Embrace the study of classical languages! It is a misconception among students and educators alike that Greek and Latin are “dead,” and no longer useful. Learning these languages can be very helpful for studying many other subjects and for many professions.
Language is considered metaphorically alive, because it is generative. That is, people use language to create new words all the time. As long as new words are being created from the language, the language is considered living. Latin is very much alive in medicine and the sciences, and is used regularly to name new stars and species, for example.
In addition, learning classical languages makes the study of English easier. Latin, German, and Greek are all very useful to a lover of English. Latin is also the basis of many contemporary languages commonly spoken today throughout the world, like Italian or Spanish, which is spoken by four hundred million people worldwide.
Learning a language like classical Latin or Greek also trains a person to think analytically, setting the groundwork for further studies in analytical subjects like Law. Because these languages are structured differently, they challenge speakers of modern languages to approach comprehension and literary analysis in new and challenging ways.
Classical languages aren’t useless; they enhance the study of other languages, law, medicine, science, and analytical thinking. I hope that as today’s students evaluate their educational choices, they consider learning a classical language. The benefits are numerous, no matter what your interest. And remember, they are alive!