Latin 1: An Interview with Mr. Lanier

iSeptember 9, 2017

Q. What is your favorite thing about teaching Latin I?

Mr. Lanier: My favorite aspect of teaching Latin 1 is getting to introduce students not only to Latin for the first time, but usually to how languages work in general.  The tools a student learns in Latin can be applied to help learn many ancient languages, like Greek, Celtic, or even Sanskrit!

Q. What challenges students the most in Latin I? How would you recommend that students overcome these challenges?

Mr. Lanier:The biggest hurdle for new Latin 1 students is learning how to memorize.  Latin is a system, and that system relies on rules which must, at first, be memorized.  A lot of students have never really had to memorize things before, and so they have to learn some new study habits.  Latin I is about learning the basics, so that in Latin 2 and beyond you can apply those basics to exploring the rich world of Roman literature.

Q. What types of students do well in Latin I?

Mr. Lanier: Students who pay attention to detail generally do well in Latin, as do students that excel at mathematics.  In as much as Latin is a system based on rules which are very rarely broken (unlike English!), students who are interested in how an inflected language system works will find Latin very interesting!  For those with a less analytical and more creative mindset, Latin offers a window into a world very different from the present day.  Latin literature, and even Latin vocabulary, can tell us a lot about how the Romans related to each other and their world. 

Q. What does the average workload for each week look like?

Mr. Lanier: The workload for Latin I is not particularly daunting, provided the student does not fall behind on learning/memorizing grammar items as they are introduced.  Latin I the type of class that requires constant attention--if you fall behind and do not think about Latin for two or three weeks, you wil have some work to do in order to catch up again!

Q. How do you recommend that students prepare for exams in Latin I?

Mr. Lanier: Each exam is a little different, but in general it is a good idea to review the grammar, review vocabulary, and go over homework practice sentences and translations.  Latin I exams are not meant to punish, but instead to reward steady work.

Q. How is the participation grade for Latin I determined?

Mr. Lanier: Participation is based on presence and contribution in class, as well as turning in homework when assigned.  Participation is graded once per week, and is always a combination of these two items.

Q. How is a student’s overall grade in Latin I determined? What percentage of a student’s overall grade is determined by exams, homework, quizzes, participation, etc.?

Mr. Lanier: Latin 1 grades are a combination of participation/homework, weekly or bi-weekly quizzes, take-home unit tests, proctored exams (midterm and final exam), and class projects.  The exact percentage changes according to the instructor’s preferences, but in general the bulk of the grade will be comprised of quizzes, take-home unit tests, and exams.

Q. What materials do students use in the course (textbooks, lectures, online resources, etc.)?

Mr. Lanier: The textbook we use in Latin 1 is called Latin for the New Millennium and its accompanying workbook.  Each chapter features Latin passages to read and translate, introduces new grammar concepts and vocabulary, and provides exercises for practice.

Q. Are students expected to be on camera for the entire class?

Mr. Lanier: Latin 1 enrollment numbers are generally too high for every student to be on camera at all times.  In general, students will be asked to come on camera to translate or answer questions from homework.  Reading Latin is very often a work in progress, and an individual student’s translations are often supported by fellow classmates in the chat.

Q. Have you had any experiences with students in Latin I that could encourage those who think they cannot excel with this material to take the class?

Mr. Lanier: Anyone can learn Latin if they can follow directions and do a little memorization. The real payoff in learning Latin comes when the student can begin to read real Latin authors like Vergil, Ovid, Cicero, and Julius Caesar.  It is one step at a time, until what seemed impossible at the beginning of Latin 1 is suddenly within your grasp!

Q. What about Latin interests so many students?

Mr. Lanier: Latin is the gateway to learning about the Romans, and the Romans were a very interesting and enigmatic civilization: capable of such terrible violence, but also capable of producing some of the sappiest love poetry ever written!  Through Latin we get to experience a wealth of cultural and historical topics which are otherwise elusive in most High Schools!

#Latin1 #OLA11