Why should students read post-classical Latin in Level 2 rather than more classical Latin?
Latin for the New Millennium follows a chronological approach. Students read adapted pieces of Latin from the classical authors in Level 1 and continue with adapted pieces of Latin from post-classical authors in Level 2. This chronological approach allows students to understand how Latin was used throughout the millennia, how Latin has influenced and reflected the course of history, and how Latin plays a fundamental role in modern life. Latin for the New Millennium provides students the opportunity to learn about the western intellectual through the adapted Latin writings of these great thinkers.
Won't students forget how to read classical Latin after a year of reading post-classical Latin?
No, for several reasons. First, many of the post-classical authors were deeply influenced by the prose of Cicero and thus their own Latin writings show a Ciceronian or classical style of writing Latin. Secondly, every chapter of Latin for the New Millennium Level 2, contains a section of unadapted Latin from Nepos' Life of Atticus. Nepos was a classical Latin author and thus, reading this passage in each chapter, reinforrces students' understanding the norms and style of classical Latin.
What advantage will students receive by reading post-classical Latin?
In addition to seeing the role that Latin played in history, students will see the cross-curricular connections between Latin and history, Latin and English literature, Latin and science, Latin and the history of ideas, and much more. In this way students will become more culturally literate and will receive a better foundation in the liberal arts.
What if I have never read any works written by post-classical authors and I cannot translate the reading passage in the Level 2 chapters?
The reading passages in Level 2 are adapted from the original Latin and should not pose a problem for most Latin teachers. Moreover, the teacher's manual contains translations for all the passages in the book.
Reading a connected story line set in ancient times teaches Roman culture. How will students learn classical culture without such a storyline?
The storyline in Latin for the New Millennium is the story of Latin literature, of the ancient Romans and of their successors in the post-antique, medieval, and Renaissance periods. Each story presents some aspect of culture and, in addition, an English essay about an important aspect of classical and post-classical culture follows each unit. The teacher's manual also gives suggestions on how to use various parts of Latin for the New Millennium to discuss culture. Latin for the New Millennium's full color illustrations complement the text and visually present Roman culture and its influences.
I teach mixed-ability Latin classes. How will Latin for the New Millennium serve the needs of my students?
Latin for the New Millennium is a terrific match for a mixed-ability class. The workbooks provide reinforcement for students who need practice. The diversity of illustrations and their subject matter, along with the material in the reviews, serve as a springboard for students who enjoy additional research and inquiry. The electronic resources reinforce learning through very student-friendly activities. The auditory learners will appreciate the oral components of the series. Latin for the New Millennium will serve well a heterogeneous classroom as well as an honors class or a regular college preparatory class.
What if I was never taught to speak Latin aloud or if I am uncomfortable with oral Latin?
The oral exercises that coordinate with Latin for the New Millennium are in the teacher's manual only and the manual includes complete directions on how to use these exercises in the classroom. The conversational dialogue, however, is in the student edition of both Level 1 and 2. It is the teacher's choice whether to use these dialogues in an oral format or to instruct students to read the dialogues or, perhaps, to skip the dialogues. Bolchazy-Carducci plans to have available on CD and/or via the Internet oral readings of both the chapter reading passages and the chapter dialogues.
Where are the answers to the exercises in the student edition and the student workbook?
The teacher's manual contains the answers to all the exercises in the student edition and the teacher's manual for the workbook has the answers to the exercises in the workbook.
What if I don't finish Level 1 of Latin for the New Millennium by the end of the first year of instruction?
Some teachers do not finish the book they are teaching from for various reasons while other teachers, including the pilot teachers for Latin for the New Millennium, do finish the book. Some teachers prepare their own handouts to teach what the students did not learn the previous year. Alternatively, any teacher whose school has purchased a classroom set of Level 1 and Level 2 of Latin for the New Millennium may contact Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers in order to receive via the Internet pdfs of the units not completed in Level 1.
Is there a testing program that accompanies Latin for the New Millennium?
Yes. In the Teachers' Lounge of the website dedicated to Latin for the New Millennium, there are Quia.com-formatted questions to accompany each chapter of Level 1 and 2. These questions were written by Latin teachers for Latin teachers. The questions may be changed, if the teacher wishes, to reflect what was taught in a particular classroom. In addition, if a teacher or his/her school does not have a Quia.com account, the teacher can also download those same questions as formatted Microsoft Word™ (.doc) files.
Where can I find the website dedicated to Latin for the New Millennium?
The website is at lnm.bolchazy.com. It features a secure Teachers' Lounge for adoptees of the series.
What else can be found at the Latin for the New Millennium website that will help me as a teacher?
In the Teachers' Lounge, you can dialogue with other Latin for the New Millennium teachers, exchanging ideas, lesson plans, syllabi and more. You can download, for free, PDF maps from the book, reproducible worksheets, readings from the workbooks with multiple choice comprehension questions, and even the student textbook. You can load and view teacher-created course materials for Latin for the New Millennium as well. You can listen to Latin for the New Millennium audio files or download and use pre-made test questions in both .doc and Quia.com formats. If you are considering adopting LNM, click here and request a login to the Teachers' Lounge.
How can I use the Reproducible Comprehension Questions for Selected Workbook Latin Passages in the Teachers' Lounge?
The Student Workbook for Latin for the New Millennium Level 1 contains additional Latin readings. Teachers may assign these as in-class sight readings or as homework activities or use them another way as appropriate. For five of those readings, this free reproducible download contains a set of multiple choice comprehension questions that follow the reproduced Latin reading. Teachers may reproduce these as needed. An answer key is provided for teachers. Students are able to gain practice with the different kinds of multiple choice objective questions that so often appear on the NLE and on other standardized tests.
When should I use the Reproducible Exercise Worksheets that are in the Teachers' Lounge?
These supplementary worksheets should be used whenever they fit the needs of the students. Some are templates that can be used multiple times, such as the worksheets on conjugating verbs.
If all my students have LNM 1 books printed in 2009, do I need to use the exercise revisions available in the Teachers' Lounge?
No, but since these are available as a free download, they can be reproduced for the students who can then write the answers directly on the duplicated pages. If some students in the class have an LNM 1 book printed in 2008 and others have books printed in 2009, the easiest way to prevent confusion is to download and reproduce the exercises for all the students and instruct them only to use the reproduced exercise sheets, not those exercises in their books.
What are the Supplemental Latin Readings listed in the blog section of the Teachers' Lounge?
Veteran Latin teacher and author Rose Williams volunteered to collate a set of additional Latin readings that coordinate with LNM 1 in terms of both complexity and subject matter. These Latin readings represent a variety of published and newly written sources and are available for free downloading for teachers to use as needed in class. The readings end with Chapter 12 of LNM 1 as the readings, grammar, and syntax at that point in the text provide sufficient Latin reading and practice for the students.
Is there anything at the Latin for the New Millennium website that will help my students?
Students can follow the link to join the eClassics social network. They can also access the Looking at Latin Online grammar review site and can opt to purchase digital flash cards. Some MP3 audio files for Latin for the New Millennium are also available. Links Latinae present a set of helpful internet sites with notes about their content.
How do the iPod flashcards for Latin for the New Millennium work?
Save the flashcards in a folder on your hard drive. Tell iTunes to synchronize its photos with that folder. On your iPod/smart phone select "Photos" and then the photo album for the flashcards. Use your click wheel or swipe your finger to review the cards. These flashcards will also work on cell phones.
