World Champs: How a Christian School brought a ‘Dead’ Language to Life.

For the third year in a row, Regents Park Christian School (RPCS), with only 700 K-12 students, has earned the title of #1 in the online Global Latin Language Competition, competing against over 700 schools in 20 countries, most with student populations three times the size of RPCS and far from Sydney’s sandstone schools. Yet the 43 multicultural RPCS students in grades 7-9 are claiming their place – and vocabulary – as masters of one of the world’s oldest languages.

“We go against some of the largest schools in the world, where there are sometimes thousands of students in each school doing exactly the same work as we are,” said Ron Challis, RPCS Latin and Physical Education teacher who teaches Latin to all Year 7. “Students realise it’s fun to compete, and get a thrill at achieving, so they want to keep at it. We don’t (yet) offer classes after Year 7, but those who have taken the class and moved on still want to compete.”

Mr. Challis, former Head of Learning and Development for the Australian Federal Police in Sydney who received a commissioner’s commendation for his leadership, has over twenty years of classroom experience at all levels. He’s taught and coached RPCS global winners since entering the competition in 2020, which takes place every March for seven consecutive days.

Students log on to the Global Latin Language Competition, answer multiple choice questions and score team points for each correct answer. Each team member is allowed to work online for up to eight hours each day. That means working mostly at home and over the weekend. Individual students work toward personal prizes and their totals contribute to school points.

“Latin is easy to read, and a fun culture to learn about. It’s an immersion into a world that still exists, but in a digital ‘gaming’ version they understand.” – Ron Challis

“They’re really motivated, especially because seventy percent of the words they’re using now have Latin origins so their English is getting better,” Mr. Challis says. “Latin is easy to read, and a fun culture to learn about. It’s an immersion into a world that still exists, but in a digital ‘gaming’ version they understand.”

Mr. Challis, former Head of Learning and Development for the Australian Federal Police in Sydney who received a commissioner’s commendation for his leadership, has over twenty years of classroom experience at all levels. He’s taught and coached RPCS global winners since entering the competition in 2020, which takes place every March for seven consecutive days.

Students log on to the Global Latin Language Competition, answer multiple choice questions and score team points for each correct answer. Each team member is allowed to work online for up to eight hours each day. That means working mostly at home and over the weekend. Individual students work toward personal prizes and their totals contribute to school points.

“Latin is easy to read, and a fun culture to learn about. It’s an immersion into a world that still exists, but in a digital ‘gaming’ version they understand.” – Ron Challis

“They’re really motivated, especially because seventy percent of the words they’re using now have Latin origins so their English is getting better,” Mr. Challis says. “Latin is easy to read, and a fun culture to learn about. It’s an immersion into a world that still exists, but in a digital ‘gaming’ version they understand.”

JO KADLECEK | JUNE 19TH, 2023 12:02 PM – World Champs: How a Christian School brought a ‘Dead’ Language to Life. Available at: https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/global-champions-how-the-dead-language-of-latin-is-bringing-new-life-to-regents-park-christian-school/