Materials for Promoting Latin Archive

For items followed by [PRINT], contact Prof. Tom Sienkewicz, Past CPL Chair at Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois 61462; (309) 457-2371; toms@monm.edu. Items followed by [PDF] will require Adobe's Acrobat Reader, which is available for free from Adobe's website. Items followed by [HTML] can be opened with the internet browser that you are using to view this page.

"The Art of Reading Latin" [HTML]
by William Gardner Hale, professor of Latin in Cornell University. Boston: Ginn & Co., 1887. An address delivered before the Associated Academic Principals of the State of New York, December 28, 1886. This speech was placed on the web by Anne Mahoney of the Classics Department at Boston University.

"Breathing New Life into a Dead Language: Teaching Latin Online," 
by Sue Shelton in THE Journal (March 2000) 64-66. THE = Technological Horizons in Education. A subscription to the hardcopy of the journal is free for educators. Contact them through their web site.

CAMWS | Institutional Membership [PDF]
These two flyers are great for promoting CAMWS membership. Combine this with the CAMWS Membership form and you have a great handout. A promotional poster is under development but is currently only available here (at cost).

"Classica Africana" [PRINT]
"Classica Africana: The Influence of Classical Studies on People of African Descent." This pamphlet by Michele Valerie Ronnick of Wayne State University in Detroit was originally printed by the National Committee for Latin and Greek. It is available in electronic form or in print form from the CAMWS Committee for the Promotion of Latin. It is also available in pdf format on the website of the National Committee for Latin and Greek.

Classica Hispania: The Influence of Classical Studies on People of Hispanic Descent [PDF] 
by Michele Ronnick of Wayne State University. Provides a list of Spanish-speakers who have made a significant contribution to Classical studies. Included are people like Don Enrique de Villena (1384-1434) made the first translation of Vergil's Aeneid into a vernacular language and Antonio de Nebrija, (c. 1441-1522) a brilliant humanist, wrote the best Latin/Spanish and Spanish/Latin dictionaries of their time. He also wrote a Latin grammar entitled Introductiones Latinae.  Available in electronic form or in printable .pdf format on the website of the National Committee for Latin and Greek.

"The Classical Languages and College Admissions"[PRINT]
This article by Richard A. LaFleur of the University of Georgia was originally published in The Classical Outlook 68 (1991) 124-132. It provides information about the policies and attitudes of college admissions officials towards applicants who have studied the classical languages and is a useful response to high school counselors who tell students that colleges do not accept Latin for foreign language credit.

"Consider...Teaching Latin in the 21st Century"[PRINT]
This attractive color brochure, designed for CPL by Prof. Richard A.LaFleur of the University of Georgia, contains sections entitled "Why Teach...Latin?", "Career Opportunities," "Certification", "Scholarships", and "Finding a Job". Also available as a poster. Download the brochure or poster in pdf form.

"The Continuing Importance of Learning Ancient Languages" [HTML]
This paper was written in 1998 by Anna Tagliabue for a high school English class in Houston, Texas.

Fabellae Lusoriae [HTML]
These Latin skits (with Latin translations) were written by John Kevin Newman, Professor of Latin, University of Illinois. They were performed at the 1999 meeting of the Illinois Classical Conference by Frances' Newman's Latin students at University High School. CPL is grateful to Prof. Newman for his permission to make them available here to a wider audience.

Famous Classics Majors [PDF]
This poster displays the photographs of about twenty famous people who studied Classics in college, including Ted Turner, Willa Cather, and J.K. Rowling. It was designed by Rick LaFleur at the University of Georgia. It is in .pdf format and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to open.

The First Three African American Members of the APA [PRINT] 
by Michele Ronnick of Wayne State University. The brochure describes the remarkable careers of three scholars who joined the society soon after its inception in 1869: Richard Theodore Greener (1844-1922); Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832-1912); and William Sanders Scarborough (1852-1926).Their lives are interesting in themselves and shed light on the heated debates over the education of newly freed slaves in the late 1800�s.

Grex Latine Loquentium
The Grex Latine Loquentium, where everything is in the Latin language, is essentially an ephemeral exchange of communications on a wide variety of topics using Latin, to which one can subscribe by sending a message to draco@mi.com.pl, or by the simple message SUBSCRIBE to LISTSERVE@plearn.edu.pl

Inner-City Latin Programs Raise Reading Scores
by Martha G. Abbott and Virginia M. Barrett. A brief summary  federally funded, Latin-based programs (1970s to 1980s) which significantly improved scores of students of all ethnic backgrounds on standardized tests of English reading skills, as compared with control groups. Test results showed dramatic improvement in vocabulary, comprehension, and reading skills. See also Teaching Latin to Elementary School Students: An Annotated Bibliographic Resource.

"Knowing Latin Could Save Your Life"[PRINT]
One of an ongoing series of interviews on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturdaywith A.J. Jacobs (see http://www.npr.org/programs/wesat/features/2003/
apr/encyclopedia/index.html
), a senior editor at Esquire magazine, who is on a quest to become the smartest guy in the world. In his efforts to improve himself, he's attempting to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z. When he's finished, Jacobs plans to share his newfound knowledge in a forthcoming book, The Know It All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Guy in the World. Jacobs says he might even challenge a Nobel laureate to a game of Trivial Pursuit. In this interview (aired March 29, 2003) Jacobs explains how a knowledge of Latin saved the life of playwright Ben Johnson. Knowing Latin Could Save Your Life.

Latin: The Basic Language [HTML]
Originally published in the THE FORUM edited by AUSTIN M. LASHBROOK in The Classical Journal. (Vol 64., no. 4. January 1969. Pages 162 � 166), this material consists of endorsements for the study of Latin by famous Americans of the 1960's, including Richard Nixon, Edward Kennedy, and Nelson Rockefellar.

Latin Derivatives in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution [HTML] 
All the words in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution derived from Latin are highlighted to demonstrate the influence of Latin on the English language.

"Latin for the Millennium" [HTML]
The National Committee for Latin and Greek (NCLG) has developed a promotional packet entitled "Latin for the Millennium, a Publicity Packet for Teachers" which is available from the Teaching Materials Resources Center of the American Classical League.

Latina Resurgens[PRINT]
"Latina Resurgens: Classical Language Enrollments in American Schools and Colleges" by Richard A. LaFleur." This article, which originally appeared in The Classical Outlook 74 (1997) 125-130, includes useful annual statistics on the National Latin Exam, the Advanced Placement Latin Exams, etc.

"Latin for Students with Learning Disabilities" [PDF] [PRINT]
CPL has produced a flyer entitled "Latin for Students with Learning Disabilities" based upon a presentation by Barbara Hill, Coordinator of the Latin Program at the Department of Classics of the University of Colorado at Bolder. The flyer includes eight reasons why Latin is a good choice for LD students, describes the organizational characteristics of an ideal Latin class and one appropriate for students with learning disabilities, and provides a bibliography.

"The Latin Teacher Shortage: A Call to Action"[PRINT]
A collection of five papers read at the 2000 annual meeting of CAMWS in Knoxville, Tennessee, and edited by Prof. Kenneth Kitchell of the University of Massachusetts for publication in The Classical Outlook 78 (2000) 1-19. Includes "Is There a Shortage of Latin Teachers" by Peter N. Howard of Troy State University, "A Bird in the Hand is Indeed Worth Two in the Bush" by Cathy P. Daugherty of Hanover Co. Public Schools in Virginia, "Latin Teachers and Current Trends in Education" by Daniel Tompkins of Temple University, "Putting Classicists in the K-12 Classroom: The Role of the APA" by Adam D. Blistein of the American Philological Association, and "The Latin Teacher Shortage--A Call to Action" by Kenneth Kitchell."Latin. Try it-You'll Like It!"[PRINT]
CPL has produced a flyer entitled "Latin. Try it-You'll Like It!" which includes data from the 1997 SAT test and the preamble to the U.S. Constitution with English words derived from Latin printed in boldface.

"Liberal Arts Grads Finally Make the Grade"
"Liberal Arts Grads Finally Make the Grade with Firms," an article by Richard T. Cooper in the Los Angeles Times on October 5, 1999. A few quotes from the article. 

Minority Scholarships in the Classics [PRINT]
This brochure describes the scholarship sponsored by the American Philological Association (APA) to encourage talented members of minority groups to pursue a career in the Classics. Since 1994 the APA has awarded one $3000.00 award each year, which the recipient uses towards summer study or research, either in the United States or abroad.

So you want to be a Latin Teacher? [PDF]
This new brochure is designed specifically for college students who have declared their interest in becoming a certified teachers. "So You Want to be a Latin Teachers" is a guide to developing strong reading skills and accurate oral pronunciation and fluidity, and plus it explores available pedagogical materials both in print and online. This is a must for any department training teachers.

Standards for Classical Language Learning [PDF] 
The National Standards written as a collaborative project of the American Classical League, the American Philological Association and various regional classical associations (including CAMWS) are published here with the permission of Sheila Dickison, President of the American Classical League.

Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century [PDF] 
The national standards written under the auspices of the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

The TCA Survey of College Admissions Counselors (New color versions [2004]) [PDF]
This is exceptional and elegant set of flyers, developed by the Texas Classical Association, covers the following topics: 

  • Why Study Latin?
  • Should I Take Latin III & IV?
  • College & University Admissions Personnel Respond to Latin

Teaching Latin to Elementary School Students: An Annotated Bibliographic Resource [HTML]
An annotated list of teaching resources which accompanies Inner-City Latin Programs Raise Reading Scores by Martha G. Abbott and Virginia M. Barrett

"Why Latin? by Nicholas Humez" [HTML]
"Why Latin?" by Nicholas Humez, author of books like Latin Pro Populo and Alpha to Omega. This delightful essay answers questions like: Why Newton chose to write and to publish sections of his Opticks in Latin? How Latin came to be and remained the common tongue of European scholars up to the nineteenth century? Includes maps and illustrations.

Why Study Latin (2003 version) [PDF]
This handy brochure is complete with the latest SAT stats plus an abridged version of an article by Conrad Barrett about the usefulness of studying the classics.

"Why Your Kids Should Learn Latin" [HTML]
An excellent resource for Latin teachers on the miningco.com website!

For additional materials and articles, check out The National Committee for Latin and Greek