1.

Brief Course Description

The Classical Learning Resource Center Intermediate Latin 1 and 2 Courses provide
an introduction to Classical Latin. It is designed for students who have little or no
knowledge of the language. The purpose of the course is to provide students with a
basic Latin vocabulary and the first step toward mastery of the Latin grammar.
Latin 1 covers 1st, 2nd, and 3rd declension nouns and adjectives in all cases; personal,
demonstrative, and relative pronouns; adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, all four
verb conjugations and the irregular verbs sum, possum, e, vol, and nol in the
present tense, indicative, infinitive, and imperative moods. The course includes
extensive Latin reading practice, regular lessons in ancient Roman history and
culture, and mastery of a basic Latin vocabulary of over 300 words, while
introducing a wide variety of English vocabulary derived from these Latin roots.
The course covers the equivalent of a year of high school Latin over two years, each
year consists of two 15-week semesters.

Latin is not only of great value in opening the doors to the enjoyment of many great
works of Western literature, it also provides students with important building
blocks of language. Learning Latin aids in the acquisition of any future language, the
understanding of English grammar, and development of a broader and more
versatile English vocabulary based on Latin roots.

2. Textbooks/Supplemental Instructional Materials

The basic text for CLRC Intermediate Latin 1 and 2 is The Oxford Latin Course Part I,
2nd Edition, Copyright Oxford University Press 1996, Maurice Balme and James
Morwood.
This text is covered in its entirety.

Additional resources include online drills to accompany the Oxford Latin Course
developed by Dr. Margaret B. Phillips at the University of Missouri at St. Louis:
http://www.umsl.edu/~phillipsm/oldrills/. Students work through these drills in
their entirety, often two or three times.

Students are referred to a variety of other online resources for historical and
cultural information as the interests and needs of the class develop.

A variety of sites are also consulted for English derivatives of Latin vocabulary
including: http://www.classicsunveiled.com/romevd/html/derivmain.html

3. Course Purpose

Students will master a basic Latin vocabulary of over 300 words. They will learn
sufficient Latin grammar to enjoy and be comfortable reading simply constructed
Latin stories. They will also deepen their understanding of English grammar,
broaden their English vocabulary, and gain an appreciation for ancient Roman
literature, history, and culture as the foundation of the modern, Western world.
Material will be presented in a way that is engaging, challenging, and demonstrates
the relevance of this beautiful, ancient, language.

4. Course Outline for Intermediate Latin 1 and 2 this outline is spread over two
years instead of one.

Week 1:
Introduction to Classical Latin pronunciation

Students are taught the pronunciation system for Classical Latin with attention to
vowels, consonants, and diphthongs that differ from English pronunciation. Practice
includes reading of individual words and sentences.

Some basic classroom phrases are taught.

Historical context is set through an overview of the life of the poet Horace and the
appreciation of some of his poems translated into English.

Students begin to read and translate simple sentences with 3 rd singular verbs of the
first conjugation and an emphasis on Latin words that are clearly recognizable from
their English derivatives.

Key Assignments:
Students are set up with online flashcards through Quizlet for vocabulary learning.
16 vocabulary words are assigned for this week. Students practice pronunciation by
reading sentences out loud. Students prepare both written and oral translations of
simple Latin sentences involving both action verbs and linking verbs.

Week 2:
The nominative and accusative case, 1st declension

Students continue to use classroom expressions and practice pronunciation by

imitation of the teacher and reading sentences out loud.
The nominative and accusative cases in the 1 st declension are introduced.
14 more vocabulary words are introduced.

Key Assignments:
Students read a simple Latin story and answer comprehension questions in Latin.
Exercises include numerous sentences to fill in a missing Latin word or ending.
Online drill exercises focus on vocabulary and identification of nominative and
accusative endings.

Week 3:
The nominative and accusative case, 2nd declension
3rd Singular Present Indicative Active of Verbs, all conjugations

Students are introduced to the concept of different noun declensions and add the
second declension in the nominative and accusative cases in the singular. The
concept of gender (masculine, feminine, and neuter) is introduced in the context of
the two noun declensions. Similarly students are introduced to the idea of different
verb conjugations and learn the 3 rd singular present indicative active for all four
conjugations.

Key Assignments:
Students translate simple sentences and stories involving nominative and
accusative case nouns of the 1 st and 2nd declensions. Assignments include verb
translation drills and gender identification exercises. Students read and discuss an
essay on the role of women in ancient Rome. Stories are read together in class with
comprehension questions to answer in Latin. Stories are assigned for homework
with comprehension questions in English.

Week 4:
Adjective, agreement of adjectives with nouns

Building from the lesson on genders last week, students are introduced to the
concept that adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number,
and case. 1st and 2nd declension adjectives are learned to reinforce the previous
lesson on 1st and 2nd declension nouns.

Key Assignments:
Students continue to translate sentences and stories and complete exercises that
require filling in Latin words and endings to complete a sentence. For the first time
this week students translate full sentences from English into Latin to demonstrate
their understanding of case endings. Students read and discuss an essay on slavery
in ancient Rome.

Week 5:
Singular and Plural

Having learned the singular, students now learn the 3rd plural for all verb
conjugations and for the nominative and accusative cases of the 1 st and 2nd
declensions.

Key Assignments:
Continued assignments in reading, translating, and answering comprehension
questions in both English and Latin. Students complete weekly exercises, both on
paper and online, to practice translation of Latin sentences and rapid recognition of
new verb and noun forms. Assignments this week include putting sentences in the
singular into the plural. Students read and discuss an essay on country life in
ancient Rome.
Week 6:
Present Tense, All Persons
Ablative Case as Object of a Preposition

Now that students are familiar with the 3 rd person, both singular and plural, the 1 st
and 2nd person are taught for all 4 verb conjugations. In addition a third case usage,
the ablative is taught so that students now know 3 of the 5 Latin cases. Students are
introduced to prepositions and the fact that Latin prepositions are followed by
either the accusative or ablative case.

Key Assignments:
All assignments from here include the following: vocabulary, English derivatives,
including the ability to use these new English words in sentences, reading Latin
stories followed by comprehension questions in both Latin and English, a variety of
fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill
new forms and grammatical concepts, translation from English into Latin, and
regular chant work to aid in the memorization of verb and noun paradigms.
Students read and discuss an essay on the Roman marketplace and choose roles and
perform a short play set in a Roman marketplace. The nursery rhyme, Baa, Baa.
Black Sheep is taught as well to reinforce market day vocabulary.

Week 7:
Infinitives and the 3rd conjugation io verbs

Now that the present active indicative has been learned students learn the present
active infinitive. They are introduced to verbs that take the complementary
infinitive: cupi, dbe, iube, cnstitu. Also this week the final division within
Latin verb conjugations is learned the 3rd io verbs. These verbs are understood
as behaving in some ways like the 3 rd conjugation and in some ways like the 4 th.
Common 3rd io verbs capi, cupi, and faci are introduced.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Students read and discuss an essay on
Roman education.

Week 8:
The vocative case and questions

The last of the Latin cases, the vocative is introduced in order to teach students
direct questions. Students are taught both questions introduced by interrogative
adverbs, adjectives, and pronouns and those introduced by the interrogative
particles ne and nnne.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Students are assigned dialogue practice
in Latin to reinforce the use of direct questions.

Week 9:
The 3rd declension

3rd declension nouns and adjectives are introduced in the three cases students have
learned nominative, accusative, and ablative. Both consonant stem and i-stem
nouns and adjectives are taught.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. A second and longer play, set in a
Roman schoolroom, is practiced and performed. The Iliad is introduced through an
imagined lesson in a Roman schoolroom, and students read and discuss an essay on
Homers Iliad.

Week 10:
Irregular Verbs

The irregular verbs possum and e are taught in the present indicative active and
present infinitive active. Many compounds of e are introduced as well.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms.

Week 11:
Imperatives
In addition to the indicative and infinitive, a third mood, the imperative, is now
introduced. Students learn both singular and plural present imperative for all verb
conjugations.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Students are assigned more dialogue
practice and are taught simple Latin commands for their pets (or younger siblings).

Week 12:
More Prepositions
Compound Verbs
The Conjunction que

Students now know a total of 9 prepositions, some followed by the accusative case
and some by the ablative case. After reviewing these prepositions, they see how the
meanings of familiar verbs are changed when these prepositions are attached to the
verb stem as a prefix. In addition students learn the conjunction que observing
that it can join either words or phrases of a pair.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Students read and discuss a second
essay on the Iliad.

Week 13:
Review and Test Preparation

No new grammar or vocabulary is introduced this week. Students work on a

variety of practice questions, translation exercises, and form identification drills to
prepare for their exam.

Week 14:
The genitive case possessive and partitive genitive

The fourth of the five Latin cases is now introduced. Students learn both singular
and plural genitive forms for the first three declensions. Emphasis is placed on
understanding of the most common genitive use, the possessive genitive, but the
partitive genitive is also taught.
Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Having concluded a brief unit on the
Iliad, students read and discuss an essay on Virgils Aeneid.

Week 15:
Adverbs

In this lesson students learn the next part of speech adverbs. They are taught
adverbs formed from 2-1-2 adjective and those formed from 3 rd declension
adjectives. In addition, they review 12 adverbs not formed from adjectives.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms.

Week 16:
Neuter Nouns of the 2nd Declension

Students now learn the last of the three Latin genders. Now that all three genders
have been learned adjective noun agreement is re-emphasized. Students read
portions of the tale of the Aeneid in simplified Latin.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Students read and discuss a second
essay on the Aeneid.

Week 17:
Neuter Nouns of the 3rd Declension

Neuter nouns of the third declension are now introduced as well. With the added
complexity of the third declension neuter nouns, more work is done on adjective
noun agreement. Increased emphasis is also placed on case recognition and
identification of the uses of the Latin cases. Students read portions of the tale of the
Aeneid in simplified Latin.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms.

Week 18:
Neuter adjectives (2-1-2 adjectives and 3rd declension adjectives)

With the conclusion of this lesson the first three Latin declensions have been fully
presented. Students continue to work on case recognition, review all verb forms
they have learned, and continue to read portions of the tale of the Aeneid in
simplified Latin.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Students practice and perform a play
about Aeneas escaping from the Cyclops, Polyphemus.

Week 19:
Dative Case as Indirect Object

In this lesson students are introduced to the last of the 5 Latin cases. They are
taught the use of the indirect object both in English and in Latin, observing
similarities and differences in this grammatical construction in the two languages.
The story line now moves on to the meeting of Dido and Aeneas with continued
simplified renditions of the tale recorded in the Aeneid.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Students read and discuss an essay on
Dido, the Queen of Carthage.
Week 20:
Dative Case used with special verbs
Dative of Reference

Three more common uses of the dative are introduced this week. Students learn
several verbs of motion that take the dative, other special verbs followed by the
dative, and the dative of reference.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Students practice and perform a play
about Aeneas leaving Dido.

Week 21:
Review of Nouns and Adjectives
Emphasis on Case Recognition and Use of Cases

Now that all 5 cases (+ the vocative) have been learned a week is spent reviewing
these and preparing for another test. Various competitive scenarios are set up in
class requiring speed and accuracy of case recognition.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Students read and discuss an essay
outlining the founding of Rome from Aeneas to Romulus.

Week 22:
Existential est
Imperative of esse

In addition to the use of est to join subject and subject complement, students are
now introduced to the existential est used without a complement.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms.
Week 23:
Subordinate Clauses

Students learn to distinguish main and subordinating clauses. Four subordinating

conjunctions are reviewed.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Students compose sentences in English
with subordinate clauses and translate sentences with subordinate clauses both
from Latin to English.

Week 24:
Relative Clauses

This week instruction focuses specifically on one of the more complex types of
subordinate clause the relative clause. Students learn how to determine the
required form of the relative pronoun (nominative case only) based on the gender
and number of the antecedent.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Having practiced translation from Latin
into English last week, this week students translate sentences with subordinate
clauses from English to Latin.

Week 25:
Demonstrative Pronouns is, ea, id and ille, illa, illud

These first two demonstrative pronouns are taught. Students are instructed in the
different uses of these two similar pronouns, adjective noun agreement and
pronoun agreement with the antecedent are both reviewed in this context.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. Students read and discuss an essay on
Roman religion.

Week 26:
Personal Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives

Personal pronouns are now introduced with their full declensions, including the
reflexive pronoun s. Similarities and differences between Latin and English
pronoun use are discussed including verbs that are transitive in Latin but not in
English. Possessive adjectives are also introduced. Students are shown that these
adjectives are built from the personal pronoun stems.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms.

Week 27:
The irregular verbs vol and nl
Irregular imperatives

Now that students are quite familiar with the regular present, active, indicative verb
system, two common irregular verbs are introduced. Since both of these take
complementary infinitives, infinitives are also reviewed here. Several common
verbs that are regular in the indicative but irregular in the imperative are covered as
well.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. An essay on the next stage of Roman
historical development is from Monarchy to Republic is read and discussed.

Week 28:
More Demonstrative Pronouns hic, haec, hoc and ipse, ipsa, ipsum

Two more common demonstrative pronouns are covered this week. Similarities
and differences between these new pronouns and those already covered are pointed
out to help students see the characteristic declension patterns of pronouns. Care is
taken to point out the difference between the reflexive and intensive pronoun in
Latin.

Key Assignments:
Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English, fill-in-the-blank and provide-the-
correct-form exercises, online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms.

Week 29:
Review

No new grammar is covered this week. Students are drilled on verb and noun forms
as they read Latin stories. The Latin cases and use of cases are reviewed. Verb
chants are reviewed and students are required to produce requested verb forms
correctly. There is usually time for several rounds of the Caesar Game! (see below
under instructional methods and strategies).

Key Assignments:
Students are given sample test questions for practice. An essay on the next major
stage of Roman history the Punic Wars is read and discussed.

Week 30:
Review and Extra Reading Practice

Additional review is done in the context of reading an extended passage (93 lines) of
Latin.

5. Key Assignments

As outlined above, each week students work on:

Vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin roots, reading Latin stories followed by
comprehension questions in Latin and English. Weekly homework assignments also
include fill-in-the-blank, provide-the-correct-form, and matching exercises.
Students are also assigned online exercises to drill new forms and grammatical
concepts, translation from English into Latin, and chant work to aid in the
memorization of verb and noun paradigms. In addition, students prepare for and
perform a Latin play 4 times a year, and read and discuss weekly essays on various
aspects of Roman life.

6. Instructional Methods and Strategies

Latin students need both rigorous drills to ensure mastery of the needed vocabulary
and forms, and extensive reading practice to enable them to put this information
together to understand and enjoy Latin text. Rigorous drilling of vocabulary and
forms is accomplished through weekly online drills that provide immediate
corrections, both oral and written verb and noun chants, and a wide variety of
written exercises.

Reading passages increase in length from 10 lines to about 35 with an extended

passage of almost 100 lines covered in the final class.

Students are reminded of the relevance of Latin to the modern world by weekly
exercises in identifying English words derived from their Latin vocabulary, and by a
series of essays that discuss various aspects of life in ancient Rome, and
demonstrate how deeply the modern, Western world is rooted in Latin history.

Although Latin is primarily a written language, some oral Latin (classroom

expressions and conversational phrases) is taught as well to engage students more
fully with the language and to reinforce vocabulary and grammatical forms.
Classrooms are kept lively with a wide variety of Latin songs including nursery
rhymes and folk songs translated into Latin, and songs written to aid students as
they memorize verb and noun forms and new grammatical rules. Classes include an
occasional round of Naumachia (Battleship with Latin vocabulary) and the Caesar
Game where students have to recognize the case and use of case of a given noun or
adjective within 10 seconds to ascend their class Cursus Honorum the ladder of
Roman public offices leading to influence, power, and political authority. Students
also participate in friendly competition to develop their vocabulary using games
available on the online flashcard system Quizlet.

7. Assessments

Assessment is provided through weekly written homework assignments which

include vocabulary work, research into English derivatives of Latin, reading Latin
stories with comprehension questions in both English and Latin, and written
exercises that include translation from Latin to English, from English to Latin, fill-in-
the-blank activities, matching exercises, and verb identification. In addition, online
drill scores are reported weekly and students practice timed vocabulary games
through Quizlet. Assessment is also based on oral translation and exercise work
during class, and four written exams. Comprehensive review units before each test
reinforce concepts and determine if further work is necessary to shore up areas of
weakness before proceeding to the next level of complexity.