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Ben Lugosch

These lectures cover the third set of readings from the text Fabulae Faciles, which is a collection of Latin from easy to intermediate difficulty designed to help students emerge from elementary grammar to a confident reading ability in Latin prose.

The lectures provide opportunity for careful reading and review of essential concepts, while building a solid base of critical vocabulary. You will also get extensive experience with the sound of reconstructed Silver Age Latin through the audio that accompanies the lectures.

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These lectures cover the third set of readings from the text Fabulae Faciles, which is a collection of Latin from easy to intermediate difficulty designed to help students emerge from elementary grammar to a confident reading ability in Latin prose.

The lectures provide opportunity for careful reading and review of essential concepts, while building a solid base of critical vocabulary. You will also get extensive experience with the sound of reconstructed Silver Age Latin through the audio that accompanies the lectures.

Each chapter begins with a review of the previous readings, followed by a careful, literal translation of the Latin to help students see how to internalize the process of moving away from word-by-word reading to a real fluency.

The Fabulae Faciles text is justly famous and has an extensive presence online. What distinguishes this treatment of the texts from others out there is that students get enough help to keep them on tract and to encourage them to “try it on their own” but not so much that thinking becomes optional. It’s meant for serious-minded students who want to achieve a real reading ability and who are willing to do what it takes to get there.

If, however, you find you’re overwhelmed by the passages, you should consider stepping back to an earlier chapter in the book: The Story of Perseus or the Story of Hercules. Lecture series on both are available on Udemy.

On top of all that, students will get a thorough overview of the classic legend of Jason’s voyage with the Argonauts first written down by Apollonius of Rhodes.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Students will gain valuable experience learning to read latin from elementary to intermediate difficulty.
  • The stories in this section outline the basic myth and legend of jason and the argonauts.
  • Students will gain confidence reading intermediate latin texts through the graduated readings.
  • Students will master the basic stock of essential vocabulary.

Syllabus

After working through all these chapters slowly and diligently, the student will be able to read Latin of elementary difficulty with some ease and confidence.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a structured approach to transition from elementary Latin grammar to confident reading ability in Latin prose, which is a common goal for Latin students
Offers careful reading and review of essential concepts, which is helpful for students aiming to build a solid base of critical vocabulary in Latin
Uses the Fabulae Faciles text, which is a well-known resource for Latin learners and has an extensive presence online, making it easy to find supplementary materials
Recommends stepping back to earlier chapters or other lecture series if the passages are overwhelming, suggesting a need for a foundational understanding of Latin
Gives learners experience with the sound of reconstructed Silver Age Latin through audio, which may be useful for those interested in pronunciation and aural comprehension
Explores the classic legend of Jason's voyage with the Argonauts, which is a standard text for students of Latin and classical literature

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Reviews summary

Intermediate latin reading: jason & argonauts

According to learners, this course is a highly recommended continuation (positive) of the Fabulae Faciles series by Dr. Moreland, designed for those moving beyond elementary Latin. Students consistently praise the instructor's clear and helpful explanations (positive) and the effective vocabulary review (positive). They note that the readings from the Jason and the Argonauts story represent a noticeable and appropriate increase in difficulty (neutral) compared to the earlier books (Perseus and Hercules), making it ideal for building confidence and fluency (positive) in reading more complex Latin prose. While some found sentences tricky, the guidance provided helps break down difficult passages (positive). The course is described as invaluable for self-learners (positive) serious about achieving reading ability.
Ideal next step after earlier Fabulae Faciles books.
"another great installment in his series."
"Excellent continuation of the series!"
"Good follow-up to the Perseus and Hercules courses."
"Exactly what I needed after finishing Hercules. ... If you've done Perseus and Hercules, this is the next logical step."
Strong focus on essential vocabulary.
"Dr. Moreland's ... vocabulary review is essential."
"The vocabulary section is very useful."
"I particularly appreciated the focus on vocabulary from the readings."
"The vocabulary building is top-notch."
Helps build confidence in reading Latin prose.
"Highly recommend this course for anyone who has worked through the earlier books and wants to continue building their Latin reading fluency."
"Great for building confidence in reading longer Latin passages."
"This course reinforces vocabulary and grammar while providing enjoyable reading."
"Highly effective for improving reading fluency."
Difficulty steps up, suitable for intermediate level.
"The reading in this book is a bit more challenging than Books 1 and 2 (Perseus and Hercules), which is appropriate as the student progresses."
"The text is more demanding here, which is good for progression."
"The jump in difficulty is noticeable but not overwhelming thanks to the instructor's guidance."
"Useful for gaining more exposure to Latin prose. The readings for Jason are indeed a step up in difficulty."
Instructor's explanations are clear and helpful.
"Dr. Moreland's explanations are consistently clear and helpful, and his vocabulary review is essential."
"The lectures are clear, well-paced, and build effectively on the previous material."
"Dr. Moreland is a superb instructor, making complex grammar points accessible."
"Explanations are solid, though occasionally brief on complex grammar."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fabulae Faciles : Jason and the Argonauts with these activities:
Review Latin Grammar Fundamentals
Strengthen your understanding of Latin grammar to improve comprehension of the Fabulae Faciles text.
Browse courses on Latin Grammar
Show steps
  • Review basic Latin declensions and conjugations.
  • Practice identifying grammatical structures in simple sentences.
Cambridge Latin Course
Use the Cambridge Latin Course to build a solid foundation in Latin grammar and vocabulary.
Show steps
  • Work through the first few units of the Cambridge Latin Course.
  • Focus on grammar and vocabulary relevant to the Fabulae Faciles readings.
Latin Study Group
Collaborate with peers to discuss challenging passages and reinforce your understanding of Latin.
Show steps
  • Form a study group with other students in the course.
  • Meet regularly to discuss the readings and grammar concepts.
  • Work together to translate difficult passages.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Latin Vocabulary Flashcards
Create flashcards to memorize essential Latin vocabulary from the Fabulae Faciles text.
Show steps
  • Identify key vocabulary words from each chapter.
  • Create flashcards with the Latin word on one side and the English definition on the other.
  • Use the flashcards to practice memorizing the vocabulary.
Jason and the Argonauts (Penguin Classics)
Read a complete translation of Jason and the Argonauts to gain a deeper understanding of the story.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the Penguin Classics translation of Jason and the Argonauts.
  • Compare the original story to the version presented in Fabulae Faciles.
Write a Summary of Each Chapter
Summarize each chapter in English to solidify your understanding of the plot and key events.
Show steps
  • After reading each chapter, write a brief summary in English.
  • Focus on the main events and key characters.
  • Review your summaries to reinforce your understanding of the story.
Tutor a Beginner Latin Student
Reinforce your knowledge by helping a beginner Latin student with their studies.
Show steps
  • Find a beginner Latin student who needs help.
  • Offer to tutor them on a regular basis.
  • Explain grammar concepts and help them with their homework.

Career center

Learners who complete Fabulae Faciles : Jason and the Argonauts will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Latin Teacher
A Latin teacher shares their knowledge of the language with students, fostering an appreciation for the nuances of Latin. This course, designed to help students move from elementary grammar to confident reading in Latin prose, helps build a foundation for a career in teaching Latin. The course's emphasis on careful reading, vocabulary building, and understanding the sound of reconstructed Silver Age Latin can all be used in the classroom. A prospective Latin teacher would be wise to complete this course, since it focuses on the core skills needed to teach the language effectively: reading, translation, and critical vocabulary.
Historian
A historian studies and interprets the past, often through the analysis of historical documents. This course may be beneficial for a historian who is studying ancient history or classical texts. This course focuses on the story of Jason and the Argonauts, a classic legend, and also develops the skills to read Latin texts confidently. The ability to carefully read and translate Latin with a solid knowledge of vocabulary is critical for any historian working with primary sources from the ancient world. This course helps build a strong foundation in these skills.
Translator
A translator converts written text from one language to another. This course may be useful for a translator wishing to translate from Latin to their native language. The course's focus on moving beyond word-by-word reading to fluent understanding of Latin text directly addresses the skills required for a translator. The course's aim is to help students read intermediate Latin texts with confidence, and this will help a translator approach their tasks with confidence as well. The emphasis on essential vocabulary is critical for a translator.
Ancient History Researcher
An ancient history researcher delves into the past, often focusing on the culture, politics, and society of the ancient world. This course may be useful for an ancient history researcher, especially with its focus on reading and understanding Latin texts. Specifically, the course uses the classic legend of Jason's voyage with the Argonauts first written down by Apollonius of Rhodes. Exposure to the process of critical reading, translation, and vocabulary building in this course can help someone working with historical documents in their research. The course uses the Fabulae Faciles text, a well known text, which may be a useful reference.
Classical Studies Professor
A professor of classical studies educates at the college level, sharing their passion for the ancient world with others. Preparing to teach Latin at the college level typically involves a PhD. This course may be useful for a classical studies professor, particularly the course's focus on careful reading and the review of essential concepts while working with Latin texts. This course moves students from word-by-word reading to more fluent reading, which may be helpful when preparing lectures or reading material for college courses. The course's learning objectives include mastering essential vocabulary, which is a must for successful teaching at a higher level.
Curator
A curator manages and interprets collections in museums or other cultural institutions. This course may be useful to a curator who is dealing in artifacts connected with the ancient world. The course centers on the story of Jason and the Argonauts, a classic legend in ancient history. The course's focus on careful reading and vocabulary building could be beneficial for a curator to understand ancient texts or inscriptions associated with collections they manage. The focus that this course gives to texts may be useful when researching exhibits or publications.
Editor
An editor prepares written material for publication, ensuring clarity and accuracy. This course may be relevant for an editor, particularly one working with classical texts or historical documents. The course, with its emphasis on the review of essential concepts coupled with careful reading, would help an editor ensure the accuracy of texts. The course focuses on moving beyond word-by-word reading and that can be a valuable skill for an editor tasked with bringing a cohesive and clear message to a written work. The focus on critical vocabulary is important for editors.
Librarian
A librarian helps manage and organize information and collections of books in libraries. This course may be helpful for a librarian, particularly one specializing in ancient languages or classics collections. The course focuses on building confidence in reading intermediate Latin texts, which may be useful when managing or cataloging classical literature. The course's emphasis on critical vocabulary can also be useful for cataloguing purposes. By mastering reading comprehension, a librarian may be better prepared to organize and preserve collections.
Content Writer
A content writer creates written material for online platforms, blogs, and websites. This course may be useful for a content writer who is interested in ancient history, myth or classic literature. The course focuses on the story of Jason and the Argonauts which could be a source of inspiration for content. The skills developed by this course, such as reading for comprehension, and a large vocabulary, are valuable for any content writer who strives to create compelling content. This course builds toward fluency in reading intermediate Latin texts and an increased vocabulary, which would certainly have utility for a content writer.
Archivist
An archivist manages and preserves historical records and documents. This course may be useful for an archivist specializing in classical or ancient history. The course, which focuses on reading Latin texts, may help an archivist organize and interpret classic documents or texts. A key part of this course is building up a critical vocabulary, and this may help the archivist understand what they are working with. This course can also help give the archivist the ability to move beyond word-by-word reading.
Research Assistant
A research assistant supports research projects, often involving data collection, analysis, and documentation. This course might be beneficial for a research assistant who is working on a project that involves historical texts, or the classics. This course emphasizes careful reading of Latin and provides an opportunity to review essential concepts. The course may help a research assistant who wants to work with historical documents or primary sources. The course's focus on essential vocabulary can also help when working with Latin texts.
Textbook Author
A textbook author writes educational material for students on a variety of subjects. This course may be relevant for a textbook author, especially one who specializes in classical studies or language learning material. The course focuses on a thorough overview of the classic legend of Jason’s voyage with the Argonauts. This course would help give a textbook author an understanding of the source material. The course's focus on careful reading and mastering vocabulary will also be valuable when creating educational material.
Academic Advisor
An academic advisor provides guidance to students on academic and personal development. This course may be beneficial to an academic advisor, particularly one working with students who are interested in classical studies or ancient languages. This course demonstrates the dedication to a subject which can be valuable for an advisor to appreciate. The course’s focus on building confidence in reading can be useful to help encourage students. An academic advisor can use their own experience with this course when working with students interested in the classics.
Proofreader
A proofreader reviews written texts for errors in grammar, spelling, and formatting. This course may be useful for a proofreader who reviews classical texts. The course focuses on careful and literal reading of Latin text, which may help a proofreader spot errors. This course, with its emphasis on moving beyond word-by-word reading, may help a proofreader take a more holistic view of a text. This may be useful when ensuring that each word is correctly formatted.
Instructional Designer
An instructional designer creates learning experiences in a variety of formats. This course may be helpful for an instructional designer working on projects relating to classical studies or language learning. The course's focus on careful reading of texts and the review of essential concepts may give the instructional designer insight into the challenges faced by language learners. The emphasis on moving beyond word-by-word reading will be particularly valuable for designing effective methods of teaching complex subject matter. The experience of taking this course would translate well into the pedagogy of language learning.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Fabulae Faciles : Jason and the Argonauts.
The Cambridge Latin Course widely used series of textbooks designed to introduce students to the Latin language and Roman culture. It provides a gradual and engaging approach to learning Latin, making it an excellent resource for students preparing for Fabulae Faciles. The course covers essential grammar and vocabulary, and its cultural context helps to bring the language to life. It is particularly helpful for students who need a more structured and comprehensive introduction to Latin before tackling Fabulae Faciles.

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