Chapter 13: “Cave lector, Latina et Graeca vivunt!”: The Unique Challenges of Teaching the Classical Languages

The teaching and learning of the Classical languages in world language education is the focus of Chapter 13. The chapter begins with a description of the nature of Classics as a discipline, and the role of the study of the Classical languages (and especially Latin and Ancient Greek) in Classics. It then analyzes contemporary political and ideologies controversies related to the nature and purposes of Classics as a field of study, and offers a justification for the study of a Classical language. It then considers the content that should be explored in the study of a Classical language. The chapter also considers different approaches and issues related to the pedagogy of teaching Classical languages, including discussing who the target students for the study of a Classical language in the context of US public education should be. It considers the teaching and learning of Classical languages as a way of encouraging critical perspectives about life and society in antiquity, and describes the lessons to be learned about linguicism and linguistic discrimination from the study of Classical languages. Finally, the chapter concludes with a discussion of the possibility of broadening the number and variety of Classical languages taught in US public schools.