Latin

A thorough study of Latin forms the foundation of a classical education and orders the mind.

HLN students take Latin every year until they have completed Fourth Form. Students are strongly encouraged to continue Latin translation courses online throughout the high school years. Most students can get to AP Latin by 12th grade, and some by 11th. The HLN sequence for Latin starting in third grade is as follows:

  • Prima Latina
  • Latina Christiana
  • First Form Latin (Fifth grade and up begins here)
  • Second Form Latin
  • Third Form Latin
  • Fourth Form Latin

Latin is a cumulative study. A student must show mastery of material before moving on to the next level.

For high school students, one year of the high school foreign language requirement is satisfied by each year of the Forms studies.

Advanced Latin courses are available through the Memoria Press Online Academy. Discounted early bird registration is available each January through mid-March for classes the following fall, but classes fill fast especially for high demand time slots and popular teachers. Email the Directors for more information or the early bird code.

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Latina Christiana

This course is a basic introduction to Latin for 4th & 5th grade students and the ideal preparation for and introduction to the Forms Latin series. It is a simple, step-by-step Latin program that will give your student a solid grounding in fundamental Latin vocabulary and grammar through repetition and review. Daily work is expected. To see what is studied in LC, scroll to the bottom of the page.

First, Second, Third, & Fourth Form Latin

These Latin programs are taken in sequence and cover the Latin grammar comprehensively. The Forms Latin series is based on the method of Latin that was used with elementary grades in the old classical curriculum which provided the foundation of language arts in schools until the beginning of the 20th century. After Fourth Form, your student will be ready to move into more sophisticated translation courses. Starting in Second Form HLN students will participate in the annual National Latin Exam each March. To view what is taught in each Form, scroll to the bottom of the page.

For resources on the study of Latin, see Cheryl Lowe’s excellent article, “The Top 10 Reasons for Studying Latin.”

Completely optional: Parents who would like to start studying Latin along with their students can purchase the instructional DVDs or streaming videos from Memoria Press to follow along at home. Latin study is cumulative, so parents new to Latin should begin with First Form. We also recommend you complete your own student workbook and assessments.

Click here for a HLN’s complete Scope and Sequence.

What is learned in each course?

Latina Christina:

  • 1st & 2nd declension nouns
  • 1st & 2nd conjugation verbs (in three tenses)
  • 1st & 2nd declension adjectives
  • Irregular verb to be (sum)
  • English derivatives, vocabulary, Latin sayings, songs, prayers

First Form:

  • Five noun declensions
  • 1st & 2nd declension adjectives
  • 1st & 2nd conjugation in 6 tenses (active voice)
  • Sum in 6 tenses
  • Syntax: nominative and accusative cases; complementary infinitive; subject-verb agreement; noun-adjective agreement; predicate nouns & adjectives
  • Vocabulary and Latin sayings

Second Form:

  • 2nd declension -er, -ir nouns and adjectives
  • 3rd declension i-stem nouns
  • 3rd declension adjectives of two terminations
  • 1st & 2nd person pronouns and possessive pronoun adjectives
  • Prepositions with ablative and accusative
  • Adverbs and questions
  • 3rd, 3rd -io, and 4th conjugations in 6 tenses (active voice)
  • Present system passive of 1st – 4th conjugations and -io verbs
  • Syntax: genitive of possession; dative of indirect object; ablative of means and agent
  • Vocabulary and Latin sayings

Third Form:

  • Perfect system passive of 1st – 4th conjugations and -io verbs
  • 4th declension neuter nouns
  • 3rd declension adjectives of one and three terminations
  • Imperative mood, vocative case
  • Nine irregular adjectives
  • Regular and irregular comparison of adjectives and adverbs
  • Pronouns: 3rd person, demonstrative, intensive, reflexive
  • Active and passive subjective of 1st – 4th conjugations and -io verbs
  • Syntax: apposition; adjectives used as nouns; objective and partitive genitive; subjective in purpose clauses; exhortations; deliberative questions
  • Vocabulary and Latin sayings

Fourth Form:

  • Participles, infinitives, gerunds, and gerundives
  • Deponent verbs
  • Irregular verbs, including eo, fero, and volo
  • Plural nouns
  • Locative case
  • Pronouns: relative and interrogative
  • Syntax: double accusative; relative clauses; sequence of tenses and indirect questions; impersonal verbs; indirect statements (accusative with infinitive construction); gerundive of obligation
  • Vocabulary and Latin sayings