Latin: Beginners - Part 1



Overview

This course is intended for beginners but is also suitable for those wishing to refresh their Latin. 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 two sections of Jones and Sidwell's textbook 'Reading Latin', we will meet major noun and adjective groups, several tenses of active verbs, and a number of pronouns. 

We will be working through the first two sections of Jones and Sidwell's lively textbook Reading Latin, using adapted extracts from comedies by Plautus, and providing an amusing introduction to the Roman comic tradition. The structure of the course means that we will be translating extended passages from the beginning - an essential way to get to grips with Latin in practice.

By the end of the course we will have encountered all major noun and adjective groups, and be familiar with the future and present tenses of active and deponent verbs and the perfect form of active verbs, giving students the confidence to begin to navigate original Latin texts. 

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 Sept 2025 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 Sept 2025, 7.00-8.00pm (UK time).

Our public programme is open access, and most adult language classes are mixed ability. The weekly course schedule below is intended to give an overview of the main grammatical and linguistic constructions likely to be covered each week. Please note that these may sometimes change according to the tutor’s discretion to reflect the interests of course participants.

Week 1: Introduction and verbs - the irregular verb 'sum'; first conjugation; second conjugation. 

Week 2: Nouns - the Latin case system; 1st declension nouns; second declension nouns. 

Week 3: Nouns - 3rd declension nouns; Adjectives - 3rd declension.

Week 4: Adjectives - 1st and 2nd declension adjectives; 2nd declension neuter adjectives; irregular nouns. 

Week 5: Verbs - imperatives; the verb 'eo'; prepositions; possessive adjectives; personal pronouns. 

Week 6: Nouns and adjectives - 1st and 2nd declension nouns and adjectives in -er; 3rd and 4th conjugation verbs.  

Week 7: Interrogative pronouns/adjectives; 3rd declension neuter nouns.  

Week 8: Verbs - mixed conjugations; imperatives; enclitic -ne. 

Week 9: Verbs -  irregular verbs 'fero' and 'volo'; quid + genitive. 

Week 10: Personal pronouns; infinitives; prinicipal parts of verbs. 

Textbooks

To participate in the course you will need to buy, or have regular access to, the following books:

  • Jones, P. V. (Peter V.), and Keith C Sidwell. Reading Latin. Text and Vocabulary. Second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016. 
  • Jones, P. V. (Peter V.), and Keith C Sidwell. Reading Latin. Grammar and Exercises. Second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016

In addition to the course textbook, there will be additional learning resources made available for self-study and consolidation.
Please ensure you are able to access copies of any required textbooks prior to enrolling on a course but please keep in mind that courses with insufficient students enrolled will be cancelled. The Department accepts no responsibility for books bought in anticipation of a course running.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £360.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, 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

Dr Holly Hunt

Holly studied Classics at Balliol College, Oxford, where she earned a BA and an MSt. She moved five minutes down the road to St Anne’s College during her DPhil, to teach papers on ancient Greek language and literature at this college. Upon completing her doctorate on Aristophanes and humour theory, she became a lecturer in Classical languages at Regent’s Park College (still, despite the name, in Oxford). Her interests encompass archaic and classical Greek literature, and the application of cognitive theory to reading ancient texts.

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. 

Course Objectives:

  • To cover, through translation and exercises, the grammar topics as outlined in the programme details.
  • To develop 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. 

Teaching methods

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 the course, students will be expected to: 

  • have developed a 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;
  • 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. 

 

Application

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education

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.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support