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CLAS2032: Beginners' Latin 2

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Type Open
Level 2
Credits 40
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Classics and Ancient History

Prerequisites

  • CLAS1701 or study of the other classical language at an appropriate level.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • Beginners' Greek 2.

Aims

  • To offer intensive language training at beginners' level.
  • The course is designed to introduce the students to all main aspects of Latin morphology and syntax, and to equip them with the skills needed to read and interpret texts in the original languages, and to build on the skills and knowledge acquired in CLAS1701.

Content

  • This module provides and intensive, challenging and exciting introduction to the Latin language.
  • At the end of the course, students will have learned Latin morphology and syntax and will be ready to read Latin texts in the original.
  • The classes will focus on all the main aspects of the Latin language, starting from morphology and moving on to the main syntactical constructions of the Latin language.
  • The course also draws attention to the ways in which knowledge of Latin enhances our understanding of Roman culture: the meaning and etymology of words, the challenges of translation, the oddness of English, as well as Latin, will all be discussed, in an effort to understand the language and culture of the Romans.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • A knowledge of Latin morphology and syntax to the level indicated by 'Ronald's rules' (defined as a level of knowledge sufficient to enable the student to begin reading continuous texts in the original language).

Subject-specific Skills:

  • An ability to reduce lexical items in Latin to their dictionary form, to identify the main syntactical constructions in the language, and so to construe passages of text in Latin with the aid of a dictionary or word-list; an ability to interpret such passages, accompanied by a selection of translations, with the level of sophistication appropriate to Level 2 students.

Key Skills:

  • A basic ability to break down an Indo-European language into its component elements and structures, and to see how those elements and structures together contribute to meaningful utterance.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Interactive and frequent language classes will be offered as the most appropriate and effective way of teaching an ancient language at beginners' level.
  • Students will learn through regular preparation for the classes, short tests, and interaction with the teacher and each other in the process of learning.
  • The course will be assessed through two exam papers, which will be designed to test the topics and questions addressed in the classes, and will assume knowledge of the issues raised in Language, Translation, Interpretation.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Seminars (language classes)884 per week1 hour88Yes
Preparation and Reading312 
Total400 

Summative Assessment

Component: ExaminationComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Written Examination 12 hours50Yes
Written Examination 22.5 hours50Yes

Formative Assessment

Homework in the form of language exercises and commentaries to be prepared in advance of every class. Formative tests in class. No collections.

More information

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