Module Catalogue 2023/24

CLA1001 : Beginners' Latin in Action 1

  • Offered for Year: 2023/24
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Anke Walter
  • Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
Pre Requisites
Pre Requisite Comment

no previous knowledge of Latin required.

Co Requisites
Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module will give students a basic knowledge of Latin, sufficient for dealing, at an elementary level, with some of the linguistic aspects of Latin texts. In addition, it aims at developing students' skills of literary analysis of Latin texts.

In addition to covering the grammar, in-class time will be spent on translating and discussing short texts in the original, with the following aims:
1. to help students to solidify and extend their working knowledge of basic vocabulary and its usage;
2. to give students an opportunity to put their developing knowledge of key grammatical patterns and syntactical structures into practice;
3. to help students to develop their ability to analyse and appreciate the effects of different modes of expression in the language, including differences of meaning and style, without the aid of a published translation;
4. to train students in the application of language skills to literary analysis, and in critical reading of texts in the original language;
5. to assist students in developing and applying increasingly nuanced translation strategies based on the foregoing skills; and
6. to enhance students' ability to read classical literature more meaningfully by applying all these skills to unfamiliar texts in the original language.

Outline Of Syllabus

- The principles of Latin, and its differences from English;
- The Latin grammar as introduced in the relevant Latin textbook ('Reading Latin'), including such central material as the more elementary forms of the verbs, the case-forms of nouns etc.;
- Core Latin vocabulary;
- practice of translation and interpretation

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should have acquired:
* an understanding of the basic principles of the Latin language;
* a knowledge of the most important features of Latin grammar, including a command of some essential grammatical forms and syntactical structures of Latin;
* a knowledge of the 'tables' (setting out forms of verbs, nouns, adjectives etc.) covered in this semester;
* a knowledge of core Latin vocabulary.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students should have acquired:
* the ability to use a Latin dictionary;
* the ability to translate a Latin text into good and stylistically appropriate English;
* elementary skills of analysis of a Latin text;
* the adaptability to apply the skills learnt to new pieces of Latin

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion791:0079:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading881:0088:00Two hours preparation for each session.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching331:0033:00full-group interactive language classes
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The three taught classes per week introduce, explain, demonstrate, and give students the opportunity to apply under guidance, the knowledge of the Latin language and the approach to analysing Latin texts which the module aims to instil. Time is set aside in each session for students to ask questions.

In private study, students consolidate knowledge imparted in the taught classes, further practise applying that knowledge to set exercises, and learn to use their language skills to think in analytical and constructive ways about original Latin texts. Written exercises are set in order to aid students review, apply, and consolidate their linguistic knowledge.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Digital Examination901A70Inspera digital examination
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Prob solv exercises1M3010 weekly in-class tests, requiring approx. 10 short answers (e.g. vocab items, word forms, translation of short sentences). The seven best results will be counted towards the mark
Formative Assessments
Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise1MOne language skills exercise (ca. 450 words)
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Written examination: An examination is still inevitably the best way of testing students' assimilation of linguistic knowledge and skills in both seen and unseen texts, without the use of aids such as grammar-charts. It is thus the ideal format for assessing students' assimilation and command of the taught material.

The tests ensure students’ constant review of the material covered in the module, and allow the teacher to detect difficulties early on in the semester and provide students with constant feedback on their progress.
Machine-marked tests will be offered on Canvas to help students revise new material on a regular basis and prepare them for the in-class test of the following week.

Short homework exercises help students review and consolidate the material introduced to them in the previous session.

The formative language skills exercise will test students' ability to understand and critically analyse a text.

Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.

This module cannot be made available to Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students under any circumstances.

All Erasmus students at Newcastle University are expected to do the same assessment as students registered for a degree.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

Disclaimer: The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2023/24 academic year. In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described. Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2024/25 entry will be published here in early-April 2024. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.