Dear 2010-2011 AP Latin students and parents,
I would like to introduce myself as the AP Latin teacher for next year. This is a change from what was expected, and so I wanted to briefly outline our goals and expectations for next year.
Goals:
1. You will love Vergil and the Aeneid just as much as I do.
2. You will master the syntax, vocabulary, and content of the Aeneid.
3. You will confidently score a 4 or 5 on the AP Latin exam.
In order to meet these goals, however, we will need to do some summer preparation. You will need to read an English translation of the Aeneid before school resumes in September. There are many different translations available, so my suggestion is that you go to a bookstore, sit down in the Classics section, and look through the different books to see which one you find the easiest to read. Some are prose translations and others are poetry; you may choose whichever one you think fits your reading style.
Things to consider when choosing your book:
· D.G. Wills bookstore in La Jolla has an impressive Classics section that includes a wide selection of used books; it’s local and usually well-priced.
· Borders usually has a decent selection of Aeneid translations.
· Amazon.com allows you to look at the first few pages of the different translations.
· Many people like the versions by Robert Fagles or Stanley Lombardo.
· If you cannot get your own copy of the book, please let me know and you can borrow one of mine (but let me know well in advance of the first day of school!).
Assignment
As you read, you will need to take notes on events and characters. Take notes on the plot, what happens, and who the main players are. We will have an open-note exam (not open-book) in the first week of school. Your notes will be collected and must be your own—this activity should be done on your own, so no sharing!
I am aware that many of you have summer reading assignments for Mrs. Weien. I have spoken with her, and she agrees that reading the Aeneid in English over summer will help you with your overall understanding of the texts for her class. For example, you will be reading The Inferno for her, which is based upon the Aeneid and in which Vergil is Dante’s guide.
Over the summer, if you have any questions or concerns whatsoever, please feel free to email me and I will be happy to talk with you about AP Latin for next year. I am very excited to have this opportunity and to work with all of you next year to meet our goals!
Sincerely,
Wendy Wira