BA Ancient History

Year of entry: 2023

Course unit details:
Intensive Latin 1

Course unit fact file
Unit code CAHE20171
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Offered by Classics, Ancient History & Egyptology
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

This course is designed for students with no previous knowledge of Latin. Those who have studied Latin up to and including GCSE, however, may take it as beginners; those who have AS Level in Latin should audit this course and enrol in CAHE30182 Intensive Latin 2  for credit.

Pre/co-requisites

None, but this course may not be taken for credit by candidates who have already achieved a qualification in Latin which is higher than GCSE. GCSE Latin is fine. Students with A-Level Latin should take CAHE30110 Advanced Latin 1. Students who are not ready to enrol on CAHE30110 may audit CAHE20171 and take CAHE30182 for credit.

Anti-requisite: Students are not permitted to take CAHE20171 and CAHE20151 in the same academic year.

Aims

To introduce students to the basic elements of the Latin language.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this course students will have developed the following abilities:

  • knowledge and understanding of the basic workings of a highly-inflected language, Classical Latin;
  • mastery of (roughly half of) the basic Latin forms and constructions (accidence and syntax), together with a vocabulary of several hundred words, and a developing ability to use them both actively and passively;
  • the ability to read a simple Latin text, seen or unseen, with fluency and accuracy;

Intellectual skills

By the end of this course students will have developed the following abilities:

  • subject-specific skills, including an incipient ability to read, understand, translate and write Latin;
  • an insight into the nature of the differences between English and Classical Latin.

Practical skills

By the end of this course students will have:

  • an increasing ability to use language consciously and effectively
  • facility with specific electronic learning mechanisms

Transferable skills and personal qualities

By the end of this course students will have:

  • an increased awareness of the structures and resources of the English language;
  • a developed ability to analyse and to describe linguistic forms and structures;
  • an increased knowledge and understanding of Latin-derived English vocabulary.

Employability skills

Other
¿ The ability to understand, commit to memory, and successfully deploy the elements of a complex communication system. ¿ Conscientious study of an ancient language enhances understanding of English grammatical structures and broadens vocabulary, thereby enhancing the ability to communicate clearly, concisely and eloquently.

Assessment methods

Summative test 40%
Exam 60%

 

Feedback methods

Recommended reading

  • PV Jones and KC Sidwell, Reading Latin, 2nd edition, Cambridge 2016

Before the beginning of the course, students should acquire copies of the two parts: Text and Vocabulary (9781107618701) and Grammar and Exercises (9781107632264). Please be aware that you are required to buy the new second edition of this textbook (available from August 2016); you should NOT buy copies of the older edition, which has been substantially revised. These books are available online on Kortext, but you will find it advantageous to have a paper copy as well.

Study hours

Feedback method

Formative or Summative

in-class feedback on exercises and translation

Formative

individual written feedback on weekly written homework; this feedback is provided weekly

Formative

consultation hours or other meetings by arrangement

Formative

automated feedback through online quizzes

Formative
Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 22
Seminars 22
Independent study hours
Independent study 156

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Alison Sharrock Unit coordinator

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