WORLD LANGUAGE - MIDDLE SCHOOL

INTRODUCTION TO LATIN 

OVERVIEW 

 Number of faculty: One 

The Latin curriculum at St. James Academy familiarizes students with the Latin foundations of the English language and explores the influences of Latin language and Roman culture across time. This topic expands the students' learning in the Sixth Grade Social Studies unit on the Roman Empire. The reading based language method utilized within the program promotes learning through a deductive process and emphasizes student discussion of cognates in English, French, and Spanish. Through the study of Latin grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, including abbreviations and expressions, the students become more familiar with the elements of English and the Romance languages. Equipped with this knowledge, students are better able to deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words. The close attention to structure needed in the study of Latin not only helps the student develop a better understanding of our own language, but also gives him/her the ability to study other foreign languages more efficiently. Course work includes vocabulary memorization exercises, translations, reading aloud from Latin texts, and units on Roman history and culture. 

GOALS: GRADE EIGHT

Students will: 

• Become familiar with words, abbreviations, and phrases that directly relate to the English language;
• Be able to make some cognate comparisons between Latin and English, as well as, French and Spanish;
• Be able to write simple sentences in Latin;
• Enrich their knowledge and appreciation for the legacy of the Roman Empire.