Latin

“The study of the Classics is a distinctive strength of a Bedian education. Latin, Greek and Ancient History are available to A level . They have been, and continue to be, the basis of many Oxbridge places over the college’s history.”
Mr Phil Maree, Head of Classics

Key Stage 3

What will the subject be like?

Latin will be new to all our pupils, but very quickly it becomes highly accessible and is a very distinctive part of any Bedian education. Popular and rigorous in equal measure it informs learning in many other subject areas.

What will be studied?

The Cambridge Latin Course is used. In the early stages emphasis is placed on pupils’ understanding Case, Number and Person. Once a clear idea of Nominative and Accusative is grasped the Dative Case can be introduced. The Perfect and Imperfect Tenses are also introduced and the verb ‘To be’ is used with Adjectives, bringing in Gender.

In the Lower Fourth, the Cambridge Latin Course Part II is used. In addition, pupils are given a taster of the Upper Fourth textbook “So you really want to learn Latin?” which is a more traditional course. New grammar includes the Infinitive, the Relative Pronoun, the Pluperfect tense, Direct questions, the Genitive Case, the Vocative Case, the Imperative and the Participles.

Homework

Reflects the need for pupils to become accustomed to the flow of the language and be drilled in its figures and rudiments. The homework schedule therefore comprises preparing passages and translating exercises designed to test specific grammatical points.

Lessons per week

Pupils have three lessons of Latin in each of the Upper Third and Lower Fourth years.

GCSE LATIN

1.LANGUAGE (50%)

The Cambridge Latin course, suitable as it is for the early stages, is abandoned in favour of a new course “So you really want to learn Latin”. This course makes much of learning grammar and inculcates attention to detail and knowledge. At GCSE the language is examined by translation exercises and comprehension tests. There is a small amount of set vocabulary.

2.LITERATURE (40%)

As ability and interest grow, it is possible to study some real Latin. Selections from the best authors are examined in depth. This part of the exam is very easy for those prepared to work hard; it is not for shirkers.

3.CULTURAL BACKGROUND (10%)

Topics related to the literature are studied in English. It is a type of “Noddy’s Guide” to the ancient world.

Why choose Latin?

  • It is satisfying to grasp complex ideas
  • Latin helps to cultivate attention to detail and logical thinking
  • It is not a “heavy maintenance” subject; it tends to attract pupils who are quick workers; hence there is NO COURSEWORK

AS and A Level

Introduction

Chariot races, aqueducts, slavery, heated swimming baths, gladiator: the Romans never cease to amaze us with their strange mixture of civilization, technological achievement and appallingly barbarism. They ruled over one of the largest empires in the history of mankind which stretched from the Middle East to Scotland. Indeed Manchester itself owes its foundation to the Roman fort of Mamucium on the way from Chester to the North and Hadrian’s Wall, the northernmost frontier.

Isn’t it rather boring to read musty old books?

Not at all. First of all, our books aren’t old and musty. Not all of them, anyway. Secondly, what a variety of writing the Romans produced: Virgil , in verse, told the story of the founding of Rome itself, when the Trojan hero Aeneas escaped from the burning Troy with a few other survivors, encountered adventure after adventure as he journeyed round the Mediterranean, and finally settled in Italy to found a new city; Cicero , the greatest barrister of his day, wrote speeches to be delivered in the Senate or in the law-courts, all in the most exquisite prose style the envy of speech-makers ever since; Catullus wrote some of the most beautiful love poetry of all time, as well as some of the most shocking…; Julius Caesar wrote of his own exploits as the most efficient and innovative commander of Roman Legions; Tacitus tells us all about the intrigues of the Emperors and their families and their murderous plots and poisonings; Apicius wrote a recipe book, useful for those dinner parties, as long as your guests like stuffed dormice, roast peacock… The full list of writers is impressively long considering they were writing a good two thousand years ago.

But isn’t Latin difficult?

Yes; it wouldn’t have suited the Romans to have it any other way. You need to have a good GCSE grade. But if you have found Latin reasonably straightforward so far (and if you have just loved those gerundives and perfect passive subjunctives and accusative and infinitive constructions and indirect questions, not to mention over a hundred and thirty endings for the verb ‘love’…), then you might have found a worthy challenge.

In any case a great deal of the marks in AS and A2 Latin go for the set texts and literary criticism - back to those exciting writers again — and you don’t need to know those word-endings for that.

What subjects can I take Latin with?

Latin’s mixture of logic and literary criticism mean that it has, in the choices of many past Sixth Formers, been studied beside Maths , English , modern foreign languages, sciences, earth science, music, … anything in fact. Its famous combination is, of course, with ancient Greek. Wonderful.

What extra-curricular opportunities does Latin offer?

If this year is any guide you can expect to attend a fair few theatrical productions ranging from performances in the original language (with surtitles naturally) to the most liberal modern interpretations of classical tragedies. There is a classical conference over several days at Cambridge University and in the Easter term of 2003 there was a trip to various classical sites in Italy.

What job could I get with it?

Apart from making a very impressive (depending on your physique) Latin speaking Roman legionary, showing people around Chester? Or Rome…? Well, maybe as a holiday job… Most Classics/Latin graduates go the way of most other Arts graduates, and you need to see the separate careers guidance available . There are a few (very few) jobs in Classical research, but most classicists have to surface into the modern world after their degree.

Exams

AS

  • Paper 1 Set Text Questions
  • Paper 2 Set Text Essay (in English) and translation
  • Paper 3 Unprepared translation paper

A2

  • Paper 1 Set Text paper.
  • Paper 2 Unprepared translation.
  • Paper 3 Comprehension.