Language teacher to the rescue

The pupils say:

We cildra biddath the, eala lareow, thæt thu tæce us sprecan,
we children beg you oh teacher that you teach us to speak
fortham ungelærde we syndon, and gewæmmodlice we sprecath.
because ignorant we are and corruptly we speak.

To which the Teacher responds:

Hwæt wille ge sprecan?
what wish you to say

And the pupils cry:

Hwæt rece we hwæt we sprecan,
What care we what we say,
buton hit riht spræc sy and behefe, næs idel otthe fracod?
provided that it correct speech be and appropriate not foolish or impious

 

– From Ælfric’s (Latin) grammar, written at the turn of the last millenium.