<p>I am at a stand-still deciding whether to learn Spanish or Latin. There are pros and cons for the both of them. In your opinion, which one should I take based on this info? </p>
<p>Spanish: Just finished up with Spanish 3 this year. I'm pretty good at it, BUT I learned nothing in Spanish 3. The teacher taught us no vocab and just gave us worksheets on the culture and history of Mexico. Because of this I have had a year to forget my Spanish. I can still remember some words but nothing like I used to after Spanish 2. </p>
<p>Honors Spanish 4 is the highest we can go at my school and I cannot take it next year due to schedule conflicts with other classes. I plan on taking the SAT subject test for whichever language I choose. I would like to take Honors Spanish 4 online my senior year as well if I choose this one.</p>
<p>Latin: Have no experience with this language whatsoever. I know my future will have something to do with Science and many scientific terms derive from Latin roots. It seems like learning this language would be more beneficial in that aspect. </p>
<p>One major benefit to this class would be the possibility of taking AP Latin online my senior year. Spanish only offers the Honors credit. To do this, I would have to self study the entire year and ace a placement test that shows I know Latin I-III. I would take the SAT Subject test for this language as well, if it is the one I choose to learn.</p>
<p>Based on that information, which language do you suggest? Also, do you know of any great study aids for them? </p>
<p>SAT Language Tests are evil. If you’re not a native speaker and you want to do well, don’t bother. In fact, I think there was a poster here recently who was a native speaker and didn’t get an 800 (they got a 790, but still). The curve is malicious and the questions come out of left field. I’m not native, but i’ve been learning Spanish since I was 8, and on the practice I missed like 5/7 questions. My friend speaks fluent Korean (it is her first language, after all) and had a tough time with her Korean w/ Listening test (TBA if she got an 800).</p>
<p>But I digress…</p>
<p>I would say continue with Spanish, but given that it can’t fit in your schedule plus your Spanish III teacher sucked, it might be time to move on with Latin. I never thought Latin was terribly useful because it isn’t spoken (and all of my friend’s assignments involve transliterating from Latin to English with a cheat sheet so it made me snicker a little), but I know people who enjoy it, so if you think it’s your cup of tea, and if you can take AP, might as well go for it.</p>
<p>Latin can be very beneficial to take. I would advise you to take it. There arent mny opportunities to learn latin. You could learn spanish in many places and from many people. </p>
<p>Latin offers a unqiue and exciting glance into an ancient civilization. You will learn about roman culture and will learn about the english language as well. Your grammar will improve. </p>
<p>I strongly disagree with some of the people here.</p>
<p>Some points:
Colleges like to see consistency with one language.
You want to learn Latin roots for science? Study Latin roots for science - this will take you a weekend. It would be a waste of your time to learn the entire Latin language in order to learn roots.
Similarly, you want to learn one of “Spanish, Italian, Portugese, French, Catalan, and Romanian”? Learn one of “Spanish, Italian, Portugese, French, Catalan, and Romanian.” You would be wasting your time by learning Latin first just as a stepping stone for another language.
Nobody speaks Latin; you will never use Latin outside of a theological or academic setting (i.e. reading texts written in Latin - which a historian might do). Sure, if you want to learn about Roman culture, learning some Latin would help - but it is not necessary in any way.
Finally, it would be a waste of your time to have to self-study Latin in order to place into the online Latin class - you could be spending this time much more productively during your junior year in a wide variety of ways: studying for SATs, raising your GPA, doing something interesting and meaningful in your ECs.</p>
<p>I would also strongly recommend against taking an SAT Subject in a language, since your Latin and Spanish skills are not likely to be strong (you will be up against native Spanish speakers, and it is unlikely you would do well with just 1 year of Latin).</p>
<p>That being said, I know someone who actually studies Latin because she finds it genuinely interesting and fascinating. She has also taught herself Greek, and loves reading ancient works of literature by Roman/Greek authors. She is going to be a Classics major in college. I’m not sure this applies to you. If I ever had to read a work by an ancient Roman author, I would just read the translation.</p>
<p>You really dont need any more years of spanish. However, if you do decide to take more language classes, choose spanish. Colleges like to see consistency with 1 language. So take spanish 4 if you really want to. Honestly, 3 is more than enough in my opinion.</p>
<p>I have to agree with @terenc and @JHUorDUKE. It wouldn’t look good on my transcript to go all the way to Spanish 3 then drop the language completely for Latin. Self-studying an entire language in a year would likely use up all of my time need for my grades, the SAT and other Subject tests I want to take.</p>
<p>It looks to me that it isn’t advised to take a world language Subject test. I will have to find another one then since I only have two I can take at the moment. </p>
<p>@JHUorDUKE: Some of the colleges I am applying to “strongly recommend” 4 years of a foreign language.</p>
<p>“Strongly Recommend” is different from require.
What i get from that is, if two applicants about the same in stats and such, the one with 4 years of a language vs 2 years of a language would be chosen because it beefs up their application more.</p>
<p>Latin is much more impressive on an application. So don’t worry about how colleges may view it, just take Latin and you will have a great time.</p>
<p>The language subject tests are really brutal. My friend’s first language is Korean, yet on the listening test he scored at something like the 26th percentile.</p>
<p>Latin is not “more impressive.” It’s just another language.
What’s more impressive is 4 years of a language vs. 3 years in one and then 1 year in another</p>
<p>To be fair, Latin has significantly more difficult grammar and syntax compared to Spanish and is overall much more difficult to learn.</p>
<p>However, most schools do not offer Latin, while most schools DO offer Spanish, so schools aren’t going to discredit you or anything for taking Spanish.</p>
<p>Yes it is more impressive. Granted this is pure speculation, i dont think that 4 years of spanish looks necessarily better than 3 of latin. Colleges are looking for people who stand out. Taking latin is a way to stand out more and in addition, latin is a great language. Spanish is great too, but like i said before, taking latin is a once i a lifefime experience whereas you can take spanish anytime.</p>
<p>Everyone is bringing up great points. It would look good to stay consistent and it seems that Latin is one of the most intriguing languages to learn.</p>
<p>Since this is a dead language, would the subject test be easier? It wouldn’t favor the native speakers because frankly there aren’t any. </p>
<p>Either way I would have to teach myself a good portion of the language since I learned nothing in Spanish 3. Haha, I still don’t know what to do…</p>