Page:Latin for beginners (1911).djvu/387

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TEACHERS' MANUAL
7

devise various interesting methods of drilling on words. The following, which may be called the vocabulary roll call, has been found especially useful. When the class enters the room let it remain standing, each pupil at his place. Pronounce words to the different pupils, English words to be translated into Latin or vice versa, and let those that answer correctly take their seats, the others remaining standing until they have done the same. Much enthusiasm can be aroused by letting two pupils choose sides, as in a spelling match, for a vocabulary contest.

The textbook is so planned that all the words to be memorized are reviewed three times. This fact, as well as that no new vocabularies are assigned after Lesson LX, should give ample time and opportunity for drill and study.

10. Translation. Suggestions for translating from Latin into English are given in the textbook, p. 194. Call the pupils' attention to these early in the year and emphasize the importance of forming correct habits from the beginning. It is advisable at intervals to call for a written translation of passages of connected Latin. In these translations demand good idiomatic English. When you have corrected the papers, have two or three of the best ones read as models for the rest. This practice will do much to correct the translation jargon that pupils are prone to employ.

Pupils always find it much harder to translate from English into Latin than from Latin into English. For this reason more help should be given them for this work. For the first few weeks go over the English-Latin exercise with the class when you assign it, and explain all difficult points. Do not fail to insist upon a correct order of words. It is a good plan to train pupils to arrange the English sentence mentally in the proper Latin order before turning it into Latin.

If more practice seems to be needed in turning English into Latin than the book provides, invent some sentences yourself, or have the pupils, with closed books, translate into Latin at your dictation the English of the preceding Latin exercise.

Do not have the translation of the English sentences written in blank books, which are likely to be handed down from class