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Latin I: Jeannie deVries
Course Overview:
Mens conscia recti! Labor omnia vincit. Carpe diem. Gaude!
The Cambridge Latin Course has been adopted for the first two years of Latin instruction at CPS. This reading approach offers the student the opportunity to study Latin inductively: meanings of words and syntax are first presented in model sentences or reading selections. Students are then given extensive practice with the grammatical structures and with vocabulary reinforcement. Cleverly and carefully integrated into the language presentation are the cultural material and historical content. We first follow the daily life and activities of a family in ancient Pompeii of the first century. A family member survives the destruction of Pompeii in AD 79, and we follow him to Roman Alexandria, Roman Britain, and finally Rome.
Texts and Course Content:
first semester: Cambridge Latin Course, Unit 1, 3rd edition: basic uses of the nominative, dative, accusative, and vocative cases; present, imperfect, and perfect tenses; the imperative; aspects of daily life in Pompeii.
second semester: Cambridge Latin Course, Unit 2, 3rd edition: more case uses, the genitive case, pluperfect tense, the infinitive, pronouns, adjective agreement, comparison of adjectives; Roman life in Britain and Egypt.
Homework and Course Assessment: there will be two sorts of homework nightly. A number of vocabulary words will be assigned each night and will be checked usually the next day on a "vocab check." Four vocab checks will be averaged together, and that grade can be used to replace a low vocab quiz grade. Written homework will be checked or collected as well. Students who have failed to do written homework three times between tests will have their test grade lowered by three points. It is essential that language students study vocabulary regularly and complete exercises as assigned.
There will be vocabulary quizzes at the end of each stage (chapter) of CLC. These are averaged each quarter and that grade will constitute a "test grade." Full period tests on translation, syntax, and cultural material will occur every 2-3 stages. A master vocabulary test will be given at the end of Unit 1 and Unit 2. The semester exam will count as two tests.
Throughout the year the class will work on several individual projects in conjunction with the course cultural material.
Students are expected to do their own homework. If directions or material seems unclear, it is appropriate to consult another student in the class or a more advanced Latin student for help, but students should then work on their own to complete the assignment. Copying another student's work is wrong. Study groups before tests are useful and encouraged.
Notebooks: each student must have a 2" three-ring binder exclusively for Latin. There will be many handouts. Include a set of 5 dividers labeled as follows: vocabulary lists, notes and study sheets, homework and exercises, tests and quizzes, cultural material. Bring binder paper and a pencil to class.
Rules: be on time for class. The fourth late =Saturday detention! (school rule)
no eating or drinking in class. (school rule)
no gum chewing (my rule)
Absences: for each day absent due to illness, the student has that number of days in which to make up written and vocabulary work. Absences not due to illness: consult the student handbook for the school procedure. As much work as possible should be done before any non-illness absence (ie. trips )
Teacher Availability: during free periods or after school by arrangement.
