Although Latin may, in one sense, be a dead language, in this course students will find that it is, in fact, very much alive.  Latin is invaluable for understanding English grammar and parts of speech, and so much of our modern vocabulary stems from Latin roots that any individual wishing to consider themselves well-educated and cultured must obtain at a minimum an elementary knowledge of the language.  Introductory Latin is intended to give students sufficient knowledge of Latin vocabulary and syntax that they may, with the aid of a dictionary, properly translate passages from Latin into English.