When Ruth Ann Besse transferred to University of Maryland, Baltimore Countym in 1982, she didn't know it would set off a passionate devotion to the classical Latin language.

Besse currently splits time between St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, where she teaches all four levels of the language, and her 25 homeschoolers.

"Instead of it being just a job, it's very personal to me," she said. "My students are contented and challenged."

She is one of only two Americans that are on the Primary Latin Project management committee. Located in England, the organization helps promote the language's teaching from elementary through middle school with the aid of its cartoon mouse Minimus.

After a 17-year lull, Besse began teaching Latin in 2002 to her youngest son, Samuel, who is now 12. While searching on the Internet for a proper teaching book, she came across an image of Minimus.

That same year, Besse's physical therapist asked if his children could be taught as well. Within four months, Besse was teaching 10 home schooled students in her Laurel basement. She also taught Latin 101 at UMBC and started an afterschool Latin Club for 14 students at Bond Mill Elementary using the Minimus book.

"It was amazing," she said, "the kids were in school all day and yet they would stream into the room all excited about learning Latin."

Bond Mill Principal Justin FitzGerald said the club was "highly popular."

"It challenged the students," he said. "Besse knew how to make it an enjoyable afterschool program."

Takoma Park resident Annemarie Stroud's daughter Ripley, 11, works with Besse.

"I think she's a brilliant teacher," said Stroud. "She responds very well to the individual needs of a student."

Ripley received a Gold medal in the 2008 National Latin Exam, where she answered 39 out of 40 questions correctly in Latin 1.

Besse said some people question why she teaches Latin rather than a more widely spoken language such as Spanish. But she said that she often has to remind people that Spanish, French and other common languages all come from Latin. She also said learning Latin makes it easier to learn those languages and helps with one's English grammar.

"It's not debatable how your scores on the SATs are improved by taking Latin," she said. "You're sneaking English grammar into them, and they're not even thinking about it. They're just having fun with that little mouse."

When asked if Latin is a dead language, she points to the surrounding schools - Laurel High School, Eleanor Roosevelt in Greenbelt, and Martin Luther King Middle School and High Point High School in Beltsville- that teach it.

"Latin is definitely alive around here," she said.