This course is the second half of a year-long course that introduces students to Latin, the language of the ancient Romans and the first to use the Latin alphabet now used, in modified form, for languages as diverse as English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. I aim to introduce students not only to Latin itself but also to the rich world of Roman literature, culture, and history, which students will be able to explore in greater depth during Latin II. Latin was spoken throughout much of the ancient Mediterranean and Western Europe. It then became one of the most important languages of medieval Europe, being used extensively in education and administration until the early modern period. Today, Latin has birthed the many Romance languages (such as French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese), given English a large portion of its vocabulary, and even continues to be used within the Catholic Church.

In this course, you will continue learning Latin and cover most of the second half of the Introduction to Latin text. This course focuses on learning to read Latin, primarily via translation into English. Despite the sometimes-difficult subject material, I aim to keep the class fun and infuse it with the same love of Latin that inspired me to study the language in the first place!

By the end of the semester, students should be prepared, after receiving some additional instruction at the beginning of Latin II, to read, slowly and with the help of an instructor, unadapted Roman literature such as Cicero, Catullus, or Vergil. They should continue to develop a command of core Latin vocabulary and be able to read increasingly complex Latin passages. In addition to reinforcing their understanding of beginner concepts learned last semester, students will gain an understanding of more advanced yet still core elements of Latin grammar, such as the uses of the subjunctive mood. Students will also finish learning the fundamentals of Latin morphology by learning the final two declensions.