Ars docendi 13/2022
Premessa – Vorwort - Foreword [Adami]
Dear readers,
Issue 13, the Christmas edition of Ars docendi, once again offers a wide variety of articles and reflections on current developments in our subjects.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being a guest at a seminar organised by the Italian Network of Classical High Schools, where I had the opportunity to participate in three training sessions discussing the essential foundations of the new curricula, also in coordination with the new specifications for the final exam. One afternoon was dedicated to language development in general (with CLIL, the new programmes for differentiated language learning, etc.), while the second afternoon explored the possibilities of using digital learning for teaching Latin and Greek. The third afternoon offered several presentations on the broad theme of “Sustainability and cultural heritage in classical high schools”. All afternoons received enthusiastic feedback from the more than 100 participants in this digital training.
Almost simultaneously, training was offered at the national level on new and different forms of assessment in the teaching of Latin and Greek.
At the same time, one of Italy's leading classical high schools organised a very interesting seminar in Milan entitled “Humanism and scientific knowledge in classical high schools”.
Italy seems to be very active in teacher training at the moment. However, during the first in-service training session of the national network of classical high schools, there were complaints that Italian universities pay little attention to teaching methods and methodology in the teaching of Latin and Greek; they focus mainly on research into texts and topics, and do too little research into teaching issues.
Ars docendi would like to create a small forum here, on the one hand to provide an overview of current developments, but also to examine teaching and methodological issues more closely.
This issue focuses on the following topics: Anna Christoph presents a teaching unit on Zephyr and his reception to the present day. Maria Krichbaumer discusses Erasmus of Rotterdam and the particular possibilities of incorporating Neo-Latin texts into lessons in a meaningful way.
Martina Adami examines the ancient chorus and its functions (using the example of “Antigone”) and attempts to discuss approaches for cross-curricular teaching units.
Fabrizio Manco, on the other hand, explores a particular theme: the mysterious/mythical connections between humans and animals.
Cornelia Eberhardt has sent us another contribution on the language curriculum (including Latin) in Thuringia, while Matthias Korn raises the question of a possible common European Latin pronunciation and what could be of fundamental importance in achieving this goal.
The issue concludes with two reviews by Martina Adami. The first concerns an interesting volume of lectures from Philipps-Universität Marburg: 'Latein und Griechisch im 21. Jahrhundert' (Latin and Greek in the 21st century - with many interdisciplinary approaches), the second takes a close look at a recently published book by Matthias Korn with a very original design: “Grundlagen und -begriffe der Fachdidaktik und -methodik des Altsprachlichen Unterrichts” (Basic concepts of teaching and methodology of Latin and Greek).
On behalf of the editorial team, I wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year 2023 and, I hope, some time to read our 13th issue of Ars docendi!
Martrina Adami