tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post4100880682408151175..comments2023-11-22T05:51:28.934+00:00Comments on Frank Chalk: Facts and LearningMr Chalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300002644366743672noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-83515142498038310742013-04-01T15:54:07.871+00:002013-04-01T15:54:07.871+00:00Studying A-Level Latin gave me a great foundation ...Studying A-Level Latin gave me a great foundation for learning other languages. And J.Wibble: I was in Rome over half-term, knowing no Italian at all, and was able to translate about 80% of the public notices, and communicate with some shop-keepers* by using Latin vocabulary.<br /><br />*The rest spoke English!Sue Simshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868265477624790008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-42384992861820527052013-03-28T03:39:13.665+00:002013-03-28T03:39:13.665+00:00I actually liked Latin in school. In his book, Fra...I actually liked Latin in school. In his book, Frank describes every school as having one strict disciplinarian and one brilliant teacher who could engage even the craziest kids. In my case, they were the Geography and Latin teachers respectively.Kimpatsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06156184889287692016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-70558049562313963102013-03-27T22:01:05.398+00:002013-03-27T22:01:05.398+00:00Rote learning does have a place, times tables is p...Rote learning does have a place, times tables is probably the best example. Some elements of music theory such as time and key signatures are also well suited to this, meaning they can be used and a more detailed understanding of the finer details gradually builds over time.<br /><br />As for Latin, as an attempt to try and make it seem relevant someone told us that if you went to Italy and spoke Latin you would be understood about 70% of the time. I suggested we could spend the compulsory 2 years learning Italian instead and then we could be understood 100% of the time. It would have been less silly if my school didn't actually teach Italian as a 6th form option.<br /><br />My own theory is that my school still taught Latin because the head of Latin was clearly unhinged and nobody was willing to sack her in case she burned the school down or something.J. Wibblehttp://thepianoandthefish.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-77133042076156097982013-03-26T07:35:11.874+00:002013-03-26T07:35:11.874+00:00However, you clearly didn't memorise how to us...However, you clearly didn't memorise how to use the apostrophe correctly, Frank.Kimpatsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06156184889287692016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-9207472589135174052013-03-25T20:49:57.131+00:002013-03-25T20:49:57.131+00:00latinam sugitlatinam sugitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-29611040947948562232013-03-25T19:12:08.524+00:002013-03-25T19:12:08.524+00:00Sorry, but I beg to differ with you and your first...Sorry, but I beg to differ with you and your first anonymous commentator over the teaching of Latin in schools. I'm not suggesting that it should be taught the way it was in Grammar Schools fifty years ago, nor that the majority of pupils need to learn it. But it's not a waste of time: it's a very solid foundation on which an interest and aptitude for languages and linguistics can be built and strengthened.Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06556981409721070854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-76756845336724721512013-03-25T16:05:29.162+00:002013-03-25T16:05:29.162+00:00Completely agree with you Frank, if you look at th...Completely agree with you Frank, if you look at the maths results globally the UK is falling behind because we teach with exploratory learning. This is great for the top 10% of students but the rest would find it much easier to learn long division through repetition and would be a lot more likely to remember it! This is why countries such as Singapore out perform the UK every year.10tickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03713012303549035266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-15937732532017297432013-03-25T14:48:24.247+00:002013-03-25T14:48:24.247+00:00I agree there's a place for learning by rote. ...I agree there's a place for learning by rote. I despair that my 15 year old kids can't do simple multiplication in their heads - e.g. 6x4. Instead they stand there going err..., 6, 12, 18, 24. They usually get the right answer, but it takes ages. My primary school taught us by rote and it's still stuck 35 years later. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-12083957865022576452013-03-25T11:43:06.449+00:002013-03-25T11:43:06.449+00:00"(By the way, this post is not meant to offer..."(By the way, this post is not meant to offer any support for the teaching of Latin in school, which is a complete and utter waste of time)."<br />I agree.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com