Middle School Latin
Philosophy
The goal of Latin instruction at Sage is to facilitate the acquisition and proper usage of living languages, to include English. Latin is an extremely challenging language in a grammatical sense. Its mastery requires the ability to understand and apply sophisticated grammatical concepts accurately, quickly, and consistently. Concepts that form a significant part of the Humanities grammar curriculum are reinforced through extensive exercise in Latin class requiring the application of these concepts in a language that is not one's own. While students are required to memorize and apply the aspects of Latin which we study, the primary emphasis is upon using Latin as a tool by which to strengthen English grammar, expand vocabulary, and to facilitate more rapid acquisition of foreign languages. Therefore, students also are called upon to apply Latin concepts to French, Spanish, and English. In this way, students also gain an understanding of the commonality of language by looking at languages from both Romance and Germanic families. Latin at Sage is thus designed not merely to help students which the languages they are currently studying, but also to help them to pursue other languages more easily.
While some time is dedicated to the study of Roman history and culture, the primary goal of the class is to improve language skills. Classes meet twice a week for 45 minutes each.
In The Classroom: The Sage Way
A typical class may involve a review of students’ homework on a given topic, such as the 1st declension. Such an assignment would require identification of, and distinction between, direct and indirect objects, genitives, prepositional phrases and subjects. Students will be required to translate both to and from Latin.
Discussion may then turn to what remnants of the Latin structure remain in Spanish and French as well as to the commonalities between Latin and modern English application of the concepts. Students will then be required to construct sentences in French and Spanish, applying concepts and vocabulary to those languages.
While the pace of Latin itself is therefore measured, the depth of understanding required by this approach significantly surpasses that required by the more conventional practice of translating classics from Latin to English.
Goals
- Ability to take structured notes
- Ability to take unstructured notes on additional information presented in class (taking ownership of learning new content); including the ability to decipher what to take note of
- Students will be able to understand and manage numerous verb tenses, not only recognizing the differences between them, but also using cue words in deciding how and when to apply them
- Ability to attend in a focused manner for a longer period of time
- Ability to merge and apply new content with previously learned structures, grammar, and vocabulary, therefore continuously growing their knowledge base
- Ability to do more intense analysis and comparison of rules between languages (Example: an understanding of past participles in English, compared with how they are formed, placed, and used in Latin)
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge in lengthier verbal and written formats
Content
The study of Latin at Sage involves comprehension and proper application of the following concepts:
- Verb tenses
- indicative and subjunctive
- Present and present progressive (where applicable)
- Imperfect and perfect past
- Future tense and verbal constructions for future statements
- Conditional
- Nouns
- Declensions 1 – 4
i. Vocabulary for Latin, Spanish, French, and English - Idiomatic usages across languages
- Proper sentence construction
Assessments
Language teachers at Sage use a variety of assessments based on the level of the students they teach. Instructors have the flexibility to choose the type of assessments that work best in their class, though make a conscious effort to appeal to the varied strengths of their students.
Below is a list of assessments that are frequently used in the Sage Latin curriculum.
a. Written and verbal quizzes and/or tests
b. Oral exercises and drills
c. Projects (group or individual)
d. Oral presentations
e. Visual presentations (displays, multi-media presentations, etc.)
f. Writing assignments
g. Extemporaneous speaking
Assessments at Sage have a variety of purposes. Below is a list of their primary goals.
- To give instructors a clearer understanding of students’ knowledge
- To provide students with feedback on their progress and expectations
- To make learning meaningful to students by providing venues for its application
- To relate content to historically relevant scenarios or situations
- To help students appreciate the differences between native and target cultures
- To encourage students to make associations with their native language
- To encourage risk-taking through speaking in the target language
Materials
Below is a sampling of materials frequently used in Sage’s Middle School Latin curriculum:
Films:
Ancient Rome: the Rise and Fall of an Empire. Videocassette. BBC Presentation, 2006.
Ancient Civilizations: Rome. Videocassette. Discovery Channel, 2004.
Texts and Resource Books:
Wheelock, Frederick M. Wheelock's Latin: the Classic Introductory Course, Based on Ancient Authors. 6th ed. Harper Collins, 2005.
Workbook for Wheelock’s Latin, Paul T. Comeau and Richard A. LaFleur, Harper Collins Publishers, 2000.
Numerous teacher-generated materials
