Latin V MMXVI-MMXVII
Latin V MMXVI-MMXVII
Dr. Skinner
Class Room: 137
World Language Office: 136
Office phone: 854-6067
I’m in class 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 6th periods, but am otherwise usually available in the Latin classroom or language office.
email:
Welcome to Latin V! You have come a long way in your Latin work: remember sentences like canis latrat? Latin now is more challenging, but so much more rewarding, because (here is the cool part) we are reading the very words composed two thousand years ago by an ancient author! Stop and reread that sentence. How many other people in this building can make that same statement? This is the reason we are here. Caesar and Vergil…it just doesn’t get any better than this!
An advanced language class is different from beginning and intermediate classes in the respect that students are more responsible for figuring out what they understand and what they still need to work on. Some of this I’ll decide, and we’ll review together, but for the most part it is up to the student to determine what vocabulary, grammar or culture he/she needs to review. I’ll help and I’ll make resources available. But don’t wait for me to set the vocabulary list—the text we are reading is the vocabulary list.
Needless to say, each and every student is very important in our class. The successful studentwill do his/her best, be open to learning and working, contribute to class regularly, and be a positive force in the Latin Universe! Expect to read, translate, analyze and interpret Latin on a (near-)daily basis. I’ll try to give you time in class to do much of your work, but every evening you should reread what you did that day and review some grammar/vocabulary.
Boring, but necessary to say:
➤have materials daily (binder, writing utensils, text)
➤see teacher first day back after an absence (better yet, email teacher/contact a classmate when you are gone)[1]
➤take care of personal needs (restroom, nurse, tissues, water) between classes[2]
➤the usual policy on tardies (3rd and subsequent engender detentions) will be followed
Any alterations on this guide will be made as necessary.
What you bring to class each day:
- textbook: checked out from the school. Please treat the books well – they need to last us many years! Do not write in the books, even in pencil.
- thin 3 ring binderand lined paper.
- 2 kinds of writing utensils: a pencil for your main work and a colored pen for correcting papers.
- your own tissues for cold/allergy needs! There usually aren’t any in the room.
Optional, but useful at home:
- Latin dictionary: I like the New College Latin/English Dictionary edited by Traupmann because it is good but also inexpensive ($6-7 range). There are other good ones – see me for ideas.
Grading
A class at the advanced level is really dependent upon you taking control of, and responsibility for, your own learning. As the teacher I shall introduce new material, set the curriculum and the pace for our lessons, and cheer your progress! I may or may not collect or even check your class- or home-work on any given day. Instead, there will be frequent short quizzes (as well as occasional longer tests) over the assigned material, to encourage you to keep working and do your best. There will not be separate grading categories for homework, participation, and tests. The Semester Final Exam counts as 20% of the Semester Grade.
So get ready to make the acquaintance of: (drum-roll, please) Caesar and Vergil—some of the most famous and interesting ancient Latin authors; the acme of any Latin sequence!
[1]If you are absent, but know about a previously scheduled quiz/assignment, you should be ready to take the quiz or turn in the assignment when you return. There is no make-up work for unexcused absences.
[2]Water in a closed-top bottle is acceptable in class.