Durlston Court Latin Department

"Latin is a language, as dead as dead can be. It killed the ancient Romans and now it's killing me."

So why learn Latin? Many schools have axed it from the curriculum and use the lessons to reinforce the core curriculum areas. Let me suggest a few valuable reasons why we, at Durlston Court, continue to devote two hours each week to Latin in Years 6, 7 and 8:

· So that you can understand those annoying phrases that grown-ups insist on quoting, and be inspired by your school motto.

· To dazzle your friends with witty expressions in after dinner speeches.

· In order recognize many words derived from the Latin language which contribue to the richness of the English language.

· To learn about the heroes of Greece and Rome alluded to in literature, and through them, about the characteristics of classical men, women and the interfering gods they worshipped.

·To develop an understanding of the grammatical structure of language which will help you study other modern European languages later in life.

· To challenge your brain to perform feats of intellectual acrobatics which are enormously rewarding.

Forget about Caesar's Gallic Wars which have haunted parents through their O' level syllabus. Our course is geared towards an understanding of life in Roman times. We read ghost stories, visit the Circus Maximus for a chariot race, attend a wedding, and only in Year 8 send the eldest son off to fight in Britannia to civilize the barbarian hordes!

Tempus fugit literally "time flies". You're late! 

Ad infinitum adults talking at the table do this when you want to get down and go and play, talking for eternity. 

Cave canem! knowing this could save your trousers if there is a Pit Bull Terrier at home. 

Non sequitur when what you have just said doesn't follow because you haven't argued your point logically. 

Ad nauseam your mum may do this when she knows you aren't listening to her go on and on ad nauseam. (I'm a mum, so I know!) literally it means to seasickness.