Short course
Latin: Beginners – Consolidation
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Location:
Online
Dates:
12/04/2027 - 28/06/2027
Study format:
Online - live
Level:
Beginner
Fees:
£430.00
This 10-week consolidation course is based on the syllabus of the previous two terms (most recently – Latin: Beginners - Part 2) and is primarily tailored to meet the needs of students who completed the weekly class, but new students who are at the appropriate level of proficiency are also welcome. Students who missed some live sessions during the previous two terms and wish to catch up for the next level in the next academic year are encouraged to join. It will comprise one weekly, one-hour pre-recorded lecture to be viewed by students in preparation for the weekly tutor-led live session at the advertised time. Students will be encouraged to prepare and study at home.
The course aims to consolidate familiar grammar and vocabulary but also to introduce new grammatical components and expand vocabulary. The live sessions will focus on the translation of unadapted Latin literature, introducing a range of different forms of Latin literature, and placing them within their literary, social and historical contexts.
By the end of the course, students will have developed a broader vocabulary; deepened their understanding of key grammatical and linguistic principles of Latin; translated a number of unadapted Latin literary works, and engaged with them on a range of critical levels.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Level and demands
Latin: Beginners assumes no prior knowledge of Latin, but it is also suitable for those who wish to refresh their Latin. To benefit from the course, regular preparation in advance of each class is strongly encouraged. In addition to the course textbook, there will be additional learning resources for self-study and consolidation.
Course aims
- To equip students with a strong foundation for fundamental Latin grammar and syntax, help them develop a small working vocabulary, and introduce them to reading basic Latin texts.
- To cover through translation and exercises the grammar topics as outlined in the programme details.
- To develop an understanding of the Roman cultural world through discussion of the adapted texts and their context.
- To encourage students to pursue Latin at a higher level.
IT requirements
Any standard web browser can be used to access course materials on our virtual learning environment, but we recommend Google Chrome. We also recommend that students join the live webinars on Microsoft Teams using a laptop or desktop computer rather than a phone or tablet due to the limited functionality of the app on these devices. Students will need a reliable internet connection and a computer that meets our recommended minimum computer specification.
Programme details
This course begins on the 12 Apr 2027, which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting, which will be held on 19 Apr 2027, 17:30-18:30 (UK time).
Please see below for a weekly breakdown, along with the translation texts.
Week 1: Introduction. Verbs – 1st and 2nd conjugation. Catullus, Poems
Week 2: verbs – 3rd conjugation, 4th conjugation; infinitives; principal parts of verbs. Pliny the Younger, Epistles
Week 3: Nouns – 1st declension nouns; 2nd declension nouns; prepositions. Cicero De Senectute; Against Verres.
Week 4: Adjectives – 1st and 2nd declension; 1st and 2nd declension nouns in –er. Cicero, Against Catiline.
Week 5: Nouns – 3rd declension nouns; Adjectives – 3rd declension. Ovid, Metamorphoses
Week 6: Demonstrative pronouns; personal pronouns; interrogative pronouns/adjectives. Ovid, Metamorphoses
Week 7: Verbs – the perfect tense system (introduction to pluperfect and future perfect). Livy, From the Foundation of Rome
Week 8: verbs – deponents and the passive voice; introduction to participles. Caesar, The Gallic Wars
Week 9: Verbs – irregular verbs; intransitive verbs; introduction to the subjunctive. Virgil, the Aeneid
Week 10: Verbs – using the subjunctive in dependent clauses. Horace, Odes
Teaching methods
This course takes place over 10 weeks, with a weekly learning schedule and weekly live webinar held on Microsoft Teams. Shortly before a course commences, students are provided with access to an online virtual learning environment, which houses the course content, including video lectures, complemented by readings or other study materials. Any standard web browser can be used to access these materials, but we recommend Google Chrome. Working through these materials over the course of the week will prepare students for a weekly 1-hour live webinar you will share with your expert tutor and fellow students. All courses are structured to amount to 100 study hours, so that on average, you should set aside 10 hours a week for study. Although the course finishes after 10 weeks, all learning materials remain available to all students for 12 months after the course has finished.
All courses are led by an expert tutor. Tutors guide students through the course materials as part of the live interactions during the weekly webinars. Tutors will also provide individualised feedback on your assignments. All online courses are taught in small student cohorts so that you and your peers will form a mutually supportive and vibrant learning community for the duration of the course. You will learn from your fellow students as well as from your tutor, and they will learn from you.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be expected to:
- have a strong and demonstrable understanding of basic Latin grammar and syntax, displayed through weekly assignments, class work and discussions, and quizzes.
- be able to read and write basic Latin sentences, and analyse their grammar and syntax.
- be able to comprehend basic, adapted Latin prose and dramatic texts, with a view to pursuing further study and reading autonomously.
Assessment methods
You will be set optional assignments to consolidate your learning and to allow you to progress at your own pace. Weekly tests/quizzes and homework will provide a means of gauging progress over the course.
Dr Nicolas Liney – Tutor
Nicolas Liney completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney, and obtained his Master of Studies in Latin Language and Literature and DPhil in Classics from the University of Oxford. He specialises in Imperial Latin poetry, and has taught Latin and Greek widely.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £430.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Textbooks
No course book required. Course materials will be provided by the course tutor.
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.