Do you want to learn how the world of gladiators, gods, and togas has shaped the world we live in? From NASCAR to graffiti to representative democracy, ancient Rome and its language, Latin, is the foundation of our Western way of life. In this class, you will learn, from the ground up (NO previous experience required), the language that Julius Caesar spoke, and how it is very much alive in English and the modern Romance languages, as well as even Russian and German! You will learn to think linguistically, hone your skills with grammar and vocabulary, sharpen your logical reasoning, and learn how Latin continues to live all over our world, in places like the one-dollar bill and the way we tell time, to begin with! 

I have found an interdisciplinary approach the most engaging and effective, so each session covers topics in the context of other topics i.e. grammar is learned in the context of short narratives involving characters dealing with events and activities of ancient life, which is also explored and discussed in terms of its relevance to our own life. So we learn about English grammar and increase English vocabulary in studying the Latin language; we learn about Ancient Roman culture and society in comparing it to our own, which owes a great deal to it!

In this 8-week introductory course, you will learn some of the basics of Latin grammar and vocabulary, along with English words derived from the root words learned. This will be done in the context of simple to increasingly complex narratives involving Roman culture, mythology and history. Each class will have 3 components: Latin grammar and vocabulary instruction and exercises involving reading, writing, translation, and discussion; a cultural topic with brief lecture and discussion; Latin in current use from mottoes and phrases to Latin roots and English derivatives. I use a variety of activities, from google slides and shared google docs to kahoot online quiz games and virtual tours.

Upon completion, students will be equipped to continue to the second course for further training in Latin, but this course also serves a stand-alone introduction. Below is a weekly lesson plan outlining what can be expected, with the caveat (that's a Latin term!) that pacing will be calibrated to the interests, progress, and needs of the students.

(Class will NOT meet Thanksgiving Week (Nov. 21-26).

Week 1 - We will learn the Roman alphabet and Classical Latin pronunciation as well as some very basic Latin sentences in the context of basic family vocabulary and roots. We will also learn some basic Latin phrases on the dollar bill and other Latin in current use.

Week 2 - We will learn the basic grammatical structure of Latin and how it differs from English, with the noun case system in the context of basic housing vocabulary and roots. We will focus on the nominative and accusative cases. We will continue our study of Latin phrases in current use.

Week 3 - We will learn plural noun and verb forms in the context of chariot racing in the Circus Maximus vocabulary and roots. We will begin studying the Greek and Roman gods and continue studying Latin in current use.

Week 4 - We will continue with plural noun and verb forms as we recap the previous 3 weeks. We will learn more of the Greek and Roman gods in the context of Roman religious vocabulary and roots.

Week 5 - We will learn the helping verbs posse, velle, nolle (to be able, to want, to not want) and the complementary infinitive in the context of the Roman baths and aqueducts vocabulary and roots. We will continue with the gods as well as more Latin in current use.

Week 6 - We will learn prepositional phrases and time phrases in the context of ancient slavery vocabulary and roots. We will finish the study of Greek and Roman gods and learn more Latin in current use.

Week 7 - We will learn 2 types of past tense (imperfect and perfect) verb forms in the context of exploring the northernmost part of the Roman Empire, Britannia. 

Week 8 - We will continue our study of the verb tenses as we recap the previous 3 weeks. The student will be equipped to continue to the next level of training.