Chapel Hill High School Latin teacher Ploy Keener hated Latin when she first started learning it in seventh grade; she did not understand why she was forced to learn a “dead language.” She even ended up with her first and only failing grade on a report card in her first Latin class.
The language finally clicked when she started reading more Latin stories and learning about Roman culture a few years later. She had always loved reading and history, and she realized that Latin made those two things come together.
Now, Keener teaches Latin levels 3 through Advanced Placement and wants to create a fun classroom environment to share her love of Latin with others. Her experience struggling in Latin class informs the way she teaches, as she wants to support students and make Latin approachable and fun.
Starting next year Keener will also teach the Latin 1 course, a class not previously offered at Chapel Hill High School. Students have been able to take the introductory course online, but the virtual class was not a popular option. Offering Latin 1 will allow students who did not study Latin in middle school to start learning the language in high school, since Latin 1 and 2 courses are currently only offered in person at Smith Middle School.
Latin is different from many other traditional language courses like Spanish or French, involving more culture and much less speaking.
“The main difference is that of course, we do not speak Latin in Latin class,” Keener said, “It’s kind of a weird thing. Latin is a language, and there are a lot of commonalities with an intro[ductory] French or Spanish class, but because there are no native Latin speakers around anymore, I do not do any kind of spoken Latin in my class.”
The course does not involve speaking or listening assessments that many students find stressful in other language classes. Students still have to memorize vocabulary and grammar rules, and there is a larger focus on the history of Latin and the Roman Empire. Some stories include stories about Roman mythology, daily life or architecture.
“I think that learning a language, no matter what language it is, is useful,” Keener said. “A language is a window into another culture, and it’s really important for us to be learning about other people in the world. I think Latin is interesting because not only is it a window into a different culture, but also into a different time period which makes things a little bit more interesting.”
Almost 60 percent of English words come from Latin, and learning the language can be a great way to improve English grammar skills, Keener said. Latin helps boost English vocabulary and with understanding basic language composition. Learning the language can help with critical thinking skills, reasoning and logic, she said.
Senior Lucy Brannon has been taking Latin since sixth grade and says that she loves the language and the benefits it has given her.
“I have enjoyed taking Latin! I enjoy the challenge of weaving words together so that they make sense grammatically and convey the meaning of the original Latin text. Translating Latin is a lot more like solving a logic puzzle than reading a language,” Brannon said.
Brannon stated that Latin has improved her vocabulary and helped tremendously in her English classes.
“Latin was the class that taught me English grammar. Understanding Latin has improved my understanding of English by tenfold, and I think that is one of the most valuable things Latin 1 has given me,” Brannon said.
Spanish teacher and language department chair Thomas Soth is glad to not keep the “status quo” and offer Latin 1 for students.
“With upper level Latin already at the school, it’s only logical that we say ‘Carpe Diem’ and offer Latin one and then two the year after next,” Soth said. “Besides sharpening the mind and expanding one’s vocabulary knowledge, classical Latin provides students with a way to study a language without having to be evaluated on listening, speaking et cetera.”
Sophomore Jasper Elia is currently taking Latin 4 and feels that Latin is a hallmark of his high school experience. Elia expressed his excitement that Latin 1 will be coming to the school.
“When I first started taking Latin, it was really just for the language credit,” Elia said. “But I’ve come to love the community and find the language fascinating. I can’t imagine high school without Latin, and I’m so glad that everyone has the opportunity to take the class now!”
To advertise the course and let students know they could sign up for Latin 1, current Latin students created posters to hang up in the school halls. Each person came up with a creative way to advertise Latin and show off the different parts of the class.
Sophomore Sydney Hodulik, who takes Latin IV, made one of the posters hung up in the halls. She said that the poster makers added funny slogans to catch the attention of people walking by and show that Latin is lively and fun.
“Making posters for Latin 1 was enjoyable because we were able to incorporate the appeal of the Latin language along with the history of the Roman Empire,” Hodulik said. “My favorite part of taking Latin is the material based around history, so I wanted to make sure to include that the course does not only teach the language.”
Both incoming freshmen and current high school students can sign up for the Latin 1 course. If there is enough interest in Latin 1, a Latin 2 course could be added the next coming school year.
Hodulik noted the ability of Latin to act as both a social studies and English class and how she thinks highly of the course.
“If you are looking to improve your English while also learning epic history, starting Latin is the best way to do so. Latin 1 coming to the school opens the doors for anyone to start learning something that is truly amazing!,” Hodulik said.
