The Gospel of John opens with these powerful and majestic words, “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1). Language is essential to knowing God. Latin, in particular, offers a window into the beauty and precision needed in well-ordered language. In the context of classical Christian education, Latin, like math, holds a unique position because both math and Latin are cumulative. In both disciplines, one will always need in the future what has been learned in the past. Here is another thing to consider. Math helps us manipulate the world through numbers, and Latin helps us communicate with precision, clarity, and depth. Both are foundational disciplines for the Christian liberal arts education CDA seeks to provide to children.
But why do we study Latin and why not emphasize a modern language like French or German? Isn’t Latin a dead language? Far from it. Latin is, in fact, immortal. Its influence persists in fields such as medicine, biology, chemistry, law, and literature. Thus, CDA emphasizes Latin because it is a root language, embedded in many of the languages that are used in Western civilization. Moreover, when students study Latin, they’re not merely learning grammar and vocabulary; they’re engaging with a rich tradition that stretches back two millennia. Beyond its utility, Latin possesses a certain beauty—its ordered structure and elegant phrases speak to the soul.
The Scope, Sequence, and Vision of Latin at CDA
At CDA, the study of Latin begins early. Currently, students start learning Latin in 1st and 2nd grade with Song School Latin and continue through 8th grade. But ideally, students would continue their Latin studies until 12th grade. As of now, by the time students complete 8th grade, they should be able to read the Vulgate – the standard Latin translation of the Bible. By the end of 12th grade, the goal is that students would be equipped to read great works of classical literature, like Virgil’s Aeneid and Augustine’s Confessions in their original language. As we like to say at CDA, “Ad fontes! (Back to the sources!)”
Moreover, the study of Latin at CDA aims to form both the mind and the soul. It is not just about learning grammar and syntax. Learning Latin is about developing students’ ability to think, reason, and appreciate the depth of classical literature as it was written and intended. Latin, alongside Greek, are two buttresses of classical Christian education, giving students access to the texts that shaped Western thought and Christian theology.
Lingua Latina and Memoria Press: Tools for Learning
At CDA, students use resources like Memoria Press and Lingua Latina to master Latin. The approach is gradual: from 2nd to 6th grade, students focus on building a strong foundation in Latin grammar. Then, from 7th to 12th grade, they shift to learning Latin autodidactically, meaning they engage with the language through a more immersive, narrative-based approach.
Lingua Latina emphasizes “comprehensible input,” which means students learn Latin by engaging with stories and texts in Latin itself, rather than relying heavily on dictionaries. This method encourages internal language acquisition rather than rote memorization. In the autodidactic method of learning Latin, mistakes are a natural and valuable part of the learning process. In language learning, making errors signals progress. Just as we don’t fault a toddler for saying “Me is Maddie” or “Look at the geeses,” we know that through practice and correction, they will eventually master their language given the child has a model to follow.
Thus, when it comes to language acquisition, the goal is not immediate perfection but deep, lasting understanding. By encouraging students to make mistakes and learn from them, we aim to develop confident, competent Latin readers.
The How: Reading Latin
The first chapter of Lingua Latina introduces students to learning to read Latin in Latin itself. This narrative-based learning begins simply, but it gradually builds students’ comprehension skills in a way that mimics natural language acquisition. This approach often excites the students to press into the difficult task of learning Latin with joy because they no longer only have to memorize a myriad of charts. Instead, they are drawn into what learning a language is all about – understanding people in their place and culture.
Over time, students move from basic stories to more complex texts involving stories of a ship caught in a storm, the myths of Icarus and Theseus, and a young boy being reprimanded for falling asleep in school! In short, students develop a strong foundation for engaging with classical and Christian texts in their original languages when they learn Latin narrativally – and they often have fun doing it! Few other classical Christian schools learn Latin this way. It is exciting that Coram Deo Academy is working towards the most effective Latin instruction possible. I consider myself incredibly blessed to be a part of a team that cultivates such a high-care and high-challenge atmosphere.
The Elevator Pitch
The study of Latin in a classical Christian setting is about more than just acquiring a skill. It is about training students to think deeply, communicate clearly, and appreciate the beauty of God’s creation through language. Latin opens doors to understanding theology, philosophy, and history in their original contexts which equips students to engage with the great ideas that have shaped our world.
