STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY

HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS I-IV

ADVANCED PLACEMENT, LATIN LANGUAGE AND VERGIL

Content

Beginning high school students will be encouraged to learn the basics of the language and elements of the Greco-Roman culture. These basic skills will aid the student as they develop reading and comprehension strategies for adapted Latin texts. As the student's skills develop, they will read longer adapted texts and move to authentic Latin texts in the advanced levels. Special emphasis on comparison to and use of English Language Arts skills is ongoing throughout the courses.

With permission of the College Board, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has adapted the College Board Advanced Placement materials to provide course outlines in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study format. These course outlines are in no way intended to replace, but are to be used in conjunction with, the extensive guidelines provided by the College Board.

Instructional Strategies

Successful second language high school programs include a variety of student-centered activities focusing on the different abilities, needs, and learning styles of the students.

A variety of teaching strategies are employed to involve the students in active learning. Those strategies include but are not limited to the following: cooperative learning, group and pair work, cloze techniques, cultural presentations, reflective thinking, dramatization, seminars or Socratic teaching.

Placement of Students with Previous Language

Students who enroll in high school Latin courses with previous Latin experience should be assessed to determine placement at the appropriate level.

Validating and building on the students' previous experiences at the elementary and/or the middle school level afford students the opportunity to reach higher Latin skill levels.

Block Scheduling

The scheduling of Latin courses at the high school level is important as it impacts on the development of classical language skills. High school students should have the opportunity to take beginning courses (levels I and II) in back to back semesters without extended time interruptions. If a break in instruction is to happen, it is better for it to be at the advanced levels, where students usually require some basic review, but have acquired the foundation upon which to continue their studies.

Pacing guides can be developed by teachers in local school systems to facilitate the planning and delivery of instruction over the course of a year.

Other High School Programs

Other programs such as IB can be found in NC high schools and since they may have set curricula, the goals and objectives found in this document may have to be adapted.

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