World Languages Department

Essential Knowledge and Skills

Students in Latin IV Honors follow the suggested national standards and syllabus as published by the American Classical League. These students will study Prose Latin and Poetry. Various ancient authors will be studied. These yearlong readings include selections from Martial, Cicero, Ovid, Virgil, and Caesar. Students will learn to incorporate meter and elision when translating poetry, as well as to recognize the prose writing styles of various authors.
Students will also explore various cultural aspects of ancient Rome and Greece, including mythology, history, lifestyles, engineering, art, science, and philosophy. Students also study how these ancient societies still influence the cultures of today. Topics of interest include mottoes, abbreviations, government, architecture, science, and law. Throughout the year, students will create several projects that include a large model of an ancient artifact, an essay report on any factual or fictitious character from ancient Rome, a promotional poster advertising the need to study Latin, and a multimedia video presentation cataloguing a major event in ancient history.
In cooperation with three Catholic Middle Schools, Latin IV students will conduct an afterschool program, once per month, serving as mentors to middle school students who are beginning Latin. Program topics include, Astronomy, Hercules, Olympians, Roman life, as well as projects in mosaics, textiles, and promotional posters. These programs allow Latin IV students to teach various basic concepts, which they have mastered, along with basic level Latin. On special holidays, the student mentors will correspond the traditional holidays to ones found in ancient Rome.

Indicators of Student Learning

Upon the completion of this course, students will:

• Understand the subtleties of Latin grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

• Be able to translate more difficult sentences and passages from English to Latin & Latin to English.

• Improve English grammar skills and increase English vocabulary.

• Have a deep appreciation for Roman and Greek mythology, history, life-styles, art, and architecture.

• Gain insight into the languages of Law, medicine, and general science.

• Participate in the National Latin and Mythology exams, and track their competency amongst other programs from around the country.

• Become a lifetime member of the Junior Classical League.

• Participate in the State or National Junior Classical League Convention.

Communication

• Focus on written Latin translations and Latin composition from English.

•Translate Latin from the texts, websites, and inscriptions found on various buildings, both ancient and contemporary.

•Write and defend several English essays based on various aspects of Greek and Roman culture on a regular basis.

• Improve their written communication skills in English.

Technology

• Readily access the Internet for required homework lists, translation packets, project information, syllabus, and other online resources.

• Regularly email the teacher the required homework assignments, having been typed and compressed as attachments.

• Receive and open emails from the teacher, which include corrected homework, reminders of project or exam deadlines, and links to helpful online resources.

• Access the online resources offered by the textbook publisher. These include additional assignments for vocabulary, translations, and cultural components that students will use for further practice.

• Learn to use state of the art digital photography and multimedia resources available either at home or in the school’s computer labs. Photoshop, iMovie, iDVD, and iPhoto are just a few of the programs that students will learn to use.

• Produce and share presentations using a LCD projector and/or Smartboard, along with all the proper audio and video connections

Assessment Upon the completion of this course, students will:

• Demonstrate competency in Latin grammar and vocabulary by translating both from Latin to English, and English to Latin.

• Comprehend simple spoken commands and phrases.

• Participate and complete online assignments, quizzes, and exams.

• Compete in online academic contests

• Participate in the National Latin and National Mythology Exams

• Track competency amongst other students from around the country

• Participate regularly in the Latin student mentor program

• Demonstrate competency in Greek and Roman Mythology by producing a well researched and visually aesthetic myth movie, produced using FLASH animation

• Demonstrate competency in Roman history, by using correct terminology, expressing ideas clearly, explaining chronological events, presenting ideas and information in visual presentations, written response, and multi-media presentations.

• Demonstrate competency in technology by corresponding with the instructor via email, completing online homework, quizzes, and exams; creating, editing, and reproducing multimedia presentations.

• Archive all the year’s homework into an indexed personal electronic portfolio.