UMass Boston

Course Overview

Description

Two phenomena of recent decades - the emergence of a new body of research on second language acquisition and the re-emergence of conversational Latin as a pedagogical tool - have dramatic implications for the teaching of Latin. The purpose of this course is twofold: first, to introduce teachers of Latin to theories of second language acquisition, through which they may assess the effectiveness of various methods used in the Latin classroom; and, second, to engage them intensively with two major active methodologies for language learning; oral/aural communication and written composition. The course, designed as the first-year experience for attendees at the summer Conventiculum Bostoniense, provides a seven-day, full-immersion living-Latin experience, with full-time residence required of all participants. With the exception of nine hours of instruction in second language acquisition theory, students are required to communicate 24-7 in Latin.