Learning a language is a journey. The images that have accompanied the introduction to each level have conveyed that. The Latin journey is a long one: it requires considerable reading, practice, thought and review. Above all, however, it requires patience – and utter determination.
Learning a language – even our native one – never ends, but targets
can be set so that, should you wish to progress to higher education, you are
equipped with everything you need to face that confidently. In ‘Latin for Learners’
that is our summit.
This is the final level of both the Facebook group and the
blog site.
Level 4 is targeted at those who already have a sound command
of Latin at intermediate / upper-intermediate level.
Grammar
The grammar and syntax needed to reach this stage have been
covered in depth and repeatedly at Levels 1 – 3+. Therefore, only more advanced
aspects of the language will be reviewed and / or referred to, for example:
- the subjunctive
- gerunds; gerundives
- participial usage e.g. ablative absolute
- indirect statement
Where necessary, links to earlier posts on these and similar
topics will be given.
Less common features which occur from time to time in
literature will be mentioned in notes; these do not require in-depth study.
Levels 1 – 3+ will continue although less detail will be given,
but, again, links will be posted to the topics in the ‘labels’ section of the
blog.
If you reach the summit, then you have every right to feel
proud.
Overview of Level 4
Literature
[i] texts that could be considered “ bridges” to Classical
Latin, for example extracts from the Vulgate and from the Mediaeval texts
entitled Gesta Rōmānōrum
[ii] GCSE Literature topics; these approach Classical Latin
literature from a thematic perspective with excerpts from different authors and
all deal with specific aspects of the Roman world
[iii] Mediaeval Literature; a number of earlier posts will
reappear – including song lyrics – and, again, we will look at the differences
between Classical and Mediaeval Latin as well as authentic manuscripts, and
scribal abbreviations
[iv] Classical Latin literature showing a range of authors,
themes and styles e.g. Catullus, Caesar, Tacitus and Pliny; I will mainly, but
not exclusively, follow the prescribed works for the UK AS / A2 examinations.
[v] Classical Latin poetry with a step-by-step guide to the
analysis of poetic devices and metre: only those features found at the UK AS /
A2 level will be considered
Self-Assessment
- Questions from UK GCSE and, later, AS and A2 examinations
- Highest levels of the US National Latin Examination
No comments:
Post a Comment