Monday, February 16, 2009

Dorothy Sayers and the Teaching of Latin

Those of you who are familiar with Dorothy Sayers and her essay "The Lost Tools of Learning" will enjoy reading the transcript of her Summer 1952 presentation to the Association foR Latin Teaching at the Ley's School in Cambridge, UK, entitled "Ignorance and Dissatisfaction" which ArLT has recently made available.

In this address, Ms. Sayers relates her many years of study of the the Latin language. She shares her own experiences learning Latin grammar and attempting to read the Classical authors and wonders what might have been if only her teachers had been more imaginative and if she'd had the opportunity to read medieval works. She concludes with some "constructive suggestions" regarding methodology and materials. You may not agree with everything she has to say, but it is a thought-provoking article and well worth reading.