Newcastle University > Undergraduate > Find a Degree > Module

• Offered for Year: 2020/21

• Module Leader(s): Professor Jakob Wisse

• Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

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.

The aims of the 'Latin in Action' component and its related assessment are:
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.
Several methods are used in supporting these aims, as appropriate to the level, the readings, and the specific grammatical elements being learned. ‘In Action’ class exercises and assessed assignments are usually based on the close study of one or more short passages of text in the original language. Methods may include translation of passages into English; translation from English into Latin/Greek; comparison of published translations; stylistic analysis; scansion of passages of verse; memorisation of short excerpts; recitation.

Outline Of Syllabus

- the principles of Latin, and its differences from English;
- The Latin grammar as introduced in the relevant Latin textbook, including such central material as the more elementary forms of the verbs, the case-forms of nouns etc.;
- “Latin in Action”: exercises practising the application of the grammar learnt to real Latin texts.

Teaching Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

General rationale: This set-up aims to preserve as much of the (traditional) method for from-scratch language teaching which has worked so well over the past years, and has been commended by students.

'Workshops' will be used for interactive language classes, which include informal practice and exercise (as set in course material). They will introduce (or re-introduce: see at lecture materials), discuss and practise all the knowledge and skills implied in the outcomes; they will also discuss with students how best to use the time set aside for private study.

The non-synchronously delivered lecture materials will be used to introduce new grammatical concepts, pick up on general problems encountered the previous week, etc.

The non-synchronous 'academic skills' sessions will be offered twice a week, and will include discussions of exercises.

Private study is supposed to be spent revising the material discussed in class, preparing for the next class and doing the exercises provided in the course material

Assessment Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

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

Exams

Other Assessment

Formative Assessments

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

An examination (even in a take-home format) is inevitably the best way of testing linguistic knowledge and skills. The assignment tests the students' elementary skills in analysing Latin texts.

The weekly tests ensure students’ constant review of the material covered in the module, and allow the instructor to detect difficulties early on in the semester and provide students with constant feedback on their progress.

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.

Reading Lists

• CLA1001's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• CLA1001's Timetable