San Diego State University
Department of Classics and Humanities
Summer 2010
Classics 250L: Accelerated Elementary Latin
Instructor: Wendy Wira. Leave messages at the Department of Classics and Humanities, (619) 594-5186. Office hours: by appointment or any time after class.
Class: 0900-1300 MTWTh, June 28–August 18, 2010, ESC-105, eight units.
Course Objective: To gain the familiarity and competence in Latin equivalent to an introductory year of study. Successful completion of this class fulfills the prerequisite for Classics 303L: Latin Prose to be offered in fall 2010.
Required Text: Learn to Read Latin, textbook and workbook, by Andrew Keller and Stephanie Russell (Yale University Press).
Expectations: This is an intensive course, the equivalent of a single year compressed into eight weeks, 30 class meetings, to be exact. Daily attendance, participation, and preparation are essential. Absences and lack of preparation will affect your learning and your grade. If you miss a class or assignment, you must see me to find out whether it can be made up.
Daily quizzes will be given over the previous day’s material; weekly tests will be given every Thursday.
Homework will be reviewed at the beginning of class each day. It will consist primarily of selected exercises and readings from the workbook. Additional exercises may be assigned. Homework will also include memorization of the many conjugations and declensions that are absolutely essential to even the most basic understanding of the language. Recitation of these will be done in class, as a group and individually. Expect to spend a minimum of three to four hours a day on homework and memorization.
You will be responsible for reading over the day’s planned material as noted in the schedule before coming to class in addition to the homework due on that day.
Grading:
Daily quizzes: 30%
Tests: 35%
In-class work (including recitation and participation): 10%
Written work (including homework): 25%
Tips from Someone Who’s Been There:
Don’t fall behind. I know it’s a lot of work. But this class depends on your thorough understanding of all the concepts in the previous chapters. If you don’t understand something, ask. If you don’t ask, it will come back to haunt you.
Memorize forms as they’re given to you. You will have daily quizzes so that you do not end up trying to cram all the forms into your head on Wednesday night before the big test. Trust me, doing that doesn’t work.
Chant. You’ll feel stupid wandering around muttering, “amo, amas, amat . . .,” but you’ll remember it a lot better.
Flash cards are your friend. Flash cards are great for memorizing vocabulary. If you don’t have time to make them, buy them at the bookstore. I recommend getting the little ones attached to a ring for carrying around the declensions and conjugations; so, for example, you can practice when you’re walking to and from your car
Once again, if you don’t understand or if you need help, ASK ME. It’s what I’m here for.
Class Schedule:
Quiz/Test New Material
June 28: Introduction, Cases, 1st Declension
June 29: 1st Declension, Use of Cases 2nd Declension
June 30: Second Declension Verbs, Present Tense (1st & 2nd Conj.)
July 1: Test Future & Imperfect Tenses (1st & 2nd Conj.)
July 6: Future & Imperfect Tenses sum and possum, Noun / Adjective Agreement
July 7: sum and possum Passive Voice; Abl. of Agent; eo
July 8: Test 3rd, i-stem 3rd, 4th Conj. (pres., impf., fut.)
July 12: 3rd, i-stem 3rd, 4th Conj. (pres., impf., fut.) Imperatives, Infinitives, Uses of Genitive
July 13: Imperatives & Infinitives Personal Pronouns
July 14: Personal Pronouns Perfect, Pluperfect, & Future Perfect Tenses
July 15: Test fero, Reflexive & Intensive Pronouns
July 19: fero, Reflexive Pronouns Adverbs, Subordinate Clauses, Conditions 1
July 20: TBA Perfect, Plup., Fut. Perf. Passive Verbs
July 21: Perfect, Plup., Fut. Perf. Passive Verbs 3rd Decl., Syntatical Structures up to p. 112
July 22: Test Pres. & Impf. Subjunctive + 3 Uses of Subj.
July 26: Present & Imperfect Subjunctive Pf. & Plup. Subj., Conditions 2, Dative Uses
July 27: Perfect & Pluperfect Subjuntive 4th & 5th Decl., 3rd Decl. Adjs., Adverbs
July 28: 4th & 5th Decl., 3rd Decl. Adjs. hic, iste, ille
July 29: Test Deponent & Semi-Deponent Verbs, Syntax
August 2: Deponent Verbs Purpose Clauses, Seq. of Tenses, Ind. Commands
August 3: TBA Relative Pronouns, Interrogative Pronouns & Adjs.
August 4: Relative Pronouns unus nauta, Numbers, Special Datives & Rel. Clauses
August 5: Test Participles!
August 9: Participles Ablative Absolute, Passive Periphrastic, Special Abls.
August 10: TBA Infinitives, Indirect Statement
August 11: TBA Comparatives and Superlatives
August 12: Comparatives & Superlatives Direct & Indirect Questions
August 16: TBA Wondering Subjunctives
August 17: TBA cum Clauses, nolo, volo, malo, Special Datives
August 18: Final Exam