Latin 1

Beginning in Rome in 64 CE, students will follow the lives of a diverse cast of characters who live, work, and play in the heart of the city’s most densely populated neighborhood, the Subura. Students will be introduced to the geography and growth of Rome, its public spaces, entertainment, religion, and even sanitation before broadening the scope of study to the Empire. In units exploring provincial life in Britannia, students examine the costs and benefits of an expanding Empire and the negotiation of culture—from gods to goods, dining to farming, and much more—in a colonial setting.

Latin 1 introduces students to the ancient world of the Romans and their language. Through readings, students step into the past and see Romans in their daily lives while acquiring a robust vocabulary, learning foundational grammar, and building strong reading comprehension skills. This course is aligned with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language World Readiness Standards; it is designed to help students begin working toward proficiency in Latin at the Beginner Level.

Students will engage in activities and discussions that promote an investigative approach to life in the Roman Empire through seven (7) thematic units:

Roman Realities
Games and Gods
Socioeconomic Challenges
Britannia
Provincial Rebellion
The Tides Turn
Danger and Destruction in Rome

Students will identify and translate Latin nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and verbs while establishing connections to English through derivatives. They will apply their knowledge by participating in discussion forums and writing in Wikis, Blogs, and Dropbox assignments. Mastery will be measured through formative and summative assessments.

In this Standard-level course, students are expected to invest approximately 6 hours per week on their coursework.

Acknowledgements

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 Objectives

Course Essential Questions

How did the Latin language shape ancient communication and culture?
How do we communicate in Latin through reading, writing and listening at the novice level?
What strategies can be employed to convey meaning in Latin?
How does Latin continue to impact modern languages and cultures today?

Course Learning Objectives

Describe the people and events that shaped the human experience during the Roman Empire.
Interpret text and identify cultural norms of the Roman Empire.
Demonstrate written proficiency by identifying, forming, and translating grammar and vocabulary.
Read and comprehend sentences and stories in Latin with accuracy.
Identify connections between Latin and English through derivatives and by comparing grammatical structures.
Compare and contrast cultural products and practices between the ancient and modern worlds.

Additional Requirements

Access to a computer with audio, microphone, and camera.
Access to a device that will enable students to record and upload videos of themselves speaking.
Sufficient bandwidth to support video uploads (up to 5 minutes).
This course contains an end-of-course proctored exam. Instructions for students to identify an appropriate adult proctor are included in the course lessons.