Course Spotlight

LATIN 1

Instructors:

Ms. Vanessa Jones

Credit:

1 Language credit

Course Description:

The first Latin course provides students with a solid grounding in Latin grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. They will use this knowledge to read simple Latin texts about Roman life, history, and mythology. Students will broaden their English vocabulary and deepen their understanding of both the Latin and English languages. They will also gain an understanding of Classical civilization that will enrich their knowledge of literature, history, philosophy, theology, and art. All Jesuit students need to have 3 years of the same language to graduate. Our Latin 1 students have to opportunity to take Latin all the way up to Latin 4 Honors, where they will read authentic Latin including ancient authors like Virgil, Ovid, and Caesar.

Beyond The Classroom:

Jesuit Dallas supports a large and successful extracurricular activity through the Latin program, as students participate in the Junior Classical League (JCL). Comprised of students currently or formerly enrolled in Latin courses at Jesuit, the purpose of the program is to encourage an interest in and an appreciation of the language, literature, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome, and to impart an understanding of the debt of our own culture to that of Classical antiquity. Each year, students engage in competitions at the state, regional, and national levels. At the 2022 state competition, which featured over 1,100 competitors, 13 of Jesuit’s 20 entrants placed in the pentathlon led by Michael Hasenfratz ’25, while Ryan Zito ’25 finished a program-best second in mythology. Regional victories were claimed by Victor Martinez ’22 (Latin Literature), Grant Richey ’22 (Greek Life & Literature), Jonathan Adee ’23 (Chess Tournament), Lucian Matula ’25 (Latin Sight Recitation), Royce Szarzynski ’25 (Greek History), and Benjamin Woodard ’25 (Greek Life & Literature).