Mission & Academics Blog
Why Latin Still Belongs in College Prep
Latin hasn’t been widely taught in schools since the 1960s and especially in an age of coding bootcamps and STEM pipelines, teaching Latin might seem like an odd choice. While Brookfield Academy is clearly a college-prep environment, we know the secret to Latin. Latin isn't about speaking to ancient Romans—it's about building minds.
Latin is pattern recognition on steroids. Students learn to decode complex sentences, identify grammatical structures, and infer meaning from context. These are the exact skills they'll need to find their way through dense college texts in philosophy, literature, law, or science.
Latin is pattern recognition on steroids. Students learn to decode complex sentences, identify grammatical structures, and infer meaning from context. These are the exact skills they'll need to find their way through dense college texts in philosophy, literature, law, or science.
The vocabulary payoff is extensive. About 60% of English words have Latin roots, and that jumps to 90% in technical and academic fields. For example, a student who knows Latin doesn't just memorize "benevolent"—they understand it as bene (well) + volent (wishing). This approach to vocabulary makes thousands of words instantly transparent.
But here's the real secret: Latin teaches students how to struggle productively. Translation demands precision, patience, and problem-solving. Students learn that intellectual challenges can be conquered through systematic, careful thinking—a mindset that carries them through organic chemistry, legal briefs, and research papers.
Plus, Latin opens doors to the sources. Students can read Virgil, Caesar, and Cicero as written, not as interpreted by translators. They engage directly with the texts that shaped Western thought. So, no, Latin isn't a relic and it is certainly not dead. It is a gift we like to provide all our students. It's a cognitive gymnasium that prepares students for the rigorous thinking they will need as successful college students, and thoughtful contributors to our world.
BA students have embraced the challenge. You can see this clearly through the participation and success of Latin teams at the Middle School and Upper School levels. In fact, BA performed exceptionally well at the recent Wisconsin Junior Classical League (WJCL) Convention in Madison. The team swept all four levels of Certamen. Certamen is one part of Classical Conventions. It is Latin for “contest” or “competition” and is a quiz bowl-style competition focused on Classical subjects, including Latin grammar, Roman history, mythology, and culture.
Nine BA students placed in the top ten finishers at the competition, including William Schoonenberg, who is the #1 Latin Scholar in the State. WJCL provides leadership opportunities as well. Two students were elected to serve on the organization's Executive Board. Knowledge of Latin is one more thing that sets BA scholars apart. We regularly see students who have pursued Latin in Upper School attracting the attention of top universities: Stanford, Harvard, Rice, Princeton, and UC Berkeley, just to name a few.
This short blog only skims the surface of the value of learning Latin. For a more detailed discussion, check out this wonderful presentation, The Lasting Benefits of Learning Latin, by Mr. David Urbanski ‘89, Middle School Language Department Chair and Latin Teacher. In addition to demonstrating key benefits of learning Latin, he shares quotes from many alumni who are now grateful to have invested in this endeavor.
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But here's the real secret: Latin teaches students how to struggle productively. Translation demands precision, patience, and problem-solving. Students learn that intellectual challenges can be conquered through systematic, careful thinking—a mindset that carries them through organic chemistry, legal briefs, and research papers.
Plus, Latin opens doors to the sources. Students can read Virgil, Caesar, and Cicero as written, not as interpreted by translators. They engage directly with the texts that shaped Western thought. So, no, Latin isn't a relic and it is certainly not dead. It is a gift we like to provide all our students. It's a cognitive gymnasium that prepares students for the rigorous thinking they will need as successful college students, and thoughtful contributors to our world.
BA students have embraced the challenge. You can see this clearly through the participation and success of Latin teams at the Middle School and Upper School levels. In fact, BA performed exceptionally well at the recent Wisconsin Junior Classical League (WJCL) Convention in Madison. The team swept all four levels of Certamen. Certamen is one part of Classical Conventions. It is Latin for “contest” or “competition” and is a quiz bowl-style competition focused on Classical subjects, including Latin grammar, Roman history, mythology, and culture.
Nine BA students placed in the top ten finishers at the competition, including William Schoonenberg, who is the #1 Latin Scholar in the State. WJCL provides leadership opportunities as well. Two students were elected to serve on the organization's Executive Board. Knowledge of Latin is one more thing that sets BA scholars apart. We regularly see students who have pursued Latin in Upper School attracting the attention of top universities: Stanford, Harvard, Rice, Princeton, and UC Berkeley, just to name a few.
This short blog only skims the surface of the value of learning Latin. For a more detailed discussion, check out this wonderful presentation, The Lasting Benefits of Learning Latin, by Mr. David Urbanski ‘89, Middle School Language Department Chair and Latin Teacher. In addition to demonstrating key benefits of learning Latin, he shares quotes from many alumni who are now grateful to have invested in this endeavor.
