Does Latin Still Matter? Why Parents Should Care About This “Dead” Language
Latin is often dismissed as outdated or impractical – especially in an age of Google Translate and global languages like Spanish or Mandarin. So why do classical Christian schools keep it at the center of their curriculum? In this episode, host Davies Owens sits down with Dr. Chad Kim – author, pastor, and long-time Latin teacher – to unpack the surprising relevance of Latin today.
Together they explore:
- Why Latin is more than a “dead language” and remains the bedrock of Western civilization
- How learning Latin strengthens logic, attention, and critical thinking
- The way Latin opens doors to Scripture, church history, and the Great Books
- Why wrestling with Latin builds the discipline and fortitude our distracted culture desperately needs
- How Dr. Kim’s new curriculum brings joy, depth, and even prayer into Latin study
🎧 If you’ve ever wondered why your child’s school requires Latin – or if it’s really worth the effort – this conversation will give you a fresh, thought-provoking perspective.
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Charles (Chad) Kim, Jr., Ph.D. is assistant professor of theology and classical languages at Saint Louis University. He loves to spend time riding bikes and playing sports with his family, reading works in classical languages and teaching others to do the same, and taking care of his chickens. He is the host of the podcast A History of Christian Theology and the author of Ecclesiastical Latin: A Primer on the Language of the Church and The Way of Humility: St. Augustine’s Theology of Preaching.
Connect with Chad: