Monthly Archives: February 2014

Grecian sculptures, Roman Emperors, and Sapphic Poems: Links for 20 February

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Loeb Classical Library is planning to go digital. No word yet on pricing.
These Grecian sculptures are made of paper. Totally mesmerizing!
An interesting way of conceptualizing the various lineages of the Empire; a metro map!
Speaking of metro maps – here’s another! How to get around the underworld…
Using hip-hop beats to read and understand hexameter.
An interesting article about the new Sappho poem and its importance not just as literature but also as archaeological artifact.

Veni, Vidi, "Video" – Some Useful Videos to Supplement the Teaching of Caesar

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Today’s feature article is brought to you by Ruth Breindel.

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I teach Caesar’s Gallic Wars in both my second year and AP/Latin 4 classes.  Personally, I love teaching Caesar – the prose is quite straightforward, the action can be intense, and there are many things one can bring up in class about Caesar as an anthropologist, general and diplomat.  As I often tell my students, “Caesar alone was more intelligent than all of us put together.”

There are 3 videos which I use with the classes – 2 for Latin 2 and one for the AP.  Here is where to find them and how to use them!

  1. Veni Vidi Vici  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMsGcA9ZuiE&safe=active

This video is a humorous look at a little Roman who wants to be a soldier.  He has to go up against the strong, burly soldiers, but with intellect, vicit. It lasts 3 ½ minutes, and is perfect to show at the end of a class when you have about 5 minutes left.

  1. Caesar vs. the Helvetians  

http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/showcase/hammelindex.html

http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/showcase/hammel1.html

This is a film of my students’ reenactment of the battle in chapters 24-28 or so of Book 1 of the Gallic War.  We have small soldiers, carts, horses and a long corridor to use.  John decided to film it, and then we collaborated with putting music in and the words.  It’s quite eye-catching, and might inspire your students, too.  Every year my students reenact this – it’s a crowd pleaser, and other students will come to see what’s going on; nothing like publicity!

  1. Ambiorix and the Romans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2MjmIVK4U4&safe=active

This is a much darker film, which I show to the AP/Latin 4 class after we read Book 5 of the Gallic Wars.  It lasts about 2 ½ minutes.  As a reenactment it is extremely effective, and the scenes of battle, while violent, are done quite carefully.  It gives the students a good sense of the confusion of battle and the ominous nature of being a conquering army going through the woods.  This can lead to excellent discussions:

  • The Romans are the conquerors – on whose side do you stand?
  • How do the Belgae compare with the Americans during the Revolutionary War?
  • How do the Belgae compare with the Vietnamese during the Vietnam War?

I find that videos, used sparingly, have a great impact on students.  They certainly remember what they see and hear, when presented in an emotional context.

Announcements for February 16

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CANE

BEYOND CANE

  • CLIPEUS is running several Latin speaking meetups in Boston. Check the link for upcoming events.
  • The New England Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Language is at the Copley Place hotel in Boston March 27-30th, and promises a full schedule of Latin seminars, talks, and workshops. Sign up through the NECTFL website.
  • The American Philological Association (APA) is accepting applications for three fellowship programs that may be of interest to CANE members. APA membership is not required to submit an application for any of these programs, two of which are named for long-time participants in CANE.
  • 2014 Pedagogy Awards. Fellowships to support professional development by both collegiate and precollegiate teachers. Application deadline: March 3.
  • 2014 Zeph Stewart Latin Teacher Training Award. Support for individuals seeking to obtain Latin teacher certification. Application deadline: March 3.
  • SALVI’s Rusticatio Latin July 2014 immersion weeks and pedagogy seminars are now open for registration. If a whole week is too much, you could sign up for their Biduum, Feb. 21-23.
  • The Vergilian Society is holding its first annual Vergil translation contest for students in K-12. To register, sign up here by 18 February. The contest will be the week of 24-28 February.
  • McGill is offering a summer course in Classical Studies in June and July. Check out their flyer.