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Latin

Year 11 - Elective

Length of Course: Full Year
Department: Languages
Head of Department: Mrs Frederique Tonkin
Year Available: 2024

In Year 11 students learn to identify and analyse the linguistic, literary and cultural aspects of authentic Latin texts, paying close attention to questions of fluency, style and historical context.

Curriculum focus

In Year 11 Latin students are exposed to a range of different texts with a focus on the stories and events that helped shape Roman society and ways of thinking in the Ciceronian and Augustan ages. These may be broken into three broad categories:

1. Modern Compositions

Some texts written by expert modern Latinists are introduced to help ensure students are exposed to a wide variety of vocabulary, grammatical structures and content. These texts often exemplify or focus upon specific topics of importance and allow students to practise their Latin in a targeted manner.

2. History and Politics

Prose texts focusing upon the history and politics of the Republic and early Empire expose students to the written style of authors like Caesar and Tacitus. Students are encouraged to reflect on and appreciate the compositional and lexical choices made by these writers, as well as the way in which their works influenced their audiences.

3. Myths, Legends and the Good Life

Poetry that primarily focuses upon the mythical and semi-mythical past of Rome and Greece immerses students in the rich cultural heritage of the Classical world, while the more personal reflections of poets like Martial and Horace provide an insight into the thoughts and feelings of individuals. Through exposure to these works students deepen their understanding of the values and ideas that helped shape Roman history and society, many of which remain relevant even today.

These themes and topics are repeatedly revisited over the course of VCE Latin, as students learn to engage with more complex and subtle texts in increasingly sophisticated ways.

Unit 1 - Outcomes

For this unit, students are required to demonstrate the achievement of three outcomes.

  • Outcome 1: translate and manipulate the grammar of complex Latin sentences

  • Outcome 2: demonstrate understanding of the content and context of seen passages of Latin

  • Outcome 3: translate seen and unseen passages of Latin

Unit 2 - Outcomes

For this unit, students are required to demonstrate achievement of four outcomes.

  • Outcome 1: translate and explicate features of Latin prose and poetry

  • Outcome 2: demonstrate understanding of an author’s purpose and style

  • Outcome 3: demonstrate understanding of hexameter and scansion

Assessment

In addition to regular grammar, vocabulary and translation tests, students are required to sit outcome-specific tests as well as an examination at the end of each semester.

Links

For more detailed information, please click on the link/s below:

Key Resource

Please see the booklist.