EDUCATION REPORT - Latin Language Teaching

EDUCATION REPORT
–
June 13, 2002: Latin¹ Language Teaching²

By Jerilyn Watson

Orange High School Latin
Club, Pepper³ Pike, Ohio.
(Picture -ohiojcl.org)
This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

Latin was the language of the ancient Roman Empire. It was the main language of western Europe for hundreds
of years. Seventy years ago, many American students studied Latin in school. Then, over the years, the subject
lost popularity⁴. However, now it has become very popular again.

Public and private schools are trying to find more people who can teach Latin. It is
unclear exactly how many young people in the United⁵ States are studying Latin.
However, officials say about one-hundred-thirty-five -thousand students are taking
a
test called the National Latin Exam this year. In nineteen seventy-eight, only six-
thousand students took the test.

The National Junior Classical⁶ League is an organization for students interested in
Latin and Greek⁷. It has grown one-hundred percent in the last twenty-five years. It
has more than fifty-thousand members in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Latin has not been spoken as a language since the early fifteen-hundreds. However,
educators say there are good reasons for students to study it today. For example, knowing Latin can help people
understand their own language better. Many modern and scientific terms came from Latin. Most words in Italian,
Spanish, Portuguese⁸ and French had their beginnings in Latin. People who know Latin can read ancient books
like the “Aeneid
”
(ee-NEE-id) by the Roman poet Virgil. Some experts say young people who have studied
Latin do better in college.

Methods of teaching Latin in American schools have changed. Older Americans who learned⁹ Latin as children
spent a lot of time repeating different forms of the words. They read books in Latin about ancient battles and
wars.

Today, however, many Latin schoolbooks tell about the lives of young people in ancient Rome. Students learn
about Roman culture while they study the language.

Some schools offer special activities for their students. For example, the public schools of Chicago, Illinois hold
a yearly¹⁰ event called Latin Olympics. It takes place at the University of Illinois. Students take part in three
competitions, depending on their age. Competitions include written tests in reading Latin, Roman life and history.
Other competitions offer awards for the best Roman art and clothing.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Jerilyn Watson.

 

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1 Latin   

adj.拉丁的，拉丁语的，拉丁人的；n.拉丁语

参考例句：

• She learned Latin without a master.她无师自通学会了拉丁语。
• Please use only Latin characters.请仅使用拉丁文字符。

2 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

3 pepper   

n.胡椒(粉)；辣椒(粉)

参考例句：

• He put some pepper in the bowl.他放了一些胡椒粉在碗里。
• This pepper is really hot.这辣椒真够劲儿。

4 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

5 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

6 classical   

adj.古典的；古典文学的；正统派的；古典主义的

参考例句：

• This classical poem is hard to understand.这首古诗很费解。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

7 Greek   

adj.希腊(人)的，希腊语的；n.希腊人；希腊语

参考例句：

• The Greek seaman went to the hospital five times.这位希腊海员到该医院去过五次。
• Delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet.δ是希腊字母中的第四个字母。

8 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

9 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

10 yearly   

adj.每年的，一年一度的；adv.一年一次地

参考例句：

• The flower show is a yearly event in our town.我们镇上的花展一年举行一次。
• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。