Ancient Greek: Beginners - Part 1



Overview

This course is intended for beginners but is also suitable for those wishing to refresh their Ancient Greek. 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.

Using the first sections of the JACT textbook 'Reading Greek', we will start with learning the Greek alphabet before we meet major noun and adjective groups, several types of active verbs, and a number of pronouns.

This course will be reading-based so there will be the opportunity to read extended passages in Greek from the beginning as well as learning the grammatical underpinnings of the language. Through the study of texts and class discussion students will be introduced to aspects of Greek culture and thought.

By the end of the course we will have encountered the major noun and adjective groups, and be familiar with the present tenses of active, middle, and contract verbs, giving you the confidence to translate from English to Greek and Greek to English with ease.

In line with teaching of Ancient Greek in the UK, accents are not a mandatory part of the learning.

This course combines online study with a weekly 1-hour live webinar led by your tutor. Find out more about how our short online courses are taught.

Programme details

This course begins on the 16 Sep 2026, 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 23 Sep 2026, 10:30-11:30am (UK time).

Week 1: Alphabet and pronunciation

Week 2: The definite article. First and second declension nouns and adjectives

Week 3: Present active indicative verbs including compound verbs

Week 4: Introduction to contract verbs

Week 5: Imperative mood, vocative case, adverbs

Week 6: Enclitics, particles and more practice with first and second declension nouns

Week 7: Irregular verbs εἰμι and οἰδα

Week 8: The middle voice

Week 9: Final first and second declension noun types; prepositions

Week 10: 3rd declension nouns and pronouns

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

Tutor

Mrs Elena Vacca

Elena Giulia Vacca is a Classicist specialising in Comparative Literature and the Classical Reception of Greek tragedy in Russian literature. She is completing her DPhil in Classics at the University of Oxford, where she also lectures in Latin. In addition, she teaches Latin and Ancient Greek at the City Literary Institute in London, and Italian as a second language at the Italian Cultural Institute.

Course aims

The course offers an introduction to ancient Greek which will also draw in elements of Greek culture and some famous names from the Greek literary world. There will be plenty of opportunities to read some adapted Greek and develop confidence in this area. 

Course objectives:

  • To support students in their learning of Attic Greek to understand simple texts.
  • To provide weekly opportunities to practise, consolidate and master the grammar at a sensible pace.
  • To introduce students to aspects of ancient Greek language and culture.

Teaching methods

Online classes combine presentations with discussion and practice. PowerPoint presentations and notes will be provided. Video recordings will introduce vocabulary and review texts as well as grammar. Live online sessions will offer opportunities to read and analyse more texts, practise and discuss translations. 

Learning takes place on a weekly schedule. At the start of each weekly unit, students are provided with learning materials on our online platform, including one hour of pre-recorded video, often supplemented by guided readings and educational resources. These learning materials prepare students for a one-hour live webinar with an expert tutor at the end of each weekly unit which they attend in small groups. Webinars are held on Microsoft Teams, and provide the opportunity for students to respond to discussion prompts and ask questions. The blend of weekly learning materials that can be worked through flexibly, together with a live meeting with a tutor and their peers, maximise learning and engagement through interaction in a friendly, supportive environment.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be expected to be able to:

  • read short Greek texts out loud;
  • demonstrate a good knowledge of some grammatical forms and vocabulary;
  • analyse and translate short passages from Greek into English and sentences from English into Greek.

Assessment methods

Short written homework tasks including handwriting practice, word and simple sentence translation, gap fill activities, multiple-choice tasks, and translations.

Application

Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.

Level and demands

This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.

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.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support