Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have mastered all the fundamental aspects of Latin grammar; they will be able to translate and analyze Latin texts of intermediate difficulty, and to critically compare translations with the original texts.

Goals

Intended for students who have not followed the complete Latin course in secondary school or who have gaps in grammar and vocabulary, as well as for students who have successfully completed Initiation to the Latin Language (LCLAB009), the objectives of this course are the independent reading of Latin texts of moderate difficulty and the mastery of the vocabulary and grammatical notions necessary for this purpose.

Content

The teaching consists on the one hand of the theoretical exposition of advanced grammar points (illustrated by sentences translated during the course), and on the other hand of the analysis and translation of short texts by authors from the different periods of Latinity (possibly organised in sequences). In this way, it gives pride of place to the methods and techniques of literary translation. Incidentally, the texts will introduce the student to various aspects of Roman civilisation and the history of Latin literature in the Middle Ages and Modern Times.

Teaching methods

The teaching unit consists of 45 hours of lectures. The students are invited to prepare the texts (to get acquainted with the vocabulary and to prepare the grammatical analysis before each session).

Assessment method

The course unit is assessed through written examinations, with a midterm exam in January and a final exam in June. The final grade (June) is the average of the two exam marks.


If the June grade is below 10/20, the resit exam (August) covers the material from the entire course unit (i.e., both Q1 and Q2), regardless of the January exam result.

Sources, references and any support material

The vocabulary to be assimilated as part of the course (the 1000 "essential" words) is collected in a printed syllabus; it is also made available in an Excel file on Webcampus. The vocabulary is identical to that studied in the Introduction to Latin course, LCLAB009.

Text files (including vocabulary) and grammar sheets are distributed throughout the year by the teacher, and are made available to students on Webcampus, along with any additional information (PowerPoint presentations, etc.).

The following books are also recommended (without obligation) to students:

  • A.-M. Boxus, Précis de grammaire latine, available online at http://bcs.fltr.ucl.ac.be/gramm/001.tabgram.html.
  • A.-M. Boxus, M. Lavency, Clavis. Latin grammar for reading authors. New edition with the collaboration of D. Longrée and G. Schouppe, De Boeck, 2014 (numerous reprints).
  • M. de Give, Latin Grammar, 15th edition, De Boeck, 2011.
  • Gaffiot de poche. Latin-French dictionary, Hachette, 2001.

Language of instruction

French