Curriculum - Classics

A subject at the heart of our culture; Classics remains as relevant in our modern society as it ever was. In a time of some retrenchment the subject remains an important part of the education of boys at The Hall, all the way from Year 5 up to Year 8. The aim of the department is to encourage an interest in and an enthusiasm for the Ancient World, through both the study of the languages and the myths and culture of both the Greeks and Romans. The background topics help to leaven the mix but this study of Greek Mythology and Roman history and culture also has the important role of giving a vital context for the language work; apart from being enjoyable. Along with this is the fact that learning Latin and Greek is a good way to learn about the grammatical and syntactical structure of our own language, with the additional benefit of learning the ways of an inflected language. If through our work we can encourage a clear, logical way of thinking and a deeper understanding of the roots of our language and culture, then we have gone some way to achieving our aims. Latin in particular is accessible to all as we have the flexibility of different levels within the Common Entrance exam structure.
Latin During the year

Year 5 – The language is introduced gradually with the Cambridge Latin Course, interspersed with Greek Myths and Roman Topics. The boys develop their skills in translation and vocabulary learning, and begin to get used to the variables of ending and word order. In short; to start to understand the differences that an inflected language presents.
 
Year 6 – In this year we move to the Latin, Practice Exercises Level 1 book. The boys  begin to analyse the endings and forms of words much more thoroughly, and how they fit into the sentence-structure. During the year we start to look at the type of questions that Common Entrance uses, not just translation but also comprehension and grammar questions. The Trojan War, Pompeii and Roman Domestic Life make up the core of the non-linguistic topics to be studied.
 
Year 7 – In this year the boys begin to work with Common Entrance papers, reaching level 1 (Middle and Bottom sets) or level 2 (top set) by Christmas and continuing, as appropriate, to either Level 2 of 3 by the end of the year. The Roman army and the invasion and settlement of Britain are the main topics for their non-linguistic studies, although topics previously covered will be revised.
 
Year 8 – The priority for the boys, whether they are Scholarship candidates or Level 2 or 3 Common Entrance candidates, is to have a very thorough knowledge of the relevant vocabulary and endings. These are essential parts of good translation and the analysis of grammar. 

Level 1 Common Entrance Greek is taken by all the boys in the fast CE form as part of their class work in the Spring and Summer terms. It is also offered to the scholars who receive an hour and half’s tuition each week throughout the whole year (split between activity time and class time). The subject is also available as a before-school activity for boys in Year 7 who have an interest in getting a head start on the Year 8 curriculum.

CE Greek uses Waite’s ‘Greek: A new Guide for Beginners’ as its text book. The Scholars and Year 7 use Wilding’s ‘Greek for Beginners’ alongside both volumes of Taylor’s ‘Greek to GCSE’.