Garden City Public Schools
Garden City, New York
Course: Latin 1R/H
Overview of Course
This course is the beginning of a sequence. It covers the vocabulary and grammar
necessary to read and write simple Latin. Oral reading and listening comprehension
will be included. Greco-Roman culture is studied and there is emphasis on English
vocabulary and grammar. Checkpoint A of the New York State syllabus for
Languages Other Than English is followed.
Instructional Philosophy
The Department of World Languages believes that the primary goal of second
language learning is the achievement of functional communication in the context of
the target language. Language learning is also an invaluable asset to students who
will be taking their place in the world today. To achieve this goal, the aim of the
department is twofold: (1) to teach students the skills necessary for effective
communication in the foreign language; i.e.: listening, speaking, reading, and
writing; and (2) to provide students with the insight into and appreciation of the
foreign culture in order that they become more informed and understanding
citizens of the world.
Knowledge and Skills Objectives
Standard 1: Students will be able to use a language other than English for
communication
 Reading is the most important skill that students acquire in learning Latin for
it is the vehicle through which communication with the ancient world is
possible and it is also the tool, along with writing, through which students
become more aware of their own and other languages.
 Listening and speaking support the reading skills in Latin.
Standard 2: Students will develop cross-cultural skills and understandings.
 Latin acquisition provides the cultural context for learning about the ancient
world and its people. From this basis students can compare and contrast
antiquity and the present and thoughtfully contemplate the future.
Major Resources
Cambridge Latin Course, Units 1 & 2, 4th Edition
Supplemental Materials
Latin 1 Course Outline
I.
Introduction to Latin and the World of Ancient Rome
A. Roman alphabet and pronunciation
B. Origin of and history of Latin
C. Simple noun-verb sentences
D. Roman house
E. Roman dress
F. Roman meals
G. Role of Women
H. System of Names
I. Greetings and Salutations
II.
Introduction to Noun Declensions and Verb Conjugations
A. Three declensions of nouns
B. Nominative and Accusative cases
C. Conjugating verbs
D. Life in Pompeii
III.
Verb Tenses
A. Present
B. Imperfect
C. Perfect
D. Lack of subject pronoun
E. Freedmen in Roman Society
F. Death and Burial in the Roman world
IV.
New Cases; Intro to Comparative and Superlative Adjectives; Questions
A. Dative case
B. Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
C. Questions
D. Gladiators
E. The Baths
F. Education
G. Elections
H. Eruption of Vesuvius and Destruction of Pompeii
V.
in Brittania
A. Infinitives
B. Irregular Verbs volo, nolo, possum
C. Use of –que
D. Britain, pre- and post-Roman
E. Gaius Salvius Liberalis
F. Adjectives and Agreement
G. The Celts
H. Pluperfect Tense
VI.
Introduction to Classical Mythology
A. Why mythology?
B. Creation beliefs
C. Specific Roman gods
D. Major Olympian deities
E. Derivatives in English from classical mythology
F. Mythological themes in art, music, advertising, etc.
VII.
Place To, From, and Where: Uses of Prepositions and their Cases
A. The Ablative case and its prepositions
B. Prepositions taking the accusative case