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In their first Latin lesson students often pose the questions, “Why do I need to learn Latin?  Is there any point in studying a dead language if I don’t want to be a historian or archaeologist?”  In fact Latin is very much “alive” in our everyday lives.  At least 60% of words in the English language are derived from Latin and every European language has been influenced by it to some extent.  Latin not only increases linguistic awareness and helps the understanding and usage of the English language, but promotes precise analysis and logical thinking because of its grammatical framework.  

 Firstly, the study of Latin enhances knowledge of vocabulary which will help in reading, writing and conversation.  Enhanced writing techniques and precision in expression is a very important skill in today’s society and many employers look for this sort of competence in employees.  If English is your mother tongue, then through Latin, you learn to know your own language better.  For example, what does etc, a.m., and e.g. stand for?  A person with a good knowledge of Latin automatically has an extended English vocabulary which is beneficial since Latin along with Greek is widely used in both literary texts and in modern scientific terminology.  People who have studied Latin tend to find memorising complicated words or phrases easier, and their awareness of linguistic processes and details confer benefits on reading and thinking.

  Secondly, learning Latin is not just about the language, but also the Roman world and its culture.  Through this, students gain an understanding of the roots and sources of the world today, such as that of architecture and remnants in modern cities, and have a fuller and richer knowledge of the history of a major European civilization.  Furthermore, having a general knowledge about gods and goddesses, mythology, historical folks, and geographical references makes studies in history and literature easier and more enjoyable.  It also enables you also to read, understand and interpret some ancient literature in the original language.

  Thirdly, Latin is a specially designed language based on rules which have to be reflected upon with every sentence you translate, since each sentence is a puzzle of words held together through grammatical rules.  It is this requirement of precision and logic which trains students’ minds to be precise and to pay attention to detail.  Latin can be considered to be the “mother” of all Roman languages due to its relation with many foreign words.  The Latin vocabulary and grammatical framework has similarities to that of other European languages, especially French, German and Spanish.  But it also helps the learning of other languages; both related to and not related to Latin, for example, Greek and Russian, which are both, like Latin, highly inflected languages.

  Finally, having Latin on your resume is a fairly impressive credential.  Latin is a challenge and it takes a lot more than intelligence to master.  The fundamental requirements of perseverance, passion and endurance are also the qualities of an employable individual in today’s society.   

By Teresa Ng        

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Recently, a lot of families have had to move their child/children out of Private and International schools in Hong Kong mainly because of the economic circumstances that exist everywhere.

 For parents, this is a very worrying factor, parents worry about finding another suitable school for their child with lower fees with the same academic success in either the country they dwell in or a new country. And of course, another worrying factor is the assurance of a child’s happiness and stability.  A lot of worries come with moving a child from one school to another and for many families in Asia and other parts of the world; this is an imminent or existing issue.

 The anticipation of change and the early stages in a new school are challenging for everyone. In most circumstances, the children who find change most difficult are those whose parents do. It is vitally important that parents make every attempt to recognise and convey the opportunities inherent in change and to address any problems as a family before moving or deciding on a new school.

 For what ever reason exists that may cause a change in a child’s school life, parents hold the answers to their questions and should therefore share as much about the circumstances as children want to know and are able to absorb, using their questions as a guide.  It is essential that they are told that neither they nor their parents have done wrong, and that the current economic circumstances are something that the world is experiencing together and that many children around the world are sharing the same change. It might be a case that some of their friends at their school are going through the same, if so; they have one another to share their feelings with.  Parents should be available to speak with their children and to answer all their questions.

 The key to a successful transition for both child and family is one of ‘Communication’.  Without ‘Communication’ the bond is lost and children experience the pain and stress of the transition on their own. Parents need to ensure that a relaxed, calm family life exists at home and that children are not involved in arguments between parents. The less change to their home life the better and the more you reassure them that their lives will not change too much the easier it will be for everyone to move on.  

 Allow your child to become involved in the school search and help arrange appointments for schools visits.  Engage your child in the choices available and the pros and cons of each school.  Above all, understand your child’s needs and before a decision is made evaluate what is the best moving forward for your child.  

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