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Year of Graduation
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MALS: Interdisciplinary Studies
Directing Professor
Dr. Alison Ridley
Abstract
This thesis explores the value of modern foreign languages to Classical Christian Education (C.C.E.).The teaching of modern foreign languages at Classical Christian schools should be prioritized as much as the teaching of classical languages, like Latin and Greek. Learning foreign languages that are still spoken today is valuable in equipping students to achieve the goals of Classical Christian Education. These goals include developing young men and women to become lifelong learners and lovers of Christ, who desire to engage their culture and community to positive ends. Considering the globalized nature of today’s world, it should not be ignored that one’s community most likely contains English speakers and people from other countries who speak other languages. What better way to prepare students to engage their culture and community in a relevant way than by preparing them to build relationships through speaking the languages of the people they encounter? This thesis explores the educational ideas of classical scholars and modern C.C.E. scholars in order to explain the history of C.C.E., the goals of this educational tradition, and the contributions that teaching modern foreign languages make toward those goals. The lesson plans developed from this study, share ideas for teaching modern foreign languages in a manner that is consistent with certain hallmarks of the Classical Christian tradition, such as the Trivium, the Quadrivium, the use of story, as well as using Latin as a stepping stone for learning new languages. These lesson plans also support the idea that modern foreign languages can and should play an important part in the Classical Christian school curriculum.
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Melissa A. J., "The Value of Modern Languages in Classical Christian Education" (2018). Liberal Studies (MA) Final Essays, Hollins University. 16.
https://digitalcommons.hollins.edu/malsfe/16