Latin 2 delves deeper into the linguistic and cultural richness of the ancient Romans. Exploring the Roman world, from Pompeii into provincial territories, students will follow the lives of a diverse cast of characters who live, work, and negotiate culture during a time of growth in the Roman Empire. Students will learn about daily life in Gaul, Lusitania, Greece, and Northern Africa, from constructing towns and crafting art to marriage and social dynamics with freedpersons. From large cities like Pompeii to remote country villas, students will learn about how various Romans and locals made a living and interacted with one another.
Building upon the foundational grammar and vocabulary from Latin 1, this course incorporates more complex structures such as relative clauses, various tenses (including the future, perfect passive, and pluperfect), deponent verbs, and participles. Through this progression, students develop their ability to read and translate more intricate texts and narratives about daily life, funerary practices, games, theater, and more. Students will continue to identify and translate nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and verbs while establishing connections to English through derivatives.
In this course, students will engage in activities and discussions that promote an investigative approach to life in the Roman Empire through eight (8) thematic units:
Unit 1: Recalling Rome and the Romans
Unit 2: Baking Bread and Building Towns
Unit 3: Country Life and Love
Unit 4: Pompeii
Unit 5: Funerals and Fighters
Unit 6: Daily Life in North Africa
Unit 7: Philosophy, Power, and the Past
Unit 8: Ambition and Deception
By the end of the course, students will not only have an expanded Latin vocabulary and solidified grammatical knowledge but also a deeper appreciation for the Roman worldview and its enduring legacy. Students will apply their knowledge by participating in discussions and collaborative assignments where they can explore ancient Roman history and culture and practice their language skills. Progress will be measured through regular formative and summative assignments that require students to read, listen, translate and write at the Intermediate novice level.
This course is guided by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language World Readiness (ACTFL) Standards and is designed to help students begin working towards proficiency in Latin at the Intermediate level. In this standard-level course, students are expected to invest approximately 6 hours per week on their course work.
Successful completion of Latin 1.
This course contains an end-of-course proctored exam. Instructions for students to identify an appropriate adult proctor are included in the course lessons.
Course Essential Questions:
- How can studying Latin enhance our understanding of Roman culture, values, and historical perspectives?
- How does Latin grammar and syntax enable us to interpret and communicate in Latin?
- In what ways does Latin influence the vocabulary, structure, and expressions of modern languages?
- How does exploring Roman texts, history, and art connect us to the legacy of the ancient world in our modern context?
Course Learning Objectives:
- Investigate and contextualize Roman culture, values, and historical events through primary texts and artifacts.
- Critically evaluate the cultural products, practices, and perspectives of the ancient Romans and make connections with contemporary society.
- Compose and translate Latin passages that demonstrate an intermediate level understanding of vocabulary, grammar, and cultural context.
- Interpret Latin texts by applying Intermediate level grammar and syntax knowledge.
- Identify and explain the linguistic patterns and connections between Latin and modern languages.
- Synthesize insights from Roman literature, history, and art to develop a comprehensive understanding of their contribution to the ancient world and their enduring impact.