I DO recommend learning Latin. It's dead in the sense that there are no native speakers, but "immortal" in the sense that it will not die (mors, mortis, f. = death, from which we get mortal, immortal, mortuary, mortify, mortgage; and It. morte, Fr. mort, Sp. muerte, etc.). Roughly 55% of English is derived from Latin, so it is a tremendous boost. Granted, it's difficult to teach oneself, but if you have a chance to study it with someone else, take it!