Schedule
Scheduling for Latin IV and above will be determined prior to the beginning of each semester. It will be decided based on input from those who will be participating in each particular class.
Latin I:
Latin II:
Latin III:
The summer semester begins on May 2, 2011 and goes to August 19, 2011.
Be aware that the class times shown are subject to the twice-yearly U.S.-daylight-standard-time/daylight-saving-time hour time change. If you live in an area that does not observe this particular time change, be aware that for you the time of the class will change by an hour mid-semester. The time change in the fall 2011 semester will be happening on November 6. On this day, clocks in observing areas will be set back one hour. If you live in a region that observes this time change, though, for you class will always be held at the times listed above.
Projected Semester Dates
Entering the Online Latin Classroom
Students enter the video portion of the online classroom by clicking on the button marked “Enter Classroom”
at the top of the Carmenta Online Latin school web page. This opens
WiZiQ in a new window. The audio portion of the online classroom is
provided by Skype. Students must go to Skype.com one time,
before the semester begins, to download the Skype program on their
computers. Once Skype is downloaded, it will remain on the student's
computer. Every day, before class, each student opens the Skype
program on his computer and links up with the instructor's Skype
account. He then opens the WiZiQ window, signs in, and links up with
the instructor's account there too. The student keeps the WiZiQ
window open on his screen while the Skype window runs behind it,
allowing them to run simultaneously. The use of the two programs at
once will allows the class to have the best audio and video quality
possible, which more than makes up for the slight inconvenience of
keeping open the two separate windows.
N.B.: Rarely a student may have trouble downloading the Skype program onto her computer. Normally the download happens within seconds, but every so often a person's computer may have difficulty with this. Please make sure that you are able to download Skype ahead of time so that you have time to correct any problems that may arise.
Course Composition
The complete course is broken into two main parts. The first part follows Wheelock’s Latin, 6th Edition Revised
text and is split into five sections, each a semester long: Latin I,
Latin II, Latin III, Latin IV, and Latin V. The second part follows Orberg’s
Lingua Latina and is divided into Latin VI, Latin VII, and
Latin VIII. I will offer all sections of the course in every semester.
This will allow students to begin the course whenever it is convenient
for them. It will also give them the option of repeating a semester if
necessary or (even though I can’t say that I recommend this) taking a
semester off and continuing the following semester. My one absolute
requirement (and this I am sure need not even be mentioned but I’ll
mention it anyway) is that every student take the semesters in order.
Course Texts
I believe this text is suitable for any Latin student, no matter what the student’s particular goals in taking the language. The first five semesters of the course are equivalent to the first 2-3 years (4-6 Semesters) of Latin taken in most university settings. Each semester class is equivalent in class time to a 3-credit course at a college or university. The text used for the sixth through eighth semesters of the course is Lingua Latina by Hans Orberg. This text is also reasonably priced and can be purchased on the following sites: Click for sites. Orberg’s text is composed entirely in the Latin language and is well suited to students who are past the beginning level. The author’s format is excellent for improving students’ Latin vocabulary and teaching them an instinctive understanding of Latin idiom. The sixth through eighth semesters of the course are
about equivalent to the third and fourth years (fifth through eighth
semesters) of Latin.
Beginning in the first semester we also make use of the Workbook for Wheelock's Latin
by Paul T. Comeau and Richard A. Lafleur as a supplementary text. The Wheelock Workbook provides
extra work for the student in the nuts and bolts of Latin grammar and translation. Students
continue to make use of this text through Latin V. The text can
be purchased on these sites: Click for sites.
A Note on the Text
The first part of this course is taught from the beginning Latin text Wheelock’s Latin, 6th Edition Revised
by Frederic M. Wheelock and Richard A. Lafleur. I have chosen this text because it is better
organized and far clearer (at least in my opinion) than other beginning
Latin texts I have seen. Learning a language is enough of a challenge
without it being made more difficult by a confusing and ill-conceived
course-book. The fact that the text is geared toward a specific age
of Latin, Classical Latin (the Latin used by the writers of ancient Rome) should not be a barrier to
those interested in learning Latin as a means for gaining access to
texts from later periods of the Latin language. The Latin of ancient Rome and that of later Medieval dialects are (in regard to
grammar at least, which is the main focus of the course) almost
identical. Plus, all grammatical rules necessary to a beginning
education in later Latin will be addressed in this course anyway. The
Medieval rule variations, and there really are very few,
are taught as an addition to previously-taught Classical rules. In
short, whether the student plans to read and study Classical or
Ecclesiastical/Medieval Latin texts, this course-book will be an amply
sufficient introduction; and since any serious student of the language
must be well-versed in both, this broader coverage of the historical
variations in the language is hardly a disadvantage. An accomplished
Latinist must be able to nimbly read his way through Virgil and
Descartes, Horace and the Vulgate. Latin is a language that has had
many faces: ancient and modern, vulgar and literary, sacred and
profane. The point of the course is to provide students with the basic
skills necessary so that they may in time be able to become acquainted
with all of it.
General Course Outline
Latin I-V: In the first five semesters of the course, the main
focus is on the grammar of the Latin language. Latin grammar is related
to English grammar, allowing the student to acquire a greater
understanding of the rules of his native tongue, which leads quickly to
improved English speaking and writing skills.
Latin II: At the beginning of the second semester, Latin conversation is introduced into the course. Students engage in conversation in the Latin language during class and in the course’s chat room outside of class. Teaching students to speak the Latin language has, unfortunately, been neglected by most Latin teachers for many years, and in most educational settings it continues to be left out of the Latin curriculum. This is despite the fact that it is an extremely helpful aid for students in learning the Latin language. In fact, I personally feel that conversation is essential. Without the continuous compositional practice involved in speech and response to another’s speech, it is far harder for students to learn Latin vocabulary and idiom and almost impossible for them to retain it for any length of time.
General Latin Course Syllabus
Latin I
Chapters 1 - 8 of Wheelock Includes:
Latin II
Chapters 9-16 of Wheelock Includes:
Latin III
Chapters 17-24 of Wheelock Includes:
Chapters 25-32 of Wheelock Includes:
Latin V
Chapters 33-40 of Wheelock Includes:
Latin VI
Cap. I-XII of Lingua Latina Latin VII Cap. XIV-XXIV of Lingua Latina Latin VIII Cap. XXV-XXXV of Lingua Latina
Transfers
I will only allow students to start in a more
advanced semester, rather than starting from Latin I, if they are able
to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the material they are seeking to
skip. But most students who have taken Latin previously, if it was at
any time but the very recent past, will probably do best to begin in
Latin I. It will be a nice refresher and will serve to make firm again
in students’ minds classroom material that may over time have become
vague and nebulous.
Course Calendar
The calendar provides a general outline of the
semester, acting as a guideline for instructor and students. I have
done my best to anticipate the time that will be required for each
unit. Still, students should be aware that I may veer somewhat from the
pace outlined here. All material scheduled for this semester will be
covered, but I cannot promise that any particular unit will be covered
on the exact day that it is scheduled. For this reason, I do not list
the semester’s homework assignments on the calendar. I prefer to have a
greater flexibility in this area, and so I will not announce each day’s
assignment to students until the end of that day’s class period. Click here to see the Summer 2010 Course Calendar.
Assignments and Grading
I assign daily homework assignments, which are due by the next
class meeting. These homework assignments, to be awarded full credit, must be received by me, in my
email box, no later than five minutes after the beginning of the class
on which the assignment is due. Students will be given, at best, partial credit for
late assignments. The most points a turned-in homework assignment can
receive is 10 points. I will deduct points for incompleteness and
excessive mistakes. I will give students each new homework assignment at the end
of the class period.
Tests will be taken by students at the beginning of the class period on the day for which they have been scheduled. I will deduct points for incompleteness and mistakes. A mid-semester review test will be taken by students at the half-way point in the semester. The exact date is listed on the semester calendar. This test is worth 220 possible points. I will deduct points for incompleteness and mistakes. A final test will be taken by students on the last day of the semester. Students will have the entire class period to take the test. It is worth 260 possible points. As usual, I will deduct points for incompleteness and mistakes.
I will offer a certain amount of extra credit to students wishing to bring up low test grades. Students who receive a score of below 90% on a test are able to bring the score on that test up to 90% afterward by completing the particular extra-credit work that I assign. The size of this extra-credit assignment will vary, depending on the original test score of the student. Homework that is turned in less than a week late will receive no more than 5 points out of 10. Homework turned in more than a week late will receive no points.
Breakdown of Points for Each Individual Semester
Note: The number of homework assignments (and so total semester points as well)
may vary slightly depending on the exact number of class periods in any
particular semester.
The percentage grade will be calculated by
totalling the points earned by the student during the semester,
dividing that number by 920, and then multiplying by 100.
Academic Integrity
I request that students maintain academic honesty. Using references
(books, internet resources, Latin grammars, Latin dictionaries, etc.)
while you are taking a test that I have not specified as allowable for
use will only hinder your progress in the class. Please adhere to all
rules concerning test-taking and the independent completion of homework
assignments. Your compliance will make a huge difference in what you
finally get out of the course.
Missed Assignments
If a student misses or is late in turning in a homework assignment or
test, and the student has a good reason for this, I ask that the
student contact me as soon as possible so that I will know not to mark
the student down for it and, if applicable, we can arrange for a
make-up. I will certainly understand if you have a valid excuse. My
final goal is always to make sure that students learn the course
material, and I will do whatever I can to make that happen. I will
always do my best to assist the student in learning despite any
problems or unexpected events that may arise in the student’s life. On
the other hand, though, be aware that homework or tests missed or
turned in late without a valid excuse will earn the student a grade of
zero for the assignment. If you have any questions about what
constitutes a valid excuse or any other questions at all about the
course, please don’t hesitate to contact me: Contact page.
Technical Requirements Most computer platforms are acceptable for accessing the online classroom. Windows, Mac, and Linux all work well. Any internet connection will work in the online classroom, but a broadband connection is highly recommended for a better experience. |
