# Poll: Did you learn Latin in high school? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765 "2004-06-29T20:59:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/81 "2004-07-01T17:22:16Z")
Yes. I took it in 10, 11 and 12. I would have taken it in 9th too but not enough students were interested. One of my middle schools also offered it but I didn’t know about it. I went to school in Worcester MA and graduated in 1998. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/82 "2004-07-01T17:40:11Z")
No, but I could have. At my high school, the foreign languages offered were Spanish, French, German, and Latin (up to four years of each), and I chose to take German. I graduated from Springfield High School (public HS in Springfield, Illinois) in 1985. As far as I know, the foreign language offerings there are still the same today; but they could easily have changed them without informing me. I’ve wondered if there’s any longer any reason for anyone but a specialist to study Latin (it being a dead language and all, y’know). Supposedly, studying Latin improves one’s vocabulary and facility with English—but more so than spending an equivalent amount of time and effort studying English, or another living language? ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/83 "2004-07-01T18:25:49Z")
1. Yes. 2. 1999 3. Portsmouth, RI **Ravenous Lady** , puer is boy. Puero would be “to/for/at the boy”, among others (it’s both dating and ablative). ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/84 "2004-07-01T20:54:12Z")
1. No, but I think it was offered. I took French instead. (I did take Latin in college as an elective). 2. 1971 3. Monterey County, California (I was in the same altar boy generation as **CalMeacham** , btw. Hey Cal…what comes after “Introibo ad altare dei”? A: Ad deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.) ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/85 "2004-07-01T21:26:39Z")
Yes, in rural central Ohio—it was the only foreign language offered. Taught by a retired Mennonite missionary to India. Two years, first and second year of high school. 1960 ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/86 "2004-07-01T22:41:54Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > I’ve wondered if there’s any longer any reason for anyone but a specialist to study Latin (it being a dead language and all, y’know). Supposedly, studying Latin improves one’s vocabulary and facility with English—but more so than spending an equivalent amount of time and effort studying English, or another living language? Here’s a good reason: I got a scholarship based on my SAT scores. My SAT’s were good because of my English score. My English score was good because of 3 years of Latin. Latin taught me more about English word derivitives than my actual English classes. Sadly, neither taught me crap about spelling. Knowing derivitives helped me with everything but the reading comprehension section (and I didn’t need help with that). So, spending 3 years translating the Gallic Wars may have been boring but it saved me money in college. I think it was worth it. Here’s a bit of bonus: I don’t use Trig or Physics in my daily life either. I didn’t have to take either. I did take both and because of them, Latin and a natural ability for coding, I aced my ASVAB. If I hadn’t been medically disqualified, I would have had my pick of any type of military work. Some high school classes may seem pointless at the time but they have their benefits in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/87 "2004-07-02T00:43:53Z")
1. Did you learn Latin in high school? Yes, grades 9-11. 2. In what year did you graduate high school? 1994. 3. Where did you go to high school. New Fairfield, CT. ahem . . . _Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra?_ I don’t know why, but that has permanently lodged in my brain. I don’t even know most of the meaning anymore. But yeah, I still use my knowledge of Latin to figure out new English words, and scored high on my verbal SAT because of it. It also really helped me learn German, ironically enough. ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/88 "2004-07-02T01:16:04Z")
1. No, I taught myself. 2. I graduated high school in 1995. 3. I went to high school in the redneck belt of Northern California. (but, as my signature suggests, I am not entirely without ability.) ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/89 "2004-07-02T01:24:19Z")
1. Yes, because two years of a foreign language were required; I took Latin because I wouldn’t have to speak it in class, then promptly forgot it all upon graduating. 2. 2000 3. Northeast Texas “_Sicilia insula est. Italia paene insula est_,” was the first line I had to translate, and it’s pretty much all I remember. ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/90 "2004-07-02T01:50:01Z")
1. Yes, but I didn’t learn a thing. ☹ 2. 1985 3. Memphis, Tn ---
**Author:** ![maddog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@maddog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maddog)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/91 "2004-07-02T02:32:15Z")
Yes. For five years. 1981 High School, Lincolnshire, England ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/92 "2004-07-02T03:17:17Z")
> [@](#): > > _Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra?_ When do you intend to stop abusing, O Catiline, our patience? Four years of high school.\* 1968 Detroit, Catholic college prep. - Our first year, we were taught using a method to teach modern (spoken) languages and I got pretty good at it. The next two years, I had a teacher who wanted us to stick to literal translation of ancient texts (such as Cicero, above) and who discouraged actual use of the language. (He was not happy with his teaching assignment.) By senior year, I was just going through the motions. ---
**Author:** ![Blind\_Guardian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@Blind\_Guardian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blind_Guardian)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/93 "2004-07-02T03:19:43Z")
1. Yes. I took four years of Latin, including two years of AP Latin. 2. 1. 3. Scranton Preparatory School, a Jesuit high school in Scranton, PA ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/94 "2004-07-02T13:56:59Z")
1.) Yes, two years in High School 2.) 1986 3.) Deutsche Schule Washington in Potomac, MD ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/95 "2004-07-02T14:52:11Z")
1. Yes, 7 years, grades 7-13 2. 1999 3. Kassel, Germany > [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > I’ve wondered if there’s any longer any reason for anyone but a specialist to study Latin (it being a dead language and all, y’know). Supposedly, studying Latin improves one’s vocabulary and facility with English—but more so than spending an equivalent amount of time and effort studying English, or another living language? At least our Latin classes were fundamentally different from other language classes. First this was the only subject that advocated a more theoretical approach to a language and the presented text. Only in Latin we discussed the significance of single words or forms. In addition to that at least in the later years we learned a lot about philosophy, politics and history from the texts we read. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/96 "2004-07-02T14:57:25Z")
> [@](#): > > (I was in the same altar boy generation as CalMeacham, btw. Hey Cal…what comes after “Introibo ad altare dei”? > > A: Ad deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.) Damn, I was all set to type that until I noticed you’d answered it yourself. Now, of course, I can’t think of the next line. And I’m probably damned for writing “Damn”. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/97 "2004-07-02T15:37:36Z")
1. No, but I wish I had. Took physics and chemistry electives instead. Big mistake. 2. 1988 3. [Bishop Guertin High School](http://www.bghs.org/), Nashua NH (shout out to fellow New Hampshirite **Tommy Tutone**!) ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/98 "2004-07-02T16:43:06Z")
I graduated in 1992 from a private high school in Honolulu. We were presented with the option of learning foreign languages from seventh grade onward. I chose Latin, which was a two-year commitment; it wasn’t offered at the high school level so I did it for seventh and eighth grade. I switched to French for freshman and sophomore years, and Spanish for junior and senior years. Other languages offered were German, Chinese, Japanese, and I think Russian. I would have loved to continue with Latin. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/99 "2004-07-02T17:25:09Z")
1. Nope 2. 1986 3. Catholic boys school in Ky My year was the first year Latin was not required for all freshmen. Latin was no longer offered at all, not even as an elective. Father Hemmerle also taught sophmore religion class, and he repeatedly told us all how lucky we were we didn’t take his Latin class, as every class before wilted beneath the workload he required. So, I’m kinda glad I didn’t, but, as an adult now, I’m also aware that it might well have been useful. ---
**Author:** ![Nuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea666f/32.png) [@Nuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nuke)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765/100 "2004-07-02T17:36:12Z")
1. Yes 2. 1982 3. Scarsdale, NY Semper ubi sub ubi [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-did-you-learn-latin-in-high-school/252765.md?page=6)