The Lower School at Sevenoaks LS_book_single_pages | Page 30

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All students in Years 7 and 8 study Latin.
Most students new to Year 7 have studied
either no Latin, or very little, so they should
not worry if they have never had any Latin
lessons before, but it is also great if
they have.
At Sevenoaks we teach Latin alongside
studying the ancient Romans. Pupils will learn
not only the basics of the Latin language, but
also important aspects of the Roman way of
life, including gladiators, baths, religion
and the theatre. There will also be the
opportunity to put their Latin studies in
context by visiting Fishbourne Roman Palace,
the Roman baths in Bath and the Caerleon
military camp in Year 9, and then, if they
continue with Latin, Italy.
Learning Latin is a fantastic way of
developing problem-solving skills. Students
who study Latin are learning about all
languages, including English, and increasing
their ability to analyse sentences and
passages of text. Many English words derive
from Latin, and much of modern Western
culture is based on the ideas, art, politics,
literature and society of the Classical
world. Some of the best stories originated
in Classical times, and learning Latin is a
gateway to studying Greek and Roman
mythology through literature in the Middle
School and Sixth Form.
We use the Cambridge Latin Course as our
main text – this follows the story of a Roman
family living though important and exciting
historical events such as the eruption of
Mount Vesuvius and the Roman occupation
of Britain.
the lower SCHOOL | AT SEVENOAKS