> Despite the number of hours and years dedicated to Latin on the school curriculum, it was a complaint of educationalists from the mid-seventeenth century onwa

> Despite the number of hours and years dedicated to Latin on the school curriculum, it was a complaint of educationalists from the mid-seventeenth century onward that the considerable linguistic apprenticeship in schools guaranteed only a mediocre output in terms of pupils’ abilities in written and spoken Latin, let alone Greek. As a schoolboy, I was compelled to study Latin for about 6 years, from age 9. I acquired a better understanding of grammar; but I couldn't compose say, a short essay in Latin. Nowadays I can barely compose a sentence of more than three words. I also did a term (8 weeks) of classical Greek. I learned the alphabet; that's it. I'm glad I learned Latin; but in terms of return on effort, it was a complete waste of time.