Forget Mandarin. Teach Arabic

Sir, Having objected to the compulsory impositions of my Latin primer in my school years, I have since come to appreciate the benefits of having learnt a “dead language”; not just the practical aspects that have helped in understanding the structure of our own language but also the value of the challenge of coping with something that stretched me.

I would, however, suggest that the headmaster of Brighton College (letter, Jan 16) should introduce Arabic rather than Mandarin Chinese as a compulsory subject. His students would find it no less of a challenge and a wider knowledge of the language of the Middle East and North Africa would, I feel, help in understanding the Islamic world, which could lead to greater peace and prosperity for us all.