Learning Activity #1: Technology in the Foreign Language Classroom

C. Danielle Goldsby

The Lost Letters of Pliny

a. Topic: Pliny the Younger and his Letters. (Students will collectively write a letter in
English, as if they were Pliny the Younger himself. Their letter will illustrate their
understanding of Pliny the Younger’s style and the social context of his work.)
b. Students’ Proficiency Level: Latin IV
c. National and State Standards:
a. ACTFL:
a. Communication:
Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a
variety of topics.
b. Cultures:
Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between
the products and the perspectives of the culture studied.
b. Sunshine State Standards:
a. Communication:
(FL.A.2.4) The student understands and interprets written and spoken language
on a variety of topics.
b. Cultures:
(FL.B.1.4) The student demonstrates an understanding of the relationship
between the perspectives and products of culture studied and uses this knowledge
to recognize cultural practices.
d. Learning Objectives:
a. SWBAT will be able to present their understanding of their translations of the Latin in
Pliny the Younger’s letters.
b. SWBAT will be able to analyze the cultural and social context within which Pliny
wrote in by creating their own letter as if they were Pliny themselves.
c. SWBAT will be able to use Google docs to interact with their peers inside and outside
of the classroom for purposes of editing.
e. Activity
a. Students will have already completed their translations of Pliny the Younger’s Letters
by the date of this activity. They will need to bring their translations with them to class
to use as reference tools. Below is a link of both the Latin forms and English forms of
Pliny the Younger’s letters, which can be used as reference tools for the teacher to assist
the students with their understanding of the letters:
a. http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/pliny.html
b. http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_text_plinyltrs1.htm
b. Upon arriving to class, Students will be grouped off in sets of three to four per group.
Each group will be responsible for producing one letter in English as if they were Pliny
themselves. They will need to log onto Google docs and use the word processor portion
for this assignment. A Google doc has already been started with explicit directions. The
link and directions are as follows:
a. (note: for some reason this link will not automatically take you to
open editing. You literally have to copy and paste it to the url address
bar. Only then will it take you there.
Learning Activity #1: Technology in the Foreign Language Classroom
2

https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1bM2G0u7MHv77tUX-
hTLixMUFqJvnc6Ea5usuOafJC3M&hl=en&authkey=CNTt5-QF
b. The Lost Letters of Pliny the Younger.
Behold, one more book of the published letters of Pliny the Younger has been
found at the bottom of the Mediterranean. Below, you can see the great letters
that have stood the test of time. Based on the style and social context, we are
almost certain that these letters are authentic and written directly from the hand
of Pliny the Younger himself.
(Directions: Each group will compose one letter as if they were Pliny himself.
Each letter needs to reflect the style and social context found in the letters of
Pliny, which have been translated and analyzed in previous classes. Each student
will be responsible for one paragraph. However, the letter as a whole needs to
flow and seem as if one person wrote it, not three. Each letter needs to be
complete by the beginning of class tomorrow.)
c. Once on Google docs, each student will write one paragraph of the letter, but they will
need to be able to incorporate their individual paragraphs into one continuous group
letter. The completed letter needs to reflect the style of Pliny and seem as if it were
written by one student instead of three. Google docs will be useful, because it allows
them to work on their paragraph individually, to actively communicate with each other,
and edit each other’s work simultaneously.
d. By the beginning of the next class, they need to have their letter completed. The
teacher will be able to view all completed work via Google docs. No hard copy is
necessary.