ELEMENTARY LATIN
 

PRIMARY LEVEL: GRADE 7 (OPTIONAL ONE-YEAR INTRODUCTORY COURSE)

The linguistic requirements specified in this chapter relate to the first year of the Senior Phase of the General Education and Training Band. Contents fall within the range of Latin vocabulary studies. It is suggested that educators devise "packages" suitable for inclusion in other learning contexts within Language, Literacy and Communication. Assessment and relative weight should be defined by the host learning context. There is no specific entry requirement. Exit can, but need not, lead to formal Latin Language Studies in Grade 8, or to a continuation of the kind of learning experiences here specified.

 
Through study of Latin vocabulary and language at the Primary level of Elementary Latin, learners will:
  • improve their working vocabulary in a multilingual situation through awareness of etymology and use of Latin phrases;
  • gain an insight into the structure of language;
  • learn to grasp the essential meaning of communication beyond the particulars of one language, while developing own communication skills.
  • develop insight into the linguistic influence of Latin on modern communication.

 
Educators must feel free to compose a suitable package comprising elements from whichever of the following suggested topics best suit the learning context within which this experience will unfold. Assessment should largely be based on the performance indicators of outcomes specified as appropriate to the host learning contexts. Process assessment and collaborative learning are of the greatest importance, and will flow naturally from the particular composition of the package and its situating within the host learning area. Suggested elements are:

Language and Vocabulary Studies for the Primary level of Elementary Latin

Language enrichment for the Primary level of Elementary Latin: English and/or Afrikaans words from Latin roots
 
(a)
  
The learning of the most frequent Latin prepositions as these occur in Latin phrases in common use in the target languages (e.g. ad hoc, post mortem), and their adaptation as prefixes in word formation.
 
(b)
  
The learning of the principles of word formation, together with the meaning of basic prefixes and suffixes
 
(c)
  
The learning of a number (30 - 40) of the most prolific Latin roots with their English/and or Afrikaans derivatives, that is, Latin words that occur in some form or other (frequently in combination with prefixes and suffixes) in the target languages and their derivatives. Training and practice in the use of these derivatives in the target languages.

 
Basic communication in a foreign language at the Primary level of Elementary Latin
 
The use of simple greetings and instructions in Latin, as a means of familiarising learners with the concept of communication in a language that is not their mother tongue.

 
Grammatical conceptualisation at the Primary level of Elementary Latin
 
Familiarisation with the grammatical concepts of accidence, tense and inflection through the medium of simple Latin sentences and/or expressions involving only the nominative, accusative and ablative (subject, object and adverbial use of nouns) and the first and third person singular and plural of common Latin verbs from the words occurring above.
 
In all cases stress will be on similarity and contrast with the learners' own mother tongue and with the particular language of learning employed. Grammatical analysis of Latin forms should not occur for its own sake and learners should not be required to reproduce these forms as part of their assessment. The ultimate focus will be on facilitating the learner's improved use of the language of learning.

ELEMENTARY LATIN SECONDARY LEVEL

Index Elementary Latin: Secondary level