LATIN 201: Reading Latin
PROF. PATRICIA N. FREIERT
; x7645; 931-5508
“The Limits of My Language are the Limits of My World”
Wittgenstein
TEXTS: Millionaire’s Dinner Party
Latin: an Intensive Course
Ovid: Amores/Metamorphoses
PURPOSES: 1) to develop proficiency in reading Latin
2) to master remaining basic Latin grammar
3) to increase Latin vocabulary
4) to become acquainted with Latin written by Romans
5) to begin to develop some literary critical skills
6) to continue to learn how language works as a system, how it relates to modern languages and how it can be used as a way to understand English grammar and increase vocabulary (including technical and professional terminology)
7) to further develop skills in inferring meanings of unfamiliar words from cognates, derivatives, and context
8) to become more comfortable reading Latin and understanding Latin read aloud
MINNESOTA STANDARDS:
This course fulfills the following teacher licensing rules (Subpart 4) set by the Minnesota State Board of Teaching:
A1: A teacher of classical languages and cultures must understand language as a system.
Review and completion of basic Latin grammar in this course, coupled with extensive reading of modified and authentic ancient texts, gives students a grasp of how Latin works as a system.
A3a(i): The teacher must read with understanding passages of prose or poetry of the most important Latin and Greek authors.
Throughout the course students develop their reading knowledge by working on selections from Ovid and Petronius.
A3a(ii): A teacher must explain grammatical structures of the sentences and analyze word forms, including case use, mood, and tense.
With the introduction of each grammatical concept, students are drilled and tested on recognition of morphology and application of syntactical principles, thus learning to parse and not merely to have a passive understanding of the language.
A3a(iii): The teacher must infer meanings of unfamiliar words from cognates, derivatives, and context.
As new vocabulary items are introduced, they are related to other words based on the same root. In reading passages, students are taught to “gap”, thus inferring meanings of new words.
A3b(ii): The teacher must orate prose with expression and correct inflection.
Students receive daily practice in reading Latin aloud and pronouncing it correctly and with expression.
A3b(iii): The teacher must orate poetry according to metrical principles.
Students learn to scan and read the simple meters of Ovid.
A3c: The teacher must understand main ideas of a connected oral reading.
Frequent daily use of oral Latin accustoms students to understanding the spoken language. The instructor periodically drills students’ comprehension of extended oral passages.
A4: The teacher must understand Latin's relation to English and other modern languages; identify Latin- and Greek-based English words, understand their etymology, and provide cognates; and identify Latin and Greek terminology commonly used in science, law, medicine, and Latin abbreviations, terms, phrases, and mottoes commonly used in English.
On appropriate occasions, the instructor reviews the history of Latin and its relationship to other Indo-European languages, as well as the history of the influence of Latin on English. As Latin vocabulary is introduced in each unit, the commonest English and Romance-language derivatives are taught. As appropriate, the course is enlivened with information regarding technical terminology of Latin origin and the use of Latin as a cultural artifact.
B2: The teacher must have a sociolinguistic understanding sufficient for accurately communicating the interrelationships of the language and culture.
Through periodic interpretation of Latin vocabulary and through analysis of the highly ordered syntax of classical Latin, the instructor gradually instills in students an intuitive understanding of the language as a constituent aspect of the culture.
ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION:
Your attainment of the goals of the course and your ability to fulfill the standards for teaching that the course addresses will be measured in the following ways:
1. Attendance: Attendance is required, since learning a language depends on regular application. This policy is to help you, because attendance in class is essential for acquiring the ability to use Latin orally (standards A3b & c).
2. Homework and Class work:
There will be daily homework. I usually collect the homework and grade it.
3. Quizzes: There will be two or three quizzes for each chapter of Millionaire’s Dinner Party, one for each chapter on vocabulary, another on grammar and often one on forms. Grammar quizzes below 90 may be made up within one week later with me or a tutor. Quizzes are an important learning tool and will help you master vocabulary, grammatical structures and word forms [standards A3a(ii) and A4].
4. Tests: There will be three tests including the final examination. Among other things, the tests and exam will assess your command of grammar and word forms [standard A3a(ii)], your ability to read extended passages of Latin [standards A1, A3a(i), A3b(v), and A3c], and your specific knowledge about Latin’s influence on English vocabulary [standard A4].
GRADING:Tests (3 including final)25%
Quizzes(2 or3 a week)25%
Participation (class & home)25%
The best of the above 325%
One part of this grade reflects effort and participation and the rest achievement. You need the first to attain the second; hence, attendance and ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IS EXPECTED DAILY.
Syllabus:
Week 1: General grammar review from Moreland and Fleisher
Week 2: Balme ch. 1
M/F: commands, relataive and temporal clauses
Week 3: Balme ch. 2
M/F: indirect command, final clauses, fear clauses
Week 4: Balme ch. 3
M/F: cum clauses, present participles
Week 5: Balme ch. 4
M/F: past and future participles
Week 6: Balme ch. 5
M/F: indirect statements
First Test
Week 7: Balme ch. 6
M/F: indirect questions
Week 8: Balme ch. 7
M/F: conditions
Week 9: Balme ch. 8
M/F: result clauses, wishes
Week 10: Balme ch. 9
M/F: gerunds, impersonal verbs
Week 11: Balme ch. 10
M/F: gerundives, deliberative subjunctive
Week 12: Balme ch. 11
M/F: relative with subjunctive; quominus and quin
Second Test
Weeks 13 and 14: selections from Ovid: Amores/Metamorphoses