Should I do gcse Latin?

12

Hi
I'm interested in doing a Latin gcse, but a lot of people are telling me not to take it as it's a 'dead language'. I'm wondering if I should take it as my language option or take a modern language or both. Is it hard? What do you do in Latin?
All advice will be appreciated
Thanks

Reply 1

fernsehturm

9

Original post

by Eaterwheat

Hi
I'm interested in doing a Latin gcse, but a lot of people are telling me not to take it as it's a 'dead language'. I'm wondering if I should take it as my language option or take a modern language or both. Is it hard? What do you do in Latin?
All advice will be appreciated
Thanks

Take both!!!
Latin will really help with your understanding of English grammar and your other modern language.
The literature you do is like stepping into another world, though I will be fair and say that this isn't something lots of people start to appreciate until A-level/degree level. But it will really hone the skills you need for English Lit GCSE.

Reply 2

Sandtrooper

21

Original post

by Eaterwheat

Hi
I'm interested in doing a Latin gcse, but a lot of people are telling me not to take it as it's a 'dead language'. I'm wondering if I should take it as my language option or take a modern language or both. Is it hard? What do you do in Latin?
All advice will be appreciated
Thanks

Original post

by MontyZuma

Take both!!!
Latin will really help with your understanding of English grammar and your other modern language.
The literature you do is like stepping into another world, though I will be fair and say that this isn't something lots of people start to appreciate until A-level/degree level. But it will really hone the skills you need for English Lit GCSE.

The second poster makes an excellent point. I did Latin GCSE, got an A and struggled a little. I also did Japanese and got an A*. I ended up studying Egyptology at university, and despite not having studied Latin for 2 years, it massively helped me with ancient Egyptian grammar, and English grammar in general, which I did not realise at the time. You'll do translation and also literature papers. I wish I'd been better at it at the time, but I found ancient languages a lot more challenging then than I do now. It's a really good subject, so I would certainly recommend it.

Should I do gcse Latin?

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated