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Classics 111: Fall 2006, Macalester College |
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Course Description
Classics 111 is the first course in the Macalester College Latin sequence, which introduces students to the basic structures and vocabulary of the language of the ancient Romans. Since no native speakers survive, the program focuses on reading and writing. We move through the basic grammatical forms at a sharp pace, completing all of Latin grammar in less than one year, in order to move as quickly as possible into reading the materials written by native speakers.
As you might guess, such a pace requires a great deal of memorization, particularly in the first semester. Since all language acquisition is cumulative, falling behind in this work poses a serious threat to your ability to do well. I have designed the reading, assignments and class activities to assist you in understanding and learning the course material. From the beginning of the semester, you need to make a commitment to spend the requisite amount of time preparing for class. In turn, it is my job to keep you on your toes, and to make certain you understand how to use the forms and words you are memorizing. Together, we can move you quickly through the laborious and potentially tedious first steps in Latin into the fascinating literature of Vergil, Ovid, Petronius and Cicero.
Course Homepage ~ Classics
Department ~ Macalester College
Beth Severy-Hoven, Macalester College
last revised 8/21/6