Cambridge School Classics Project

Volume 4A of the Cambridge Latin Course is the climax of the narrative section of the course, as we follow life in Rome under the dictatorial rule of Domitian, and Salvius finally faces his Waterloo. The story is now intertwined with excerpts from Ovid and a variety of fascinating stories about new characters, keeping the students engaged.

Grammatical concepts in volume 4A include the supine, further use of the subjunctive, complex word order and indirect statements, clauses of fearing, the gerund, "fio" clauses, and the use of historical present. The focus on poetic word order allows students to begin sampling real Latin texts of greater complexity. Cultural material includes farming life, Roman poetry recitations, Roman marriage, the Emperor's council, and the legal system. Highly recommended with the accompanying Teacher's Handbook… (más)

Volume 3B of the Cambridge Latin Course takes us, at last, to Rome itself. The grand old lady. Here, under the Emperor Domitian, a contractor named Haterius decides to rise up and get his due from our long-running villain Salvius. A female philosopher from Greece arrives in Rome, only to discover things here are not quite like at home. And plots and plans continue to swirl.

Grammatical concepts in volume 3B are now becoming more complex (students from here should be able to move into other texts, such as Reading Latin by Peter Jones if they so wish). They include the passive indicative, further uses of the ablative, purpose clauses, deponent verbs, the future tense, and uses of the gerundive. Cultural material is largely related to Rome: the forum, engineering, patronage, social hierarchy, and the lives of Christians and freed slaves. The text is clearly focused on the concepts but does so within a thoroughly-realised long-running narrative. Also, wonderfully, it doesn't take the student for granted. Especially the chapter in which the story of the mass Jewish suicide at Masada is recounted, and contrasted with the dedication of the Arch in honour of the late Emperor Titus. This is a volume to be accompanied by study of ancient history.
Highly recommended with the accompanying Teacher's Handbook… (más)

Wonderfully laid out, meticulously edited. A fantastic volume for working with students using the Cambridge Latin Course, and even I suppose if you're learning yourself!

Each chapter of the course is accompanied by extensive commentaries of every page of the textbook, guidance on discussing the text and potential sensitivities, useful information for teaching the cultural material, suggestions for further work with students, as well as exercises, quizzes and additional passages for student comprehension. This is followed by some discussion of the language appendix in each volume to discuss new words and concepts, ideas for cutting sections if in a speedy course, and a bibliography with both items for students and for the teacher.… (más)

Wonderfully laid out, meticulously edited. A fantastic volume for working with students using the Cambridge Latin Course, and even I suppose if you're learning yourself!

Each chapter of the course is accompanied by extensive commentaries of every page of the textbook, guidance on discussing the text and potential sensitivities, useful information for teaching the cultural material, suggestions for further work with students, as well as exercises, quizzes and additional passages for student comprehension. This is followed by some discussion of the language appendix in each volume to discuss new words and concepts, ideas for cutting sections if in a speedy course, and a bibliography with both items for students and for the teacher.… (más)