This course is for those who have no previous knowledge of Latin or who have forgotten what they have learned. In this course the student is introduced to the basics of the Latin language. This course follows an intense grammar approach that focusses on learning the Latin grammar rules.
Students will have to spend about one hour a day learning grammatical "charts" and new vocabulary. Success in studying Latin at an introductory level will rely largely on the ability to master these elements through rote memorization.
Students will find that this focus on grammar assists them in understanding English grammar and is also of great value when learning other languages. Students who have not received a thorough grounding in English grammar are advised to review their grammar with the help of "English Grammar for Students of Latin." It is our experience that many probems in learning Latin stem not from a difficulty in Latin itself but in an inadequate grasp of English Grammar. The vocabulary in this course will cover both a number of basic words and also terms useful in reading Ecclesiastical Latin.
This course provides the basis for Latin 1B. It is only on the completion of Latin 1B that the student will be able to read unaltered Latin texts i.e. texts not prepared for the purposes of study.
The required textbook for the course is:
John F. Collins, A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin, 1988 edition (or any edition reprinted since then), The Catholic University of America Press.
Suggested textbooks:
Goldman, Norma and Ladislas Szymanski, English Grammar for Students of Latin, 3rd edition, Olivia and Hill Press.
A very useful review of English Grammar for those who have nor recived a formal training in English grammar or who have forgotten what they once knew.
Scanlon, Latin Grammar, 2009 edition (earlier edition acceptable), TAN Books and Publishers.
This book was written in the 1940s to help seminarians and novices who had no previous knowledge of Latin and needed to learn Latin fairly quickly. It focusses on the Traditional Latin Mass and will therefore be of assistance to those studying Latin in order to improve their understanding of the Mass.
In addition to the lectures your lecturer will be available to assist you on-line during set office hours.