TEACHING
LATIN IN THE SCHOOLS
Information for Prospective Teachers
[tchflier: rev. January
24, 2003]
Richard A. LaFleur, Franklin Professor of Classics
University of Georgia Department of Classics
How to Prepare
Complete a major in
Latin in either the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) or the College of
Education (COE) and preferably at least a minor in another area: Your UGA Latin major program should prepare
you well in Latin and classical civilization, but many positions call for a
person who can teach a second subject: English, history, modern foreign
languages, math, and science are all good options for a second major or minor. For A&S Latin programs, visit www.classics.uga.edu; for COE programs,
visit www.coe.uga.edu/language.
Obtain a copy of Latin
for the 21st Century: From Concept to Classroom: This book (ISBN 0-673-57608-6), edited by R.
A. LaFleur, is a comprehensive introduction to methodology and resources for
teaching Latin at all levels, elementary school through graduate school;
extensive bibliography and resource list.
A vade mecum for all Latin teachers and a great introduction to the
profession for prospective teachers.
Available in the UGA Bookstore (706-542-3171) or from Prentice Hall
Publishers (www.phschool.com,
1-800-848-9500). For other useful books
and articles for new and prospective teachers, see Texas Latin teacher Ginny
Lindzey’s “New Teachers” page at www.txclassics.org/newteacher.htm.
Join the American
Classical League (ACL), the national professional organization for teachers of
Latin, Greek, and classical humanities:
Free memberships are available to first-time members; send your written
request to American Classical League, Miami University, 422 Wells Mill Drive,
Oxford OH 45056, or email americanclassicalleague@muohio.edu.
Visit the organization’s website now at www.aclclassics.org
for an overview of the many perquisites of membership, including subscription
to the journal The Classical Outlook and the ACL Newsletter,
which together will give you lots of information on current trends in teaching
Latin and classics.
Join your regional
and state classical associations and attend their meetings: These organizations need your support and
they offer very useful publications and can help you with scholarships and your
job search; attending the meetings is invaluable for networking and for the
book and materials exhibits and the scholarly and pedagogical presentations.
For Georgia these are the Georgia Classical Association (GCA, www.arches.uga.edu/~tkdix/gca.htm)
and the Classical Association of the Middle West and South (CAMWS: www.rmc.edu/~gdaugher/camwshp.html:
the CAMWS site lists its 30+ state and province Vice Presidents, who can assist
you with job searches in particular states and Canadian provinces).
Work toward
certification by enrolling in education courses and taking the PRAXIS exam: Most schools, especially public schools,
will give priority to applicants who are fully certified, as UGA College of
Education graduates routinely are; but Arts and Sciences graduates also do well
in the job market, especially if they have taken education courses, have some
experience in the schools or working with youngsters in community service, and
passed the PRAXIS exam. You should enroll
in one or more professional education courses, including UGA classes in
Foundations of Education, Educational Psychology, Exceptional Children, and
Foreign Language Education; some of the classes are closed to non-College of
Education majors, but may be taken through UGA’s Department of Independent and
Distance Learning (www.gactr.uga.edu/idl).
You should also take the PRAXIS Latin subject area exam, which is required for
certification in Georgia and many other states; information is available in the
Classics office or at www.ets.org/praxis,
which has a “Tests at a Glance” section to help you prepare for the exam. UGA Classics graduate students should enroll
in LATN 7770 (“Latin Teaching Apprenticeship,” 3 hours credit—2 in the fall, 1
in the spring); for information, see Dr. LaFleur, or the current Graduate
Coordinator or visit www.classics.uga.edu/graduate
and click on Graduate Student Handbook.
For Georgia certification requirements and reciprocity with other
states, visit www.gapsc.com; for
certification requirements for other states visit www.uky.edu/ArtsSciences/Classics/teaching.html.
UGA College of
Education programs and helpful contacts:
For COE programs in Latin Language Education, visit www.coe.uga.edu/language. Helpful contacts include Professors Tom
Cooper (tcooper@coe.uga.edu) and Linda
Harklau (lharklau@coe.uga.edu), and
Undergraduate Advisor Angie Castile (a former Latin teacher), all in the
Department of Language Education, 706-542-5674.
Scholarships: Scholarships are available from ACL and
CAMWS for prospective Latin teachers working toward certification; see each
issue of The Classical Outlook as well as the UGA Classics Department’s
scholarship flier, and visit the National Latin Teacher Recruitment Week site
at www.promotelatin.org/nltrwcolleges.htm
for a list of other scholarship opportunities.
Obtain teaching
experience: If you are enrolled in the
College of Education, your advisor there will arrange a semester-long
practice-teaching experience for you.
Otherwise, it is very important that you obtain experience through
tutoring, class visitations, or “shadowing” in local high schools; see Dr.
LaFleur to arrange this with Mrs. Ellen Harris at Clarke Central and Mrs. Gail
Polk at Athens Academy (both UGA Arts and Sciences Latin alumnae).
Visit the
Latinteach website and join the Latinteach internet list: The site (www.latinteach.com) has a wide range of
resources for Latin teachers, and the internet list (instructions for joining
are on the website) provides you with 500 “instant colleagues,” both veteran
and novice teachers, ready to discuss with you all sorts of teaching issues,
including your job search and your needs as a new teacher.
Visit the
University of Kentucky Latin teaching site:
Additional resources for Latin teachers, including a list of
certification requirements for the various states (www.uky.edu/ArtsSciences/Classics/teaching.html).
Visit the CAMWS
Committee for the Promotion of Latin website:
A further array of resources for teachers (www.camwscpl.org).
Check out the
American Classical League (ACL) and Georgia Classical Association (GCA) Placement
Services: Information on these and other
Latin teacher placement services is on our GCA Placement Service flier; obtain
a copy from the Classics Office Manager in 223 Park Hall. In particular visit www.aclclassics.org and click on Teacher
Placement and www.arches.uga.edu/~tkdix/gca.htm.
Visit the National
Committee for Latin and Greek (NCLG) website for other placement services: A wide range of resources for current and
prospective Latin teachers at www.promotelatin.org/index.html;
and click on the Placement Service link in particular (www.promotelatin.org/placement.htm)
for information and links to national, regional, and state placement services.
Commercial
placement services: Some of these
charge fees to applicants, others do not; among the latter is Southern Teachers
Agency (www.southernteachers.com,
434-295-9122).
Visit the Georgia
Department of Education’s teacher recruitment website for information on
positions available in Georgia: www.TeachGeorgia.org.
Visit the National
Latin Teacher Recruitment Week (NLTRW) website: This site provides lots of information on
programs, scholarships, certification, teaching materials, etc. (www.promotelatin.org/nltrw.htm).
Resume/Credentials
Service: Resumes should be clear,
concise, and focused on the objective of finding a teaching position; degrees,
awards, progress toward certification, and all teaching-related experience should
be listed, as should special skills and interests in teaching other subjects,
coaching, advising extracurricular activities, etc.; see attached sample.
Conferences attended and any relevant presentations or publications should also
be listed. For further assistance with
resumes, and to set up a file with the UGA Credentials Service, contact the UGA
Career Services Center in Clark Howell Hall (706-542-3375, www.uga.edu/career).
Send letters with
resumes and follow up with telephone calls:
Send a succinct one-page letter of application plus resume to all
schools and districts that you are interested in; follow up with phone
calls. For further advice on resumes,
applications, and followup, contact the UGA Career Services Center in Clark
Howell Hall (706-542-3375, www.uga.edu/career).
Interviews: Talk with your academic advisor, friends who
have gone on job interviews, and specialists in the UGA Career Services Center
in Clark Howell Hall (706-542-3375, www.uga.edu/career)
about interview strategies. Some
interviews and school visits will involve your teaching a class; be sure to
confirm all expectations and other details well in advance of going for the
interview. If you are invited to an
interview at considerable distance from your home, ask if travel expenses are
provided. Follow up on the interview
immediately with a letter or phone call, thanking the prospective employer for
the interview.
Carpe diem: teachers affect eternity