Ofsted Outstanding

Year 8 Latin

Guidance for parents

What will students be studying in Latin this year ?

In Year 8 students will continue to read and respond to Latin in its social and cultural context. As they progress to Book II of the Cambridge Latin Course they will gain an insight into the lifestyle of a wealthy Roman living in Britain. While the emphasis is on language and skills in translation and comprehension the storyline covers life in a Roman villa and the relationship between the Romans and the native British tribes. The focus then changes to the city of Alexandria as an example of the extent of the Roman Empire. Students will also develop their knowledge of Roman religion and approaches to medicine.

Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of vocabulary and grammar and move to the translation of more complex sentences. They will get a solid grounding in the present and past tenses, the agreement of adjectives and the use of relative pronouns

Expectations of Students in Latin

The Year 8 Latin course takes place after school for an hour each week with a potential progression route to the Latin GCSE examination in Year 10. In view of its accelerated nature students have every opportunity to develop their ability to be independent learners. To this end self-assessment is an important element of the course and the weekly starter on an aspect of grammar or vocabulary is especially important.

What are the major assessments this year ?

In the first half of Autumn Term students will undertake a translation test and this will be followed by a comprehension test  in the second part of the Autumn Term. There will be a similar pattern in the Spring Term. The Year 8 exam in the Summer Term will also be structured on skills in translation and comprehension.

What will the current performance grade be based on and what do the levels mean ?

Student performance in understanding grammar and its application to translation and comprehension is assessed regularly, both in class and homework exercises. The assimilation of prescribed vocabulary is an essential part of the course. The current performance grade encompasses all these elements. Students have an overview of the areas of assessment in their folders.

What should my daughter do if she feels she is struggling in the subject ?

Your daughter should seek advice from her subject tutor who will help identify the precise aspect of the course that is presenting a problem and be able to suggest ways to aid understanding of grammar. Additional exercises in the course book may be set. The course website www.cambridgescp.com contains some very useful exercises to consolidate learning of vocabulary and grammar.

How can I support my daughter in Year 8 ?

The best way to support your daughter is by taking an interest in her work in Latin. No prior knowledge is required ! Indeed if you have never studied Latin you might find it interesting for your daughter to share some of her learning with you, as this is a powerful way for her to re-inforce her knowledge and understanding of the subject. Do offer to help with testing vocabulary. Look out for interesting articles and television programmes about the classical world which can enlarge your daughter’s knowledge of those times.  

What kind of independent work should my daughter be completing ?

Although your daughter will be set regular homework targeted at specific vocabulary and grammar she needs to take responsibility for regular revision of all aspects of grammar. This is especially important for your daughter’s mastery of the first, second and third declension endings together with the verb endings.

Who can I contact for further advice and information ?

Mr Moren has oversight of the twilight language courses and will be pleased to follow up any queries.

peter.moren@newsteadwood.co.uk

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