What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course? As a result of your studies in GCSE Latin, you will possess a good understanding of the fundamental grammar and vocabulary of the language, and you will have been introduced to the basics of Latin literary analysis. What will I learn on this course? This course deepens your understanding of Latin as a language, the literature written in it, and the world that produced both. GCSE grammar will be revised, consolidated and built upon over the length of the 2-year course. You will begin to encounter new works of literature across a variety of ancient genres, and for the first time you will encounter them unabridged and unadapted. You will learn to critically analyse texts in detail and evaluate the impact of an author’s style, genre and social context on the content of their work. Reading Translation is still the key skill of Latin A Level, and you will be required to read all the texts that we study, whether for literary comment or for linguistic analysis, in the original language. You will be able to read, understand and extract information from a variety of different passages in Latin and comment upon them. Writing Latin ALevel builds on the fundamentals of the literary analysis begun at GCSE.You will learn how to write essays in which you develop a sustained argument about the texts you read. You will also be required either to compose short sentences in Latin or to comment upon the linguistic features of a passage of Latin. Your ALevel Qualification The examination board is OCR and the course will run as part of the new A Level suite that begin in September 2016. Students will take the two-year A-Level certificate; no AS option will be offered.The advantage of the 2 year A Level for current Drayton Manor students (who will have taken their GCSE in Year 10) is that there will be plenty of time to recap your (perhaps rusty) GCSE grammar and vocabulary ahead of terminal exams. As a class, we will also have a certain amount of freedom to decide amongst ourselves which of the specified literature options we will take up. What kind of student is this course suitable for? If you are interested in • the Latin literature you read at GCSE • exploring the genres that form a basis forboth classical and European literature • gaining a more comprehensive understanding of Latin grammar • reading unadapted literature • Roman religion, mythology, history and politics then the Latin course is suitable for you Similarly, if you are interested in • any subjects that demand logical thinking (any science, including computer science) • law and other careers that involve building sustained arguments • literature in any language • history and politics of other periods then you are also likely to find the skills developed in the course appropriate for your other interests How can I develop my full range of skills by doing this course? The course is designed to deepen your understanding of original Latin and to encourage a fuller appreciation of Latin literature. In the course of your study of Latin, you will acquire a number of additional skills: Key Skill Typical Activities Communication: You will learn both to understand and to concisely explain the literary, stylistic and grammatical features of a range of Latin texts. Logic and analysis: Deciphering Latin texts requires you to develop both grammatical accuracy and context sensitivity. Your understanding of genre, register, lexis and style will allow you to write more sensitive and specific essays. Working with others: By studying in a small-group environment, you will gain the opportunity to frequently and regularly discuss both literary and linguistic topics and issues. Improving own learning and performance You will make use of whole-class and individual feedback to improve essays and translations. You will have the opportunity to read widely and independently to improve your knowledge. Information technology: You will make use of various online resources such as the Perseus Project to access and translate set texts. What could I go on to do at the end of my course? Latin offers a frankly unparalleled breadth of options. Some students choose to do degree courses in Classics, which is itself an extremely broad course taking in everything from forensic archaeology to literary analysis, ancient history, art history and philosophy. For many of these courses, the only requirement is Latin ALevel, in combination with any other subjects of your choice. Even for those who are not considering a Classics degree, Latin combines effectively with any subjects, and those who study Latin ALevel have gone on to excel in not just arts subjects and languages, but also in humanities and sciences. Latin at ALevel is an unusual but highly regarded qualification, and Latin students frequently achieve top grades across all their subjects. Having Latin ALevel will distinguish you sharply and positively from the many other students competing to secure coveted places at well-regarded universities, whatever subject you choose to study.