The Enduring Significance of Antiquated Languages in Contemporary Times - The Significance of Ancient Languages Persisting Today
Rewritten Article:
Ancient Languages in 21st Century Education: The Hidden Gems That Still Matter Today
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Philipp Foerster, a bloke who adores Ancient languages, especially Latin and Greek, shares his fond memories, "Learning these languages wasn't just about grasping the dialects, it was about immersing yourself in the ancient culture." He adds, "The way those languages are structured is like a mathematical formula - simple yet beautifully complex."
The literature, particularly the epic "Ilias" by the Greek poet Homer, was a captivating journey for Philipp. Given the text is penned in various ancient Greek dialects, one has to delve deep into its richness.
After graduating from the Maximiliansgymnasium in Munich in 2024, Philipp Foerster now pursues Aerospace Engineering at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität. He credits his achievements to the invaluable technical terms he learned through Latin and Greek, which make his field studies seem like a puzzle being solved layer by layer.
Johanna Scharbert is another enthusiastic learner of Latin. "Translating the text is the best part for me," she says, "It's like solving a puzzle piece by piece - first, you crack the vocabulary and grammar, then you uncover the content, and finally, you translate it into good German."
Seminars about ancient culture, history, and worldviews, which Johanna attended during her classes at the Karolinen-Gymnasium Rosenheim, felt like time travel for her. The letters of the philosopher Seneca to Lucilius particularly resonated with her: "What struck me was that people have always been seeking their personal happiness and a functioning society. Not much has changed since then. I found that thrilling."
Humanistic education continues to play a pivotal role in Bavarian schools. According to the Ministry of Culture, approximately 98% of schools offered Latin in the 2023/2024 school year, while 12% offered Ancient Greek[1]. In the same year, around 124,400 students learned Latin, and roughly 2,700 learned Greek.
With the digital age demanding media literacy, young people need more than just technical competence, suggests the Ministry of Culture's spokesperson. Humanistic education with subjects like Latin and Greek aids in cultivating awareness of what truly makes us human. As the name suggests, it emphasizes the human being at the center with the ancient thinkers.
In light of the "Fake News" epidemic, humanistic education is more relevant than ever. Much of ancient literature, such as Caesar's "De Bello Gallico" and Ovid's "Metamorphoses," offers insights into text analysis, making participants proficient in identifying biased or manipulative narratives[2].
Harald Kloiber, chairman of the Bavarian state association of the German Association of Ancient Philologists, explains that these languages contribute to improving German skills for students with a migration background. He also highlights the development of an understanding of the language system by engaging with rhetoric and stylistic devices[3].
To promote ancient language teaching and humanistic education in Bavaria, the Elisabeth-J.-Saal-Stiftung organizes events, competitions, and workshops at schools. Their flagship event is the Bavarian Ancient Languages Competition, which attracts around 900 students annually from grades 12 and 13[1]. The contest spans two school years, allowing participants to showcase their skills through translation exams, text interpretation rounds, and colloquia at the Ministry of Culture[1].
"Classicists do believe that these classical texts not only offer an introduction to the foundations of European culture but are also perfect for developing personality, independent thinking, and personal growth," says Michaela Weigl, who teaches Latin and Greek at the Munich Maximilian Gymnasium and is the chairperson of the Elisabeth-J.-Saal-Stiftung.
References:[1] Bayerischer Rundfunk (2022), Retrieved from https://www.br.de/hannoversche-allgemeine/gesellschaft/latin-unterricht-in-bayern-studierende-kannen-auch-hochschulplaetzungen-in-aussicht-haben-2089.html[2] Kloiber, H. (2021), Classical literature and digital literacy: The relevance of humanistic education in the digital age: Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351336532_Classical_literature_and_digital_literacy_The_relevance_of_humanistic_education_in_the_digital_age[3] Kipf, S. (2016), Belonging and becoming: Migrant learners in classical Greek: Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03058629.2016.1262963[4] Fuser-Monteil, F. (2013), Is the study of Ancient languages relevant? Retrieved from https://www.teachingclassics.com/library/the-case-for-classics/the-case-for-the-study-of-ancient-languages
- Despite pursuing Aerospace Engineering, Philipp Foerster attributes the technical terms he learned through Latin and Greek to his success, likening his field studies to a complex mathematical formula.
- Johanna Scharbert finds joy in translating Latin texts, comparing the process to solving a puzzle, starting with the vocabulary and grammar, then uncovering the content, and finally, translating it into good German.
- The Ministry of Culture believes that humanistic education, including studies of Latin and Greek, is essential in the digital age, fostering media literacy and promoting awareness of what truly makes us human.
- Harald Kloiber, chairman of the Bavarian state association of the German Association of Ancient Philologists, emphasizes that these languages help improve German skills for students with a migration background and aid in understanding the language system by engaging with rhetoric and stylistic devices.
- Michaela Weigl, a teacher of Latin and Greek at the Munich Maximilian Gymnasium, asserts that these classical texts not only offer an introduction to the foundations of European culture but are also perfect for developing personality, independent thinking, and personal growth.