According to the Georgia Department of Education, the purpose of the study of Latin is to read and understand Latin. Therefore, the focus is comprehension rather than oral and written competence.
Organization
A committee of current and former Georgia Latin teachers developed the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) for Latin. The guiding principle of this committee was to ensure achievable competencies for each level of Latin. As a resource, the committee consulted Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century, a collaborative effort involving all of the modern and classical language associations. These standards guided the development of the Georgia Performance Standards for Latin, which contain the following components:
State standards for each level A framework for each level which provides the instructional areas and concepts which should be taught Assessment tools for each standard A “Can Do” list of achievement expectations for each level
Teachers, parents, and administrators should find these components especially helpful in understanding the Latin curriculum for all levels. The standards, framework, assessment tools, and “Can Do” lists are interdependent and require the reader to consider them as a whole.
During the sequence of Latin courses, the students will accomplish the following:
Communication (CO): Read, comprehend, and pronounce Latin.
Culture (CU): Develop a cultural awareness of the ancient Roman world.
Connections and Comparisons (CC): Recognize the influences of Roman civilization on the modern world and of the Latin language on English and the Romance languages.
Latin Proficiencies
The Latin proficiencies of reading, writing, listening, and speaking may be defined as follows:
Reading
Since Latin is a non-conversational language, the greatest emphasis is placed on the student's ability to comprehend the written word. As students progress from beginning to advanced study, they must consistently increase their ability to read Latin texts. Most reading texts in the first and second levels are adapted or edited passages, but sententiae, mottoes, phrases, inscriptions, graffiti, light verse, and epigraphy may still be introduced.
Writing
Writing proficiently helps students develop their reading skills. In the early stages of learning Latin, writing simple sentences increases comprehension of a highly inflected language and thus hones skills in processing these „signals‟ for reading and understanding Latin passages. As students progress through the study of Latin, the emphasis on writing in Latin decreases. However, in advanced Latin studies, students analyze and evaluate writing styles of the authors they study and write extensively in English about Latin literature.
Listening
Listening is an important skill because Latin literature was written to be read aloud. Some teachers find simple conversational Latin to be a helpful tool in developing listening and pronunciation skills. Students should be able to comprehend simple utterances in Latin and respond appropriately.
Speaking
Students should be able to read aloud, answer simple questions, respond to visual stimuli, and read in meter (at advanced levels).
Cultural Understanding
An understanding of Roman culture and history increases student insights into Latin reading selections. Students also gain the ability to evaluate the Roman influence on other civilizations.
English Language Skills
The acquisition of linguistic forms and vocabulary is a progressive development through which students perceive Latin's influence upon the English language structure and vocabulary. Through the acquisition of Latin vocabulary, students are introduced to word development, derivatives, and word study in English. Through the acquisition of Latin reading skills, students develop the skills of critical thinking and analytical reading for English.
Click here to access this information in pdf format from the GaDOE site.