Did you have to take Latin when you were in middle/high school?

[eppur_se_muova]

34. Never had the opportunity, and I was disappointed. We had German, French, Spanish. I wanted Latin and Greek.

I'm *really* surprised about the Latin prerequisite for other languages. I don't see it as all that helpful. (Yes, I know they're related, but the differences are important -- no articles in Latin is a biggie.)

Latin and Greek vocabulary are useful in any science, but knowledge of the grammar isn't much help. So I took one semester of Greek in college and figured that was enough. A handbook of Latin and Greek etymologies in science does me more good than practicing all the rules for first and second aorist verbs. Still fun to be able to read the Greek alphabet (alpha, beta, gamma is where that name comes from) when I'm seeing old coins, murals, papyri etc. in photos and on TV, even if I don't always know what the words mean; on coins the writing is mostly names of rulers easily recognized as such.

I'm really not much of a linguist, or even a polyglot (which is what most people really mean when they say "linguist" ), but I do have one bit of advice for anyone who wants to study languages: If you're curious about a language which uses a non-Roman or modified Roman alphabet (you've probably never seen an "English" alphabet; "Modern Roman" is what we use to write English), start studying the alphabet(s) or ideographs that language uses before you begin any formal study of grammar, syntax, etc. Once you've got even a partial grasp of the alphabet you can start building up your ability to recognize words and, simultaneously, your vocabulary. (This kinda assumes you are more interested in the language as written than spoken, though.) If you're learning a language for travel, this is especially helpful, since you can read maps, road signs, storefront signs, etc. even when there's no one around to ask. (Bonus: reading protest signs and banners on TV news. A glimpse of a fraction of a second is all I need to catch a sign saying ПУТИН НЕТ!)