A wide vocabulary with an understanding of word roots and relationships is directly related to how effectively and efficiently a student studies and learns. The fewer words a student understands fully and accurately, the more he misses or misunderstands and the longer he takes to learn in English, Social Studies, Science, and even Math. Writing effectiveness and efficiency are also directly related to vocabulary and language mastery. Standardized testing like the SAT and ACT indirectly test vocabulary through timed reading comprehension questions and essay writing questions. English is the academic language of the world, and the Latin and Greek roots are a fundamental component of an academic English vocabulary. In this course we will take the study of English vocabulary back to its Greek and Latin roots, learning over 1000 word elements that provide the basis for thousands of English words. We will also discuss how English words are formed, to better understand and use the language. We will even learn interesting things like: the difference between affect and effect; why terrifying and terrific have nearly opposite meanings; and correct pronunciation and spelling of pneumonia, onomatopoeia, or deoxyribonucleic. This course has a lower workload so students can take it as part of a full core course load. It is particularly recommended for middle school and early high school student prior to upper-level courses and SAT/ACT testing.
English Vocabulary from Latin and Greek Roots
Description
Prerequisites
Notes and Conditions
Transcript Planning: On a TPS transcript this course lists for credit as an Academic Elective.
“Wow! There is just so much to love about English Vocabulary from Latin and Greek Roots! My knowledge of Latin and Greek roots skyrocketed, so that now I can run across a word in a book and recognize the meaning of the different parts. Not only that, but I learned about how words change semantically, where the icons on devices developed from, and the biblical etymology of the word “scapegoat”, all presented engagingly and hilariously by a teacher who loves the subject. If you are fascinated with words and want to take an engaging class on the side, I strongly recommend this course.”
“English Vocabulary from Latin and Greek Roots is a fascinating course that provides students with greater grasp of the varying roots and derivatives that make up the English language. The teacher keeps class sessions interesting and entertaining by interacting with students and going in depth into the lesson’s material. This course is well laid out, and is generally a lighter work load that can still be taken with a full course load. After taking this class, I have been able to recognize and identify not only Latin and Greek roots, but also examples of assimilation, semantic change, and other processes that mold the English language. By teaching students to recognize both Latin and Greek roots and the changes that words undergo in a language, this class better prepares them for tests such as the SAT and ACT. I would highly recommend this class to anyone looking to dive into and geek out over the English language.”
“An amazing class!!! Absolutely loved the content! Each lesson was interesting and exciting. The teacher loved teaching the material as much as I loved listening to the lectures!! There were mind-blowing facts in every class meeting!! I will absolutely recommend this class to anyone who comes my way — it definitely strengthened my grasp and knowledge of English grammar. Loved it!!!”
“For students seeking to expand their knowledge about the etymology of words and indulge in a captivating class filled with various topics and discussions, this is the right class for you!”
“Taking this course will make your vocabulary increase in a whole depth. The teacher is funny and introduces you to the changing of words through different times. This course involves varied subjects such as history, medicine, myth, and legend. Please take this course if you are interested in vocabulary development or if you want to increase your recognition of English vocabulary.”
“This course has helped increased my vocabulary greatly through the prefixes, suffixes, bases, and everything else that we learned. More importantly, it brought me to see the unique ways that languages are formed, as well as the evolving of the English language. What I learned really amazed me — I never knew how cool languages can be!”
“This has been a really stress-less, fun course for me. I have learned so much about linguistics and the history of English throughout the school year! The homework load was perfect.”
“This course brought to light just how old the English language is and how diverse it has become. I would recommend this course for those who are interested in how languages change as well as learning the ‘backbones’ of English (Greek and Latin roots). Overall, it’s a really neat class to take and gives you a new appreciation for the English language.”
“I loved this class! You don’t need to have taken either Latin or Greek before taking this class — it’s all about learning the basis of English words that originated in those languages and applying them to what you already know of English. The teacher is awesome and structures the course perfectly so that the workload each week is sensible and you participate a lot in class. You will gain much knowledge, my friend! Go for it!”
