Latin

From Prep 3 to Prep 6, Parkgate House children are introduced to the ancient world and the Latin language through ‘Minimus’, an excellent course centred on a mouse that lives with a Roman family on Hadrian’s Wall.

As Latin is the origin of about 52% of the English language, so much attention is given to increasing the children’s English ‘word power’ by helping their awareness of the Latin ‘roots’ of so many words.

The children discuss the way the Romans lived and what was similar and different to their own lives. Because Latin is an inflected language, it is also very good brain training.

Parkgate House children learn to identify various verbal clues, consider the options and reason it out. Their final challenge is to turn the strange word order into modern English.

These skills are taught through the medium of cartoons, songs, playlets and other enjoyable activities.