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Pompeiian baker Terentius Neo with his wife are portrayed with tablet, stylus and rotulus showing literacy and social standing. (Pompeiian fresco, 1CT, Casa di Terentio Neo; MAN-Napoli; crop; CC0 )
BENEFITS OF STUDY FOR ALL AGES
BENEFITS OF STUDY FOR ALL AGES
The cognitive skills developed in second language acquisition have been well-documented. Below are some documents to help you explore the benefits of studying LATIN and GREEK at any level. You can also find specific resources reinforcing the value of young learners taking Elementary and Middle School Latin.
A past NCLG Advocacy Chair, Dr. Ted Zarrow, spoke out on his views about the value of language study! Dr. Zarrow, a Massachusetts Latin teacher, was named ACTFL National Teacher of the Year for 2016! With many thanks to ACTFL for permission, here is Dr. Zarrow's interview in The Language Educator, He speaks about the importance of language study and advocacy.
RESOURCES
Below are some documents and resources that reflect on the clear value of taking courses in Latin and Greek Studies.
Some resource data offered here extends to the focused study of 2nd language.
Important Note:
1) Please use the latest versions of downloads.
2) Please pick fliers appropriate for the age and needs of your different recipients.
3) Please read content carefully and discern the best fit for your needs.
THANK YOU!
You might ask.....
Why Latin for Young Students?
Why Latin for Home Schools?
Why Latin at Upper Levels?
Because you can satisfy state and national standards
while teaching a valuable language
that builds skills for students at all ages!
Latin is being taught in public, private, magnet, charter,
homeschool, universities, and even correctional settings!
Latin Can Have Benefits for All
Latin Can Have Benefits for All
Some valuable and transferable skills for all students include:
Enlarged vocabulary and range of expressions
Improved reading comprehension
Enhanced writing skills
A recent article points to evidence as to how knowing two languages enhances word prediction and word/object memory. This especially applies to Latin and Greek for many students.
THE CLOSE CONNECTION OF ENGLISH VOCABULARY TO LATIN AND GREEK
MAKES FOR VERY STRONG ENHANCEMENT OF VOCABULARY SKILLS FOR ALL STUDENTS
~ Over 50% of all English words are formed from LATIN.
~ 10% more are formed from GREEK.
~ 90% of academic, career, and professional vocabulary are formed from LATIN and GREEK word roots, prefixes and suffixes.
THEREFORE:
Latin course content can help satisfy many of the specific line-item goals mentioned in State and National Standards and Frameworks, often based on Common Core, and 21st Century Skills. (Common Core is no longer the federal mandate but its content is still the base of, or very similar to, many state standards under ESSA. Check your state and district for details. Click here for a Common Core annotated version.)
PLUS:
Latin courses also include study of Greco-Roman history, art, and culture. This culture and its extensive literature are connected to the heritage of over a billion people in 57+ countries on 4 continents. Studying the Roman multicultural world can also offer students insights into the origins of customs and practices, as well as the long history of some modern situations. The comparison of historical events and cultural realities over time can lead to productive discussions of political, cultural, and social justice issues experienced in the world today.
NOTE:
Though Latin and Ancient Greek may be less of active means of communication globally today, for centuries it was a real international language of direct communication. Today there are still active speakers and readers using Latin and Greek language skills and related cultural competencies in real world situations, collaborations and research around the globe.
Please Check Out These Additional Resources
Please Check Out These Additional Resources
When to Start? Latin and Young Learners
Some NCLG fliers:
Study Develops Language Skills
Valuable and Transferable Skills For All Students
The Value of Latin, Some Perspectives (2021, Katie Robinson)
Benefits of Latin: Careers and Lifelong Learning
ACTFL Research webpage has some older articles on the benefits of studying Latin in elementary school (1970s).
NYSFLA Advocacy Resources:
(bookmarked to location on page) Shared by NYSFLA - New York State Foreign Language Association
NCLG recommends starting with these 3. Consider tailoring them to your own state and area.
(PDF February, 2025, NYSAFLT Public Advocacy Co-chairs Marie Campanaro and Barbara Patterson)
(PDF February, 2025, NYSAFLT Public Advocacy Co-chairs Marie Campanaro and Barbara Patterson)
Tired of the using/hearing the same old rationale for the benefits of Latin? Listen to this
BEST EVER VIDEO FOR WHY TO STUDY LATIN
(12 mins. Latin is a useless language - unless you're learning it for the right reasons. Classical Conversations supports parents and students in Christian, classical homeschooling ...Who is Classical Conversations? Welcome to Classical Conversations!)
UK News, Views and Research on
Benefits of Study, College Prep, Careers
Where Can Classics Take You? Great Videos and a Digital Magazine from Bloomsbury Academics!
The Bloomsbury Publishing Senior Marketing Manager shared these resources with NCLG:
Our YouTube series, Conversations with Classicists, featuring interviews with people who have used Classics in interesting and unexpected ways in their career paths!
An annually updated Where Can Classics Take You? digital magazine, showcasing stories, articles, and insights on the value of studying Classics from across the field.
New Research! Vocabulary Building: Learn the Root, Conquer the Word program, set up by Dr. Arlene Holmes-Henderson and Katrina Kelly.
See the positive results of study done in UK primary and secondary schools that introduced the study of Latin and Greek roots to build literacy! After one year, they saw progress (p.11-13) with much positive feedback (p.13-15).
Other New Trending in UK:
In the book Forward with Classics other research can be found about Classics in world countries (Bloomsbury 2018). In the UK more students now study Classics in public/state schools than private schools.
21st Century Skills: One chapter by Arlene Holmes-Henderson and Katharine Tempest (above) investigates how classical education fosters crucial 21st-century skills—such as critical thinking, communication, and adaptability—in students. The authors analyze the relevance of Latin, Greek, and Classical Civilization, advocating for their inclusion in modern, diverse school curricula. It highlights that studying Classics develops cognitive skills, such as problem-solving and linguistic analysis, necessary for the modern workplace. The discussion is part of a broader study on the resurgence of Classics in schools and community education settings... The book offers a timely, international, and evidence-based argument for the benefits of classical learning, featuring practical examples of its delivery in schools.
More on College Prep:
Latin and College-bound Students - Valuable and Transferable Skills (NCLG flier)
Want to build skills for college and careers?
Latin offers valuable skills for many careers:
~ communication / mutual understanding
~ critical thinking / analytical approach
~ analysis / discerning optional interpretations
~ nuance and detail / close reading of texts & content
~ differing perspectives / interdisciplinary approaches
~ STEAM crossovers / art, math, engineering, history of science
More on lifelong value:
Kiplinger Report ranked Classics #16 out of the 102 College Majors for leading to excellent and satisfying careers! (latest online article 2019) One liberal arts college stated that Classics and Philosophy are their highest earners and most desirable majors due to their development of research and critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and keen awareness of context as well as creative big-picture thinking.
See posts on the value of study for careers and opportunities for post-graduate work; information from various universities.
Correlation of Latin Studies to strong testing scores: Students of Latin and Classics Majors have a long history of strong correlation to very strong standardized test scores (per SAT, ETS-GRE data, gathered up to 2017*). Statistically, correlation does not prove direct cause and effect, but testing scores have also been somewhat higher for all world language students, which tends to strengthen the case for benefits of study. *Statistics have not been collected by testing agencies since 2016.
Benefits of Second Language Learning
Benefits of Second Language Learning
A key goal of all language advocacy to enrich, expand, and strengthen world language education?
Advocating for Languages as a Core Component of Education for All Students!
ACTFL has this introductory content to share: (2025)
In the 21st century, language learning meets real world needs:
Rewards learners with a resume differentiator – the ability to communicate and collaborate in another language across cultures and time zones
Provides access to information and collaboration in any field - including science, technology, engineering, mathematics; business; and health care
Develops critical literacies by practicing skills to understand, exchange opinions, and present ideas
Develops flexible and adaptable thinking, plus an ability to function in new and unfamiliar situations
Prepares learners to think and interact in a global community
These reports represent current thinking about the status, needs, and benefits of all second language learning.
Commission on Language Learning; America’s Languages Copy of 2019 Report from American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Making Languages Our Business – Full Report 2023 ACTFL
ENROLLMENT DATA K-12 and Higher Education. These reports also touch on value and benefits of study.
**2021 MLA Final Report Enrollments in Languages Other Than English in Higher Education
**11/23 Good article from MLA Commons also contains a link to Report in opening paragraph
**2016 MLA Final Reports on Enrollment in Languages .... in Higher Education
MLA 2016 Enrollments in Languages in Higher Education Final Report (Link to PDF)
MLA 2016 Short Report - Enrollment in Languages in Higher Education - Click Here
**K-12 Language Enrollment Data, June 2017 : The National K-12 Foreign Language Enrollment Survey Report
College Language Requirements for Graduation? A Perspective
College Language Requirements for Graduation? A Perspective
Here is a Harvard student's opinion piece offering broad perspectives on the value of language study and the case for requirements for EVERY SINGLE STUDENT. Check this article in the Crimson. By Ananya Gautam, Crimson Opinion Writer Feb 2, 2026.
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