<p>Hi, everyone. I may be applying to Princeton this year and was wondering how the Latin classes are there. I have never had Latin in high school, unfortunatly, but could satisfy the foreign language requirement with a 5 in AP Spanish. Is it a very work intensive language? Thanks :)</p>
<p>Anyone?!?!?!?</p>
<p>Latin at Princeton uses Wheelock’s grammar, which is the standard textbook. You’d be learning the same concepts at the same pace as at most colleges. The difficulty of tests and translations, of course, varies depending on the instructor. </p>
<p>As far as the difficulty of Latin itself…it’s certainly harder than some of the modern languages (e.g. German or Spanish), but I found it easier than Greek.</p>
<p>Thanks! 10 char</p>
<p>Latin is probably one of the most difficult languages to learn. It’s entirely inflected and has an ungodly amount of cases that you have to memorize endings for (i.e. Nominative, Locative, Voacative, etc.). This normally wouldn’t be horrible, except that endings are often shared. For example, the plural Nominative of puella (girl) is puellae (pronounced poo-el-aye). However, puellae is also the singluar Genitive/Dative case, as well as the plural Vocative case. So, you have to be able to understand everything else in the context of the sentence, as well as how the cases correlate with each other.</p>
<p>It’s difficult, but not impossible. The biggest problem is that there’s an unnecessary level of complexity to everything, but I suppose the Romans didn’t know any better, what with being some of the first to invent a sophisticated language and all. Eventually you’ll start to pick up patterns, though. You’ll also have a one-up due to your familiarity with inflected verbs and shared/root words from Spanish.</p>
<p>To be honest, though, I don’t understand why anybody would want to take Latin of their own accord, assuming they aren’t going into an anthropological, philosophical, etc field. I only took it in high school in hopes that it would look good on a college transcript. I love languages, but Latin really got to me sometimes. I’d suggest German. Best language ever. =P</p>
<p>Latin’s a very complex, but logical language. If you can think analytically and clearly, it will come naturally, otherwise progress might be a bit slow. I’ve studied Latin for almost six years now and there’s still the odd long sentence that throws me out; but understanding the language becomes a lot easier with more experience.</p>
<p>Some might tell you it’s a dead language, and they are correct to an extent, but it does help immensely with English as well as analytical thinking. Take it up if you like a challenge and want to be rewarded!</p>
<p>Latin at Princeton is usually very well taught. I’ve taken some upper level Latin classes so I can’t speak from personal experience with 100 level classes, but my friends in the department say they’re quite good. If you’re interested in law school or med school and think Latin would be good background, Princeton is a good place to take it.</p>
<p>Best profs in classics department: Katz, Feeney, Ford, Flower (both of them), Champlin…I’m sure there are more. The ONLY prof you should avoid at all costs in the Classics department is Janet Martin. No one has ever, ever, ever ever ever ever enjoyed one of her classes. Only unsuspecting freshmen and upperclassmen who’ve been living under rocks (and don’t know how horrible she is) take her class. </p>
<p>Instead of starting Latin without any intention of majoring in it, though, you might enjoy a history class in the Classics department. Just a thought.</p>
<p>Yep, I got a Spanish AP 5 and started Latin for the hell of it. (LAT 101-102) Don’t know what the others above were saying, but as far as princeton goes, it’s much easier than taking German or heaven forbid, Chinese. The class was decent, you definitely learn at a MUCH faster pace than you’re probably used too, but it’s doable. And expect class size not to be too large either. Mine for 101 was about 7 or so. If you’re into it, give it a shot!</p>