CONTEXTUAL LATIN INSTRUCTION FOR PHARMACY STUDENTS: USING CASE-BASED LEARNING TO BOOST RETENTION
Abstract
The pedagogical landscape of pharmacy education is undergoing a significant transformation, moving from traditional lecture-based methods to more active, student-centered approaches. Among the various subjects in the curriculum, Latin terminology has historically been one of the most difficult to adapt to modern standards, often suffering from low student engagement and poor long-term retention. This article proposes a shift toward Contextual Latin Instruction through the implementation of Case-Based Learning (CBL). By embedding linguistic rules and vocabulary within realistic clinical scenarios, educators can demonstrate the immediate practical utility of Latin in contemporary pharmacy practice. The research analyzes the psychological and educational benefits of CBL, emphasizing its ability to overcome the "forgetting curve" associated with rote memorization. The study outlines a framework for designing pharmacy-specific cases that require students to apply Latin grammar to solve problems related to drug identification, dosage calculation, and the interpretation of complex prescriptions.