Veni, Vidi, Vici: Beginners Level Latin & Intro to Ancient Rome (Part One)
In this seven-week course, students will be introduced to the Latin language and to the world of the ancient Romans.
Kristen Kanipe, M.A.
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(291)
What's included
7 live meetings
6 hrs 25 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Successful language learning requires student effort outside of class. Students may be assigned textbook reading, composition exercises, or other activities in between class meetings. Students are also strongly encouraged to "touch" the material every day, even for short (5-10 minute) periods; the teacher is happy to provide suggestions as to what activities might be helpful, but students are also encouraged to explore what works for them. Formal homework assignments could range from an hour to two hours outside of class each week, with "touch" activities left to the students' discretion. Occasionally, students may be asked to complete an online activity at Quia.com; such activities are designed to help students to think about the fundamentals of the language in a different way than a textbook can provide.Assessment
I strive to provide individualized, narrative-style feedback to learners and parents. I assess learners largely based on their performance in class; I am less concerned with what a learner can do on a formalized assessment than I am with how they show up to class. If a learner is engaged and demonstrates to me that he/she is understanding the material, to me, that is a success. My priority is for learners to feel that we are a team--I may be imparting new information and helping learners to process and assimilate it, but the learner is invited to take ownership of his/her experience by asking questions, participating in class exercises, and completing the assigned homework. A learner's performance during class exercises and discussion, as well as his/her performance on the homework assignments, tends to say a lot about a learner's understanding and progress, and learners receive personalized feedback around this. If a learner does wish to have a more formalized assessment (take tests or quizzes, have assignments that are submitted for a letter or percentage grade), that can be arranged by request--I am happy to accommodate different learning styles and preferences.Grading
includedClass Experience
Are you intrigued by the ancient world? Are you fascinated by stories of myth and legend? Do you want to learn the language that gives you an all access pass to ancient Rome? Do you want to explore the life and times of an ancient Roman? Do you want to discover how a so-called "dead" language is very much alive and at work in the world around you? Do you want to connect with the roots of Western civilization, improve your English vocabulary and grammar skills, learn how Latin can aid you in the study of modern Romance languages, and stretch your logical reasoning skills? If so, this class is for you! In this seven-week course, you will be introduced to the Latin language and the world of the ancient Romans. This class is appropriate for students who have no prior experience with the Latin language, but who want to see what all the fuss is about and to explore how Latin and ancient Rome are very much present in our day-to-day lives (sometimes in unexpected places!). It's an ideal place for students who want a more immersive language experience, where language learning stands alongside cultural, historical, and mythological exploration. Students will learn some of the basic fundamentals of the Latin language, see some of the many ways that Latin shows up in our modern world, hear stories and myths of the ancients, and explore some of the history of ancient Rome. This course will use Cambridge Latin Course, Unit 1, as the primary resource for language study, though this course is designed to incorporate a variety of different learning techniques and activities outside of the textbook. Students will learn basic Latin grammatical concepts and vocabulary through a mixture of reading, writing, translation, and discussion, with a number of interactive and hands-on activities specifically intended to strengthen students' grammatical skills (both in Latin and in English!). We'll also devote some time to etymology--students will learn a Latin root, the Latin words in which the root appears, and the English words that are derived from this root. Each week, we'll set aside some time for "Contemporary Corner!" where we focus on examining the use of Latin in our modern day lives. Videos, slides, shared Google docs, and virtual and/or visual tours may all play a role in this course! This course is part one of a beginners level series of Latin language courses, though it is also suitable as a standalone introductory course should students not wish to enroll in further Latin courses. Please note that there is another beginners level course offering for high schoolers which differs slightly in structure; students at age 14 can enroll in this course or the high school course according to their preferences. 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. (Please note that this class does not meet during the week of Thanksgiving.) Week 1 - What's All the Fuss About Latin and those Ancient Romans, Anyway? (Part One): This week, students will be introduced to the why and how of Latin: why we study it and how it's different from--and similar to!--many of today's modern languages. We'll talk about the Latin/Roman alphabet, and we will pay particular attention to the role that word order plays (or rather, doesn't play!) in the Latin language. We'll also discuss the mythological stories surrounding the founding of ancient Rome. Week 2 - What's All the Fuss About Latin and those Ancient Romans, Anyway? (Part Two): This week is a continuation of Week 1, with particular emphasis on etymology and Latin words and phrases that have found their way into English usage. We will also explore the Roman/Greek pantheon and begin reading Caecilius's story in Cambridge Latin, Unit 1. Week 3 - What's In a Name?: Basic Concepts for the Budding Latin Enthusiast!: Students will learn the nominative (from the Latin word "nomen," meaning "name") case and the verb "to be." We will continue our work in Stage 1 of Cambridge Latin, Unit 1. Caecilius's dog, Cerberus, will provide us with an entryway to explore the stories surrounding the mythical Cerberus, forbidding guardian of the underworld! We'll learn about the structure of Roman homes, and students will also compose their first Latin sentences! Week 4 - Hey, Don't Blame Me!: Students will learn the accusative case (from the Latin verb, "accuso," meaning, "to accuse," or "to blame") and how it functions as both the direct object and the object of certain prepositions. We will continue with Caecilius's story and meet various members of his family and household. In the spirit of accusation, we'll learn about Cicero, the famous lawyer, orator, author, and politician of ancient Rome. We will begin Stage 2 in Cambridge Latin, Stage 1. Week 5 - The Decline and Fall: Students will learn about noun declensions (from the Latin verb, "declino," meaning "to decline," or "to deflect"), and how this affects the nominative and accusative case endings. We will continue our work in Stage 2 of Cambridge Latin, Unit 1, and learn more about an ancient Roman's daily life. We'll also learn how the peacock got the eyes on its feathers. Week 6 - Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts!: Students will learn about the dative case (from the Latin verb, "do," meaning, "to give") and how it functions as the indirect object; students will also complete Stage 2 in Cambridge Latin and begin Stage 3. We will discuss the important roles of, and relationship between, clients and patrons in ancient Rome. Students will also learn about some of the epic works of ancient Greece and Rome, as well as the myth of the Trojan horse! Week 7 - Per Aspera Ad Astra!: In this final week, students will complete Stage 3 of Cambridge Latin, Unit 1. We'll learn about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in Pompeii via the words of Pliny the Younger, who was an eyewitness to the event, and we'll explore a number of myths centered around Hephaestus/Vulcan, mythical god of fire and volcanoes. Students will be well prepared to continue their study of Latin and the ancient world.
Learning Goals
This course is intended to introduce students to some of the fundamentals of Latin grammar and syntax. By the end of the course, students should be able to read and write simple Latin sentences, have a grasp of basic Latin vocabulary, and understand some of the basic building blocks of the Latin language (nominative and accusative cases, noun declensions, certain forms of the verb "to be"). Students will also have knowledge of certain aspects of Roman life, of Greek and Roman mythology, and of certain Roman historical and literary figures. Students will also have a basic understanding of how Latin words and roots influence our English language and will gain a stronger grasp of English grammar. Students and parents should consult the course description for greater details about the material covered in the class and what students can expect to learn.
Other Details
Supply List
We will be using Cambridge Latin Course, Unit 1 (5th edition), for a portion of most classes. Students can purchase a new or used copy via Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/North-American-Cambridge-Course-Students/dp/1107690633/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=cambridge+latin+book+1&qid=1602555639&sr=8-1. There is also a digital version of the textbook available from iBooks. The digital version can be purchased in stages, for around $1 USD a stage; we will use the first three stages in this course (this would be a more cost-effective option in the short run, but if students wish to continue their Latin studies, purchasing a physical copy of the textbook would probably be a better option unless students have a strong preference for digital content). We will not be using any of the interactive elements of the digital textbook in class. The link to the iBook page is here: https://books.apple.com/us/book/cambridge-latin-course-5th-ed-unit-1-stage-1/id1410753501?ls=1#see-all/other-books-in-book-series Please note that if students decide to enroll in further Latin classes, we will continue to use this textbook. Students will need to have their textbook by the second week of class. Having a pen/pencil and paper at hand for each class is a good practice.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
We will be using Cambridge Latin Course, Unit 1 (5th edition), for a portion of most classes. Students can purchase a new or used copy via Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/North-American-Cambridge-Course-Students/dp/1107690633/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=cambridge+latin+book+1&qid=1602555639&sr=8-1.
There is also a digital version of the textbook available from iBooks. The digital version can be purchased in stages, for around $1 USD a stage; we will use the first three stages in this course (this would be a more cost-effective option in the short run, but if students wish to continue their Latin studies, purchasing a physical copy of the textbook would probably be a better option unless students have a strong preference for digital content). We will not be using any of the interactive elements of the digital textbook in class. The link to the iBook page is here: https://books.apple.com/us/book/cambridge-latin-course-5th-ed-unit-1-stage-1/id1410753501?ls=1#see-all/other-books-in-book-series
Please note that if students decide to enroll in further Latin classes, we will continue to use this textbook. Students will need to have their textbook by the second week of class.
Joined August, 2020
5.0
291reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Foreign Language from University of Virginia
Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Language from Oberlin College
I fell in love with classics as an undergraduate. During high school, I had taken a few Latin courses, and I had a genuine interest in the language (as a child, I had even attempted to teach myself Latin from a book, which didn't go so well, but clearly I had an attraction to Latin from an early age!), but it wasn't something I imagined myself pursuing in any serious way in higher education. In the first semester of my freshman year at college, however, due to a mix up with my schedule, I ended up in a Roman history course, and it transformed my world. I was entranced by both the subject matter and the teacher, and when the second semester came around, I made sure to sign up for as many classics courses as I could take. By sophomore year, I was learning ancient Greek and declaring my major in classics. I received my BA in Latin Language and Literature (with an undeclared minor in ancient Greek) from Oberlin College.
During my senior year of college, I made the decision to apply to graduate school. By that time, I had decided that I wanted to share my excitement for the classical world by becoming a teacher, and given my passion for classics, I preferred to deepen my knowledge of the subject rather than to attend a master's of education program. I received a merit-based classics fellowship from the University of Virginia, from which I received my MA in Classics.
I began my Latin teaching career as an undergraduate, when I was selected by Oberlin College's Department of Classics to teach a month-long, intensive Latin language course (six hours a day) for fellow undergraduates. This intensive course was intended to replace Latin 101 for students who could not fit the traditional, semester-long course in their schedule; those students who completed it were then eligible for the Latin 102 course. I also began my work as a Latin tutor during my time as an undergraduate. I have been a Latin language tutor for my entire adult life, and I have taught Latin language and literature courses on the college level at both Oberlin College and the University of Virginia. I also worked as a Latin teacher at a private school in Virginia for many years, and as such, I taught Latin language and literature courses (intro Latin all the way through AP Latin) for middle schoolers and upper schoolers; because the school gave teachers control over course curriculum, I structured my classes so that mythology, Roman history, and classical civilization played an integral role.Reviews
Live Group Class
$195
for 7 classes1x per week, 7 weeks
55 min
Completed by 92 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-14
3-10 learners per class
