Learn to Speak Latin

Although a technically a dead language, Latin developed into various Romance languages (French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian among others). Latin has also had a large impact on English, and Latin roots are used to form many words and scientific terms. Because of its strong impact on so many modern languages as well as an important cultural, historical and religious influence, Latin is a hugely beneficial language to study. Learning Latin can also not only help with your foreign language skills, but can also prove to be immensely beneficial with English grammar and vocabulary, making it possibly the only dead language you can study with everyday application.

As Latin eventually evolved into many different Romance languages, the language itself forms a language group. Originally spoken in Ancient Rome, Latin was spread throughout Europe during the Roman conquest. Latin, in slightly varying forms, was also used as the main literary dialect in Europe until the 17th century and is still used by the Catholic Church today. The Latin alphabet is also the most widely used alphabet in the world, so while the language itself may not be spoken on a regular basis, Latin is still an incredibly useful language to know today.

There are a variety of ways to go about learning Latin. As Latin has been and continues to be so influential on English and many other major world languages, many local community colleges and private institutions offer classes on Latin. Also, because total immersion (the fastest way to learn any new language) is not really possible without the help of a time machine, the best way to learn Latin is through a some sort of instructional course and/or private tutor. Investing in a program like Rosetta Stone can also help you learn the basics of grammar, vocabulary and pronunciations if a local class on Latin is unavailable or you want to be free of the confines of a structured classroom setting.