Sapere Aude: Accelerated Beginners Level Latin (Part One)

Do you want to learn a language that not only grants you entry to the world of the ancient Romans, but which also helps you to sharpen your English vocabulary and grammar skills, improve your understanding of modern Romance languages, and learn more about the heritage of Western civilization? Do you want to learn how a so-called "dead" language is living and breathing in the world around you every day? Do you want to deepen your knowledge of history, language, and literature? Do you want to understand better the enduring influence that the classical world has on our daily lives?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, this class is for you! The title of this course incorporates the Latin phrase, "sapere aude." What does this mean, you may ask? This phrase translates to, "Dare to know" (bonus Latin grammar and etymology lesson:  "aude" is an imperative singular form of the verb, which means it's a direct command given to one person--in this case, the reader of this course description!--and the English word "imperative" comes from the Latin verb "impero," which means "to order/command"), and this course is designed for those daring and adventurous students who wish to learn some of the fundamental grammatical concepts of the Latin language. To learn Latin is to be able to explore the ancient world in a more profound way, to feel connected more deeply to the people from which so much of Western civilization stems, to develop a greater appreciation for literature, history, art, and architecture. To learn Latin is to be a citizen of the world. Join us on the adventure as we learn the language and the history of Caesar, Cicero, and Catullus (among others)!

Though this course is designed to be first and foremost a language course, students will also strengthen their English vocabulary and grammar skills, deepen their understanding of ancient Rome and the customs of its people, and be exposed to a number of ancient Roman historical and literary figures. Class time will be devoted to a number of different activities and exercises designed to provide students with a solid introduction to the Latin language, but we will also devote time to etymology lessons and historical and mythological discussions. We will be using Wheelock's Latin (7th edition) textbook as our primary resource for language study, and  learning will take place via reading, translation, composition, and discussion. Supplementary reading and writing activities may be supplied by the teacher. Students will also learn some popular Latin phrases as a way to explore Latin grammar in context. Videos, slides, shared Google docs, and virtual and/or visual tours may all play a role in this course!

In order to build a stronger bridge between our world today and that of the ancient Romans, part of each class will be devoted to "Contemporary Corner," where we examine some of the many ways and places the Latin language shows up in our everyday lives. This could include, but is not limited to, the use of Latin in legal and medical terminology, the appearance of Latin in/on public buildings or monuments, and Latin references in popular literature, music, and film. 

This course is part one of a beginners level series of Latin language courses for high schoolers, though it is also suitable as a standalone introductory course should students not wish to enroll in further Latin courses. Interested students would be prepared to begin part two at the conclusion of this course. Please note that there is another beginners level course offering for middle schoolers (Veni, Vidi, Vici:  Beginners Level Latin & Intro to Ancient Rome (Part One)) which differs in its structure; students of age 14 can enroll in this course or the middle school course according to their preferences. This course is specifically geared towards older learners, as both the textbook and the course structure is more scholarly (though that doesn't mean it's any less fun or engaging!). This course is also designed for flexibility; the weekly lessons outlined below are guidelines for what students can expect, but the pacing can be altered to accommodate learner interest and the speed at which material is mastered. Students should feel assured that the course material can and will be adapted to fit their learning style and speed. The weekly schedule below outlines the major concepts from week to week, but please remember that every class meeting leaves room for Contemporary Corner, etymology lessons, historical and mythological discussion, and much more!