Latin
It is often said that Latin is a dead language. But Latin is alive and well and being used by you every day! These words are all Latin:
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Why study Latin?
- Latin is still used widely in Medicine and the Law
- Latin is a very precise language and you will find your English grammar and vocabulary will improve as you study Latin.
- The culture and civilisation of the Romans still surrounds and inspires us.
- A Latin qualification on your UCAS form will show that you are a logical and methodical thinker who pays careful attention to detail and has a sensitive approach to language.
Enrichment
The ‘Rotten Romans’ Club meets every week and provides opportunities for Year 7 and 8 students to explore other aspects of Roman life such as feasts or make-up and hairstyles. There are games to enjoy and craft activities such as making mosaic pictures or films with a Roman theme are shown.
In addition, students who would like some extra support can find this at the weekly ‘auxilium’ (help) sessions at lunchtime. Year 11 have their own dedicated ‘auxilium’ session.
Trips and Events
Visits have been arranged in the past to Lullingstone Roman Villa and the British Museum. In April 2018 the GCSE Latin group will be visiting Pompeii and Rome.
Subject Leader: Mrs G Wilson (gwilson@fortpitt.medway.sch.uk )
Curriculum Content
Key Stage 3
We follow the Cambridge Latin Course, a story-based approach which gives us the chance to learn about the Romans as people while we learn their language. In Years 7 and 8, students study Book I and develop their knowledge of the Latin language whilst also finding out about life in First Century Pompeii and its very dramatic ending.
Year 7
- Nominative (singular and plural) and accusative (singular) case nouns
- Present tense verbs (1st, 2nd and 3rd person singular, 3rd person plural)
- Imperfect and perfect tense verbs (3rd person singular and plural only)
- Introduction to Roman Civilisation: how to write the date; the story of Romulus and Remus; the growth of the Roman Empire.
- Daily life in a Roman town: houses, food, the town of Pompeii, the forum, the theatre, slavery.
Year 8
- Accusative plural nouns; accusative + verb word order
- Dative case nouns singular and plural; intransitive verbs + dative case
- 1st and 2nd person plural present tense; 1st and 2nd person singular and plural imperfect and perfect tense verbs.
- Asking questions
- Superlative and comparatives
- Daily life in a Roman town: Roman beliefs about life after death, the amphitheatre and gladiatorial shows, baths, schools, local elections.
- The eruption of Vesuvius AD79
Key Stage 4 – Latin
Exam board: EDUQAS
Students continue to follow the Cambridge Latin Course using Books II-IV. This prepares them for the new examination for first award in Summer 2018, which comprises 3 papers.
- Component 1: Latin Language
- Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 50% of qualification
- Section A: Comprehension and translation passages from Latin into English
- Section B: Translation of simple sentences from English into Latin
Component 2: Latin Literature and Sources (Themes)
- Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes
- 30% of qualification: A Day at the Races
Component 3: Roman Civilisation
- Written examination: 1 hour
- 20% of qualification: Entertainment and Leisure
Year 9
- Infinitive + velle, nolle posse (present and imperfect tenses)
- Agreement of adjectives
- Relative clauses
- Pluperfect tense
- Genitive and vocative cases
- Hic and ille
- Imperatives
- Present, perfect passive and perfect active participles
- Life in Roman Britain: the conquest, farming, King Cogidubnus, Fishbourne Roman Palace, Aquae Sulis
- Life in Roman Egypt: Alexandria, glassmaking, the worship of the goddess Isis, medicine and science.
Year 10
- Imperfect and Pluperfect tense subjunctive verbs and their uses
- gerundives
- ablative case
- present, imperfect, perfect and pluperfect passive tense verbs
- ablative absolute phrases
- Life in Roman Britain: Roman religion, the Roman army in Britain.
- Life in Rome: the Roman Forum, the Jewish Revolt AD 72, patronage.
Year 11
- deponent verbs
- future tense
- present and future passive infinitives
- indirect statements
- Roman Civilisation: Entertainment and Leisure
- Latin Literature and Sources: A Day at the Races
