Discimus Vitae

Most people won't understand the title of this post. However, I can give you a few clues. Think disciple, discipline, interdisciplinary. Disciples are students of the master. To discipline a child is to teach and correct. Interdisciplinary studies cover multiple areas of study. Vitae -- vital, vitality, vitamin, revitalize. Florida and Texas and the Caribbean will need to be revitalized after Harvey and Irma.

Discimus vitae -- we learn for life.

This was the motto of my classroom, and it is the motto of my life.

* * *

Many English words come from Latin roots. Some of these can be traced directly back to Latin, but more often, it is by way of French, Spanish, or Italian. Strangely enough, many Germanic words -- and English is a Germanic language -- come from Latin roots as well, back from when the Germanic hordes invaded the crumbling Roman empire. But why does it matter?

Students who learn Latin, whether those students are children or adults, will improve their vocabulary. According the Reader's Digest, 60% of English words are Latin-based (Sept. 2017, p. 79).

Anyone who wants to work in the health care field, one of the largest sectors of our economy, well be well-served to learn Latin. How many medical terms are Latin-based? Science and medical textbooks are weighty with vocabulary and terminology. Learning Latin will ease the memorization of medical terminology, starting with the basics: anterior and posterior come from (guess what) anterior and posterior!

Not everyone is cut out for assisting in surgery, though. Whether you want to go into law enforcement, the practice of law, or simply writing murder mysteries, Latin will help you understand legal terms. Witnesses receive subpoenas and lawyers sometimes work pro bono.

But even if medicine and law are not in your future, learning Latin will increase your ability to learn any language, even non-Latin-based languages. Teaching your brain a new language will increase your brain's ability to learn a language. Go figure!

Most importantly, however, is Latin's ability to teach us how to learn. Cheryl Lowe writes on her blog, Memoria Press, "The student who has learned how to learn with Latin will be a better student at all of his other subjects. Latin is an unexcelled system. Once you learn one system, you learn how to think systematically and approach any new subject with greatly enhanced learning skills."

My students wouldn't agree, but I must admit Latin was my favorite subject to teach to my middle school classes. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. If I could only teach one subject, it would be Latin. It's a versatile skill. Latin is truly the paving stones of the paths they will walk.

Discimus vitae. We learn for life.