University of Virginia Library

SCHOOL OF MODERN LANGUAGES.

Prof. Schele De Vere.
Assist. Prof. Perkinson.

The subjects taught in this School are the French, Spanish, Italian, and
German languages, and Anglo-Saxon.

In the Junior Class the student is carefully trained and drilled in the
forms and Syntax of the language with the aid of the smaller Grammars
indicated. The practice of translation from the foreign idiom into the vernacular
is begun as soon as possible, with books of anecdotes and selections
mainly from modern writers, and at the same time weekly exercises are written.
The simpler works of some of the modern as well as of the classical
authors are studied during the latter portion of the course.

In the Intermediate Class about two months are given to a thorough
review of the Grammar, accompanied with practice in translation mainly
from modern authors. Weekly exercises are also written to test the progress
made by the student in Grammar and Syntax; these are read aloud
and corrected viva voce. Copious readings in modern plays and novels are
required until the student is able to translate at sight fairly easy authors; and
the exercises are continued, being now mainly taken from modern prose
writers and tested by comparison with the original text. The classes next
read works such as La France and Deutschland to gain familiarity with the
History and Geography of the country the language of which they are studying.
A short course in translating some of the simpler works of the classic
writers follows, supplemented by parallel readings assigned by the Professor;
and the course is completed by attendance on the lectures of the Professor
on the History of the Language and its Literature.

In the Senior Class a number of classic and of modern authors is
read in the class, to practice the pronunciation, to acquire facility in prompt
rendering of the foreign idiom, and to appreciate the literary beauties of
eminent writers. A much larger number of works, mainly by modern
authors, is assigned to be read privately, in order to acquire that familiarity
with foreign writers which enables the student to judge of the difference in
style and diction in individuals, and in various periods of literature.

At every meeting of the class, moreover, a lecture is delivered, and to a
large extent illustrated by examples and quotations written on the blackboard,
so that the eye and the ear may mutually assist each other. In these
lectures the Grammar and the Syntax of each idiom are discussed. The treatment
is mainly historical, the words, the sentences and the general structure
being exhibited as they gradually develop themselves from the earliest efforts
made by the infant nation to the highest results obtained in its so-called
Golden Age.

These lectures are again accompanied by weekly exercises, translations
from the vernacular into foreign idioms. They furnish the Professor with
evidence of the success or want of success with which he has tried to explain
the rules and the usages of each language. After having been carefully
marked, they are returned to the student, and then written, in correct form,
on the blackboard. The Professor, as he writes there, accompanies the exercises
with a running commentary on the various rules that have been violated
or misunderstood.

At stated intervals the Professor reads aloud, so as to train the ear; at
others, he dictates extracts from foreign writers for the same purpose.

After the classes have become somewhat familiar with the language, they are
given a series of lectures treating of the History of the idiom. Its forms,
its structure and its spiritual characteristics are carefully traced through the
different periods of its history, and minutely compared with each other.
This gives an opportunity for instruction in the fundamental rules of the
Science of Language, to which much attention is given. These lectures are
followed by another course on the Literature of each idiom. The different
periods of the literature are explained and illustrated by sketches of the
lives, and criticisms on the works, of the principal writers of each age.
The parallelism between the national growth of a people and its literary proficiency
is constantly pointed out.

After each lecture the Professor remains some time in the lecture-room to
meet informally such students as desire additional information.

To train the ear as much as possible, the Professor gives each week public
readings, at which some great work is read aloud and translated.

In the Class of Anglo-Saxon the study of the language is mainly
pursued in its aspect as the mother of English, furnishing the student the
means of tracing the history of his native tongue from its earliest beginning.
Much attention is given to the illustration of the history of words, their
birth, their fate under the rule of the Norman, and their subsequent modifications.
Whilst the student is furnished with a key to the rich and historically
invaluable literature of our forefathers, he is at the same time given an
opportunity to learn to know the inner nature, the inherent power, and the

right to supremacy awarded to his native tongue. Extracts from Anglo-Saxon
writers are read, and the bearing of their works on the history of our
race is explained.

The following text-books are used in the several languages:

French. The Professor's Grammar and First Reader, Whitney's or Brachet's Grammar,
Telémaque, Saintine's Picciola, Moliere, Racine, Voltaire, Taine's L'Angleterre, Masson's,
Gasc's, or Littré's Dictionary. A course of private reading is prescribed. Prof. J. A. Harrison's
French Syntax is recommended.

German.—Whitney's and Wilman' or rauer's (German) Grammar, Whitney's Reader,
Whitney's Dictionary, Schiller's Work, Goethe's Toru to Taso and Faust; Jean Paul's
Flegeljahre. A course of private reading is prescribed.

Spanish.—The Professor's Grammar, Soan's Dictionary, Velasquez' Reader, Breton's
La Independencia, Don Qu jote, Calderon's El Principe Con tante, Lope's Estrella de Sevilla,
Ticknor's History of Spanish Literature. In default of The Professor's Grammar, now
out of print, Knapp's Spanish Grammar will be used.

Italian.—Cuore's Grammar, Foreti's Reader, Manzni's I Promessi Sposi, Tasso's Geru
salemme Liberata, Pellico's Le Mie Prigioni, Petrarca, Dante's La Divina Commedia.

Anglo-Saxon.—Shute's Manual of Anglo-Saxon, or Sweet's Primer, The Professor's
Studies in English, March's Anglo-Saxon Grammar (for reference), the Anglo-Saxon Gospels