Latin Department
Head of Department: Mrs Elzbieta Stanek
We all understand words such as "inscription", "honour", "status", "amicable" but our Years 6, 7 and 8 pupils not only understand such words but can also tell you about the origins of these words - Latin!
When they start learning Latin in Year 7 we begin with Latin pronunciation. We cover the basics of Latin grammar and vocabulary by learning various stems of Latin words and mastering the endings of the 1st and 2nd declensions and conjugations in the present and past tenses. Pupils learn to recognise each part of the structure of a Latin sentence and analyse its grammatical components: noun, verb, adjective, preposition, pronoun, subject and object.
Subsequently, they put the theory into practice when they translate from Latin into English and vice versa. The first year of studying Latin is to lay the foundations for more challenges in Year 8 when they prepare for the Common Entrance Examination. In Year 8, pupils study the future and past tenses and other more complicated Latin structures.
