Latin

8th grade students on annual trip to Rome.
8th grade students on annual trip to Rome.

In-depth Latin study in early adolescence creates a foundation for an awareness of the nature of language itself and provides a solid, almost instinctual, basis for more advanced study of any language.

The Latin Program at Explorer West works with young people to:

  • Develop a lively interest in language
  • Build an appreciation for the past as it sustains the present and makes possible the future
  • Engage students so they are confident in studying unfamiliar, diverse, and challenging subjects

The Latin program strives to produce students who:

  • Are prepared for studying world languages in high school or advanced high school Latin
  • To begin the study of another language confidently, enthusiastically, and with the habit of looking below the surface for meaning
  • Have a solid grounding in English grammar and the nature of language itself
  • Can use their knowledge of Latin to spell and use the English language with fluency and precision
  • Own and use a large and varied vocabulary
  • Use their knowledge of the roots of western civilization and their personal experience of travel in Europe to inform their study of other subjects
  • Have developed habits of analysis and rigor that they can apply to every aspect of their lives