Fall, 2001
The University of Texas at
Austin,
Department of
Classics
Timothy
Moore, Waggener 211, 471-5742; Office hours TTh 2-4 and by
appointment
Description: This course is designed to prepare students for
student teaching and for a career in teaching Latin. It has two
components: observation of Latin teachers at work and study of the
theoretical and practical questions one must address to be effective
in the Latin classroom. Particular attention will be paid to the use
of oral Latin in the classroom, controversies surrounding textbooks
and their methods, and the techniques necessary to meet the diverse
needs of today's students.
Requirements:
This course is graded on a credit/no-credit basis. To receive credit,
students must fulfill the following assignments.
1. Observe at least 60 hours of classroom instruction in Latin in
local schools, and discuss these observations with the class. I will
work with you to arrange these observations with local teachers.
2. Teach at least one class in a local school (2 or three is
preferable).
3. For each weekly assignment, do the following:
a. read the assigned readings and prepare to discuss at least three
points in the reading that you think are either especially important,
or wrong.
b. outline a brief lesson plan employing what you have learned on the
week's topic and prepare to discuss it with the class.
4. Prepare at the end of the course the following (these will be
presented to the class during finals week):
a. A personal web page on the teaching of Latin, with the links you
think are most valuable and commentary, and whatever personal
additions you would like to make.
b. A brief (2-3 pages) statement of your personal philosophy of
teaching Latin, explaining what methods you think most useful and
what elements of teaching you think are most important.
Text:
Latin for the 21st century : from concept to classroom,
edited by Richard A. LaFleur.
Schedule
Additional readings may be added.
Week 1: Introduction to course; Employing oral Latin in the classroom
(we will do brief exercises using
oral Latin throughout the semester)
Week 2: The Latin ExCET Exam
Week 3: Essential Elements and Standards: What do they mean for
us?
Martha G. Abbott, "Trends in Language Education: Latin in the
Mainstream," and Martha G. Abbott, Sally Davis, and Richard C.
Gascoyne, "National Standards and Curriculum Guidelines," in Latin
for the 21st Century: From Concept to Classroom, ed. Richard A.
LaFleur (Glenview, Ill., Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley, 1998), pp.
36-57.
Texas Essential
Knowledge and Skills for Languages Other Than English
4: The central controversy in Latin teaching: grammar-translation vs.
reading
Gareth Morgan,
"Textbook Analysis: A Refresher Course"
Judith Lynn Sebesta, "aliquid semper novi: New Challenges, New
Approaches," in Latin for the 21st Century, pp. 15-24.
5: The grammar-translation approach 1
Karen Lee Singh, "Grammar-Translation and High-School Latin," in
Latin for the 21st Century, pp. 90-104.
6: The grammar-translation approach 2
Prepare a lesson using Latin For Americans
7: The reading approach 1
David J. Perry, "Using the Reading Approach In Secondary Schools," in
Latin for the 21st Century, pp. 105-116.
8: The reading approach 2
Prepare a lesson using the Cambridge Latin Course
9: Linguistics and the Latin teacher
Glenn M. Knudsvig and Deborah Pennell Ross, "The Linguistic
Perspective," in Latin for the 21st Century, pp. 25-35.
10: Latin in the Middle School
Leann A. Osburn, "Latin in the Middle Grades," in Latin for the
21st Century, pp. 70-89.
11: Reaching students we often do not reach
Edward V. George, Latin and Spanish: "Roman Culture and Hispanic
America," and Althea C. Ashe, "Latin for Special Needs Students:
Meeting the Challenge of Students with Learning Disabilities," in
Latin for the 21st Century, pp. 227-250.
12: Teaching the AP Curriculum
Margaret A. Brucia, "Teaching AP Latin," in Latin for the 21st
Century, pp. 117-125.
13: Resources for the Latin Teacher 1
Kenneth F. Kitchell, "Teaching Resources for the Latin Classroom," in
Latin for the 21st Century, pp. 276-291.
14: Resources for the Latin Teacher 2
Rob Latousek, "Computamus: We Compute!" in Latin for the
21st Century, pp. 263-275.
15: Extracurricular Activities
Jane H. Hall, "Beyond the Text: Enrichment Activities for High-School
Latin," in Latin for the 21st Century, pp. 126-138.