Beneficia Cognitiva Studii Linguae Latinae
( The Cognitive Benefits of Latin Study)
By Peter King and Eugene Romanosky
Unusually for a middle school, Saint David’ s Latin curriculum begins in fifth grade, with a measured introduction that touches on concepts such as grammatical case and verb tense. Students acquire a vocabulary of about 100 words this first year, and there is frequent comparison with Spanish, both in vocabulary and in grammatical structures( which are remarkably similar in the two languages). Students, especially younger students, are fascinated by the realia- the material remains- and the classes are richly illustrated through Smartboard presentations and many supplementary exercises.
These narratives increase in length and complexity as the student acquires new grammar. By the eighth grade, the curriculum is being modified towards a more traditional approach, to prepare the students for the changing expectations of high schools. There is additional grammatical material, in the form of additional texts( the Supplementa, a paradigm workbook) and original handouts.
And throughout their years at Saint David’ s, the boys have access to the wonderful Cambridge GO program, a web-based support system for the Cambridge Latin Course textbook. The GO program contains a pdf of the entire textbook for each level; interactive vocabulary and grammar exercises; educational videos given by experts in the field; and enactments of the stories in the book performed by teachers. The students have their own accounts and can use GO from any location. Many boys have mentioned how helpful the exercises in the program are, for review in general and in preparation for vocabulary quizzes particularly.
The language-related benefits of studying Latin are well known. Latin provides great insight into the roots of English vocabulary; the general knowledge of grammar that the study of this ancient tongue instills makes one a more proficient user of English; and learning the speech of the Romans can assist with the study of any other foreign language, especially the Romance ones. However, studying Latin also develops cognitive abilities that go far beyond the use of language. It sharpens the mind, strengthens problem-solving capacity, and develops critical thinking.
Summer 2025 • 19