And for a language often described as dead, it is not only living but thriving in the eyes of many primary school students.

There was so much interest in learning Latin at Haberfield Public School that when the idea was first mooted with parents last term, more than 160 students put their hands up, far more than the three classes the school could accommodate.

The demand took everyone by surprise, including the principal, Karlynne Jacobsen, who said the school always aimed to offer their students a range of diverse experiences but did not expect to be swamped with keen Latin scholars.

"To me Latin is not a dead language, it is a living language because it is the foundation and root of so many other languages," Ms Jacobsen, who loved learning Latin at school, said.

Several students had mentioned to their teachers that they would like to learn Latin so the school approached the University of Sydney's Department of Classics, which jumped at the opportunity to help. The classes will start this term.

Michael Hanaghan, a classics doctoral student at the university, will teach the classes using a course designed for primary school students called Minumus Mouse, which uses the tales of a family and a mouse who lived at Vindolanda in AD100.

"I think there is a range of benefits of teaching Latin - it will improve their English, their vocabulary and their syntax but also improve their empathy because they will understand that people from ancient history weren't too different to us," he said.

Classical languages have had a long tradition in several private schools, such as Sydney Grammar where Latin is compulsory in year 7, while St Catherine's at Waverley reintroduced Latin in 2011. It was last offered at the school in 1968.

But Richard Miles, the chair of the Department of Classics and Ancient History at the the University of Sydney, said his department wanted to help public schools across Sydney establish Latin classes.

"It is really important that Latin is not just in private schools but also in state schools," Associate professor Miles said.

Haberfield is not alone in its love of Latin. Randwick Public School also offered Latin classes for its year 5 and 6 students last year and it was so popular, the school plans to reintroduce the course again this year.

Remember these? Latin phrases you may have learned in school

Amo, amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant

I love, you love, he loves, we love, you love, they love

Veni, vidi, vici

I came, I saw, I conquered

Carpe diem

Seize the day

Cogito ergo sum

I think, therefore I am

Bona fide

Good faith