Latin

All eighth graders are required to take one year of Latin. Those who opt to continue with Latin in the Upper School will find this course a useful introduction to more advanced studies in the language. Those who choose to study a different language in the Upper School will nevertheless benefit

from the rich content of vocabulary, cultural background, and language skills acquired during the course of the year. course of study 2022-2023

Grade 8 Introductory Latin (full year 5/6)

Eighth grade Latin is an introductory course that familiarizes students with the basic grammar, vocabulary, and translation skills of the Latin language. Students learn the principal forms of verbs, nouns, and other parts of speech, and then put these forms into practice through reading and translating Latin. Over the course of the year, they will build up a vocabulary of more than 350 of the most frequently used Latin words. They will also become familiar with reading progressively longer passages about families in Pompeii and Roman Britain.

The scope of the Middle School Latin program goes well beyond the language itself. The text integrates grammar and syntax, vocabulary, and the culture of ancient European civilizations that remain part of our heritage today. The eighth-grade curriculum is also designed in such a way that Latin reinforces the material that students are learning in other subjects. Frequent activities on topics of Roman art and culture complement the timeline of Roman events that students examine in their Ancient History class. The learning of Latin vocabulary strengthens the comprehension of English vocabulary from classical roots which is an integral part of Language Arts. The Language Arts reading list also introduces students to topics of classical mythology and literature; these topics are then expanded upon in Latin. In reading about the Pompeian family, students broaden their Latin vocabulary and demonstrate an understanding of the perspectives of ancient culture as revealed in the practices of the people. Furthermore, the very skills that are acquired in Latin — grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, and translation — are the same skills that must be applied to the study of Modern Languages. Because it is the historical root of all the Romance Languages, Latin provides an invaluable basis for the study of French and Spanish. Students in Latin use their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and syntax, mythology, and history in order to improve their language abilities, as well as to draw connections between ancient traditions and those of modern day.

texts =======

Cambridge Latin Course Units 1 and 2 (Stages 1-20) (iBook).