Homework for Week 2: Capitulum Primum, Lectio II (ll. 22-61)

Homework preparation for class on March 6/7: The assignment for this week is to finish Lectio II in Capitulum Primum (lines 22-61), which we began in class, and complete the associated sets of Exercitia (4-7). Follow a pattern similar to that suggested for Week 1, doing a little each day, and reviewing at the beginning of each day's study time, before moving ahead to newer things -- in this way, each day you will reinforce what you've already learned and also learn something new.

Here are some tips that can help you make the best use of your study time:

• As you read each new paragraph in the lectio, try to notice new vocabulary and grammatical constructions being introduced. Spend a little time just noticing what is new and then spend a moment testing whether you understand the new material. Look for any marginal notations or illustrations and familiarize yourself with the wordless way they try to get you to see what is going on.
• Set yourself a goal for each day. For instance, one day you might say, "Today I will read the next two paragraphs in the lectio and practice the material until I can pluralize fluvius and oppidum, with the appropriate form of est, without having to stop to think about it or look at the textbook." Another day, you might say, "Today I will practice looking at the map and describing what I see, using the vocabulary and grammar introduced so far, in complete sentences."
• Always read aloud to practice good pronunciation. Remember to try to make long vowels (and double consonants) actually sound longer. If you have the CD, listen carefully to Hans Ørberg’s pronunciation, and try to emulate it. Read expressively when you can (make magnus sound BIG and parvus sound small, to help yourself remember their meanings).
• Try to make study and practice fit into your daily routine. If you say, "I'll do half an hour of Lingua Latina before watching my favorite TV show (or right before breakfast, etc.)," it will become a daily habit, and you'll learn gradually and incrementally. Be the slow and steady tortoise rather than the jackrabbit. If you leave everything until the day before class, you won't have the time or repetition to learn the material properly; conversely, if you try to do everything right after class, while you are still keyed up about Latin, you may become complacent in the following days and forget the new material before the next class.
• Read the instruction in the student manual, Latine Disco, after you have been through it thoroughly on your own. Hopefully, you will find out that you have already been able to notice and understand on your own many of the points that the manual instructions discuss.
• Take note of anything that seems to be giving you problems. Always try to learn contextually first, then look to the student manual for help, but if you are still having trouble with something, make sure to mention it in class.

Good luck building a good study routine this week! See you in class this weekend. Remember to bring a written set of Exercitia 4-7 (complete sentences) to class.