but managed to learn it anyway.
The culture and myths are good to know too for your development...

I'd say go for it :)

Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas (Even if you don't have the strength, the will (to go ahead) must be praised)

[Smartie Popper!]

I don't do Latin, but I have a few freinds who took it. Nearly all of carried it on for GCSE. They said it was great, you don't just learn the language you do history and religion and things too. I don't know if you've already taken classics lessons, but if you have, It's basically that as well as the language.

From waht I've seen, It's quite hard and the words they learned seemed pretty useless, but then again, why would you need to use them? If you want to become a doctor or anything like that learning latin to any degree would be definately to your advantage.

Anyway, It's hard but fun.

[flibbles]

i found latin too difficult and dropped it. a friend of mine, however really enjoys it. if you can cope with putting quite a lot of work into it then its a good subject

[Ouroboros]

I had to do latin from year 6, and I'm carrying it on for GCSE. It is a great basis for all of the "romantic" languages (french spanish etc), and really is not too hard at all if you can spot the patterns and put a little effort into learning the basic stuff off by heart. The rest just comes quite naturally. Now Ancient Greek however, is a different story... :mad:

[Dr S]

I've always wanted the option to take Latin. Only German, French, Spanish and Russian option

[Cherokee Red]

I took latin. I thought it was a great subject.
I'd definately take it if i was you. It does help to understand where a lot of our words came from.

Plus if you ever watch buffy, you can sort of understand what they're saying ;)

[mag]

andy .. tut tut tut your acctually considering taking latin :O

oh well your choice lol :P

[EasyTiger]

I did Latin for 3 years. I was too young to appreciate it.

I never got on with languages though so none appealed to me ;)

[Kweku Ananse]

i do latin cureently asnd i'm doing it for a thrid year next ear. it is broing, but you really apreciate it. it is very useful; not just for mdicine and law, but for life skills and job skills etc. and you can call someone a mater martito and they wont have a clue what that means mother fucker

[Ouroboros]

But it doesn't.

Put it in the genitive and then you can have a golden star.

[Razor Keen]

well thanks everyone, i'll give it some thought but yes i certainly am considering it. yes walker thats right. im considering it. no i dont get paid. so what?

[mag]

bad child :D

[Dr_nwa]

latin is a top quality subject. not enough people do study it now.
I did latin to GCSE and continued it for a term into my sixth form.
it really helped in my first year of uni, as i do biology. there was a lot of anatomy, so being able to work out names of various muscles was a plus, as dealing with the latin names of various species.

[mag]

:O well ..... if
a) i had been offered
b) got bribed
c) didnt have to do it after school
d) saw a point in knowing it
e) didnt have after school ict


i might almost considerit lol :D

[misty de muerte]

I did Latin from Year 7 to Year 11 and like the Colonel said, it forms the basis of much of our language and others (Italian, Spanish etc.)

You will do what is called "background work" where you basically study the life of romans. It's really fascinating.

The part that most of my friends had difficulty with was the translation section. We're not talking easy-ass stuff. For my GCSEs I had to learn about 15 passages, varying in length from 40-400 words in both Latin and English. Twas hard but if you are dedicated and actually do the work required, you will be set for the exam.

Definitely go for it because Latin is actually something that will stick with you and it will allow you to understand our own language better. You can deduce the meaning of English words purely from the Latin you will have learnt. Ooh.

Do it!

[KualaLumpur1997]

I did GCSE Latin. The actual learning of the language and mythology/Roman life is quite interesting, but studying the "set book" is hell on earth, especially if you do what I did and attempt to learn half of the English translation of Virgil's "Aeneid VI" off by heart. The fact that I succeeded is irrelevant - if you're going to do Latin, either demand to do coursework or actually learn the Latin vocabulary. Otherwise you'll end up being able to do this:

From here lies the path which leads to the Underworld's Acheron. Here the confused flood seeths in a huge, muddy chasm and spews out its sand into the Cocytus. A ferryman, Charon, awful in appearance in his foul filth, guards these pools and rivers, thick grey hair lies untrimmed on his chin, his eyes stare flashing fire, and he himself pushes along his rust-coloured vessel with a pole as he trims the sails. He is now an old man, but in a god, old age is vigorous and green. (295-318, Aeneid VI, Virgil)

One year on, I can still do it! What use will that have for me? None.

[piemanmoo]

Yes, Latin is a great course to take. It really helps you understand root words and scientific terms a lot better.

[b_em]

I did three years of Latin in school and didn't get less than 95% in any Latin exam. It's a fabulous course to take, giving you some great knowledge of classical mythology, as well as giving you a broader and deeper understanding of european languages in general. I found it really helped with my other language courses, as well as giving me a better insight into the derivation of some English words I would use daily but never truly understand.

I debate its usefulness as a qualification unless you intend to actually undertake a study of classics or classical civilisation. I chose not to take it as a GCSE because we were only allowed to take 11 and I simply couldn't justify wasting one on Latin.

Take the course, well worth it.

(About the only bloody time these forumites agree on something!)

[Oli]

Im not realy the right age to be giving advice to older people but i'll take a turn and speek in my dads words.

Latin is great, its the structure of language and can also help when learning other languages because a-lot of them originate from Latin.

I would just go for it, a hard task to take but the turn-out's at the end will probably help you a-lot in life.:D

[Kweku Ananse]

i bet everyone used the caimbridge latin course books. with caecilius. and salvius. and other annoying people. but lots of violence. which is good.

[Ouroboros]

Of course I did :D

And still do. In year 9 now, and using book 5 (although we did the equivalent to book 5 in Oxford Latin Course last year, so absolutely nothing this year is new whatsoever)

[KualaLumpur1997]

Originally posted by dead
i bet everyone used the caimbridge latin course books. with caecilius. and salvius. and other annoying people. but lots of violence. which is good.

Yeah, I used those, the names I really didn't get were the twins Loquax and Anti-Loquax, the parents were very unimaginative.

[Lovely_Donkeh]

I did'nt have the oppertunity to study latin, so i took german:D

[Razor Keen]

ok, so, mag, apart from it being after school, what are the down points? honestly? i really cant see why i oughn't do it. why do you keep pestering me about it being crap?

[mag]

yeah .... its latin ... no jobs require latin .... its not gonna be exatly a brilliant use of your time.... ermm ... well i wouldnt take it ...

and verity and danille will be there....

[KualaLumpur1997]

Originally posted by Lovely_Donkeh
I did'nt have the oppertunity to study latin, so i took german:D

Ich auch, lernen Sie gern Deustch, oder habe sie keine Wahl? Ich lerne Deutsch seit vier Jahren, und es gefällt mir ganz gut! Nächstes Jahr möchte ich nach Deutschland reisen, um dem Oktoberfest zu besuchen! Wer kann das wiederstehen?

[Cherokee Red]

Originally posted by KualaLumpur1997
Ich auch, lernen Sie gern Deustch, oder habe sie keine Wahl? Ich lerne Deutsch seit vier Jahren, und es gefällt mir ganz gut! Nächstes Jahr möchte ich nach Deutschland reisen, um dem Oktoberfest zu besuchen! Wer kann das wiederstehen?
pffft, show off ;) lol

originally posted by mag
yeah .... its latin ... no jobs require latin .... its not gonna be exatly a brilliant use of your time....
Mag, even if somewhere doesn't require it, it will still be extremely useful. Thousands of employers, especially lawyers, will look highly at someone who has this qualification.
I got it standard grade at level 2 and still get people saying - "whoa, you took latin?"
It is the basis for nearly every language we know (except from German which isn't latin based).
So please read up on your facts before you post :rolleyes:

[Kweku Ananse]

a lot of employees will consider you more carefully if you have a gcse or a level in latin. it is a very highly prized skill. mag, leave ethe debating of the language to people who know about it.

[Scribbly]

Suposedly it is the base of a lot of languages and therefore usefull.. I say latin schmatin

[poopie]

education sucks

[pientieke]

ive been taking latin for three years now
and its still fun



fac ut vivas

get a life
:D :cool:

[poopie]

soorry if i sounded mean there!! i didnt mean to be!!

:weebl:

if you wish to complain to me go to www.stuandkyle.tk

[BooBooKittyFuck]

can anyone translate 'bite my shiny metal ass' into latin???

[piemanmoo]

admordeo me lucere cudos assinus

[duckduckmoose]

There is one all important, and stupid sounding word that you must know:

CANIS!

[Kweku Ananse]

if you think that the latin for dog is funny, you are a moron. besides, we all know that the best sounding one is circumspectabant. (they looked around)
and how could we forget the timeless phrase, diem fabricati, pvnc. it means " make my day, punk"

[KualaLumpur1997]

circumspectabant atrium, ut canis stimularent.

just to see if I could still construct a coherent latin sentence, and to see if I could link the words some people seem to find so funny.

[Razor Keen]

lo mag?

[N@0m!]

its quite easy but i was 11-13 at the time (i'm 13 now)
i might be harder if you are older.....its an easy language to learn though....for instance the word for whole is "totum" which sounds like total....see? its easy!

[Kweku Ananse]

and omnes is all, as in omnipotent or whatevere. you can see the links to english staright away.

[Razor Keen]

im not older, im 13 myself.