JACT DURHAM GREEK & LATIN SUMMER SCHOOL
Courses Offered
Beginner's Greek
What prior experience should I have?
None (although it is highly recommended that you familiarise yourself with the alphabet before we start the course as we will go at a fairly quick pace).
How do I know if this is the right level for me?
If you have never studied any Greek before (or perhaps did a bit some time ago) this might be an appropriate level
What texts will I study?
JACT Reading Greek. We will be using both parts: Grammar & Exercises and Text & Vocabulary. We aim to finish Chapter 1 in the course of the week.
What will be expected of me in lessons?
The sessions will involve learning vocabulary and grammar, reading short, basic texts, group work and a couple of informal vocabulary tests with advance warning. There will be plenty of time for revision and individual study in between sessions.
When translating sentences/text, we usually go around the class and take turns to translate each sentence. You will be able to prepare in advance, and may use the reference grammar and running vocabulary as much as you like. There is, however, no obligation for anyone who feels uncomfortable to contribute a sentence.
Beginners Latin
What prior experience should I have?
None.
How do I know if this is the right level for me?
You have never done any Latin before (or you have done a bit but have forgotten!)
What texts will I study?
We will be using the JACT Reading Latin (second edition) books
What will be expected of me in lessons?
We go at a fairly quick pace – the intention is to cover Section 1 in the course of the week! But the small class size means there is also a chance to focus on the bits you want to.
Post-Beginners Greek
What prior experience should I have?
Some prior experience of learning Ancient Greek is required: this should include confident knowledge of
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the alphabet
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the definite article
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the verb endings for present indicative active in omega (eg. ω, εις, ει etc.).
Students should also be willing to work at a faster pace than in the beginner’s class. Please note, if you have previously learned from the American system (which uses Nom, Gen, Dat, Acc for noun declension order) you should be willing to adapt to the English system of Nom, Acc, Gen, Dat. for the duration of this course.
Anyone who has completed a short beginner’s course with either the Reading Greek or the Athenaze texts will have suitable experience, but this is not essential.
How do I know if this is the right level for me?
Post-beginners is essentially aimed at those who have some introductory level of Greek, or those who are returning to the subject after a substantial break and would like a thorough recap.
What texts will I study?
JACT Reading Greek; there will be some rapid revision of Chapter 1, followed by in depth study of Chapters 2-4.
We will aim to cover
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1st/2nd Declension nouns and being introduction to 3rd
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Prepositions
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Personal pronouns
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The imperative
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Irregular and middle verbs
What will be expected of me in lessons?
You will be asked to engage actively with the lessons including reading aloud and completing in-class exercises, and to attend with homework exercises prepared to the best of your ability.
Post-Beginners Latin
What prior experience should I have?
You should be familiar with the grammar covered in Book 1 of Reading Latin, including:
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Present indicative active (incl. imperatives) verbs from conjugations 1-4, plus sum, eō, ferō, volō.
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1st, 2nd & 3rd declension nouns and adjectives
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1st & 2nd person pronouns
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Prepositions: in, ad, ā/ab, ē/ex
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Interrogatives: quis/quī
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Common case use, plus the partitive genitive (using nimis, satis, quid) and ablative of description.
We’ll revise all of these grammar points at the beginning of the week, so don’t worry if any of them feel a little rusty; however, it might be a good idea to go over them before the Summer School starts.
How do I know if this is the right level for me?
Post-beginners is essentially aimed at those who have some introductory level of Latin or those who are returning to the subject after a substantial break and would like a thorough recap.
What texts will I study?
We will be using Reading Latin for our textbook. We will work through Section 2: key features include the perfect and future tenses, 4th/5th declension nouns, numerals, deponent verbs, and additional irregulars, pronouns and case uses. After this, we’ll aim to move on to Section 3, which includes comparatives/superlatives, adverbs and participles. The passages in Section 2 are taken from Plautus’ Amphitruō, whilst Section 3 uses various sources to give an overview of Early Roman History.
What will be expected of me in lessons?
You will be asked to engage actively with the lessons including reading aloud and completing in-class exercises, and to attend with homework exercises prepared to the best of your ability.
Intermediate Greek 1
What prior experience should I have?
You should have studied at GCSE level or equivalent.
How do I know if this is the right level for me?
This would be an appropriate challenge for you if you are comfortable recognising standard subordinate clauses and constructions and would appreciate a focus on grammatical constructions, which will include tenses (indicative, active and middle), present optatives, present and aorist participles, infinitives and imperatives (active and middle); the main irregular verbs; adjectives and pronouns; and prepositions. If you would prefer to study a text in the original Greek, you might like to consider Intermediate Greek 2, which will follow on directly from Intermediate Greek 1.
What texts will I study?
JACT Reading Greek Sections 6-8.
What will be expected of me in lessons?
In class, we read aloud the Greek passages for study, and you will be asked to take a turn in translating into English. We work collaboratively to elicit and formalise the grammar from the reading passages. In between classes, you will be asked to prepare ahead, translating a reading passage or completing grammar exercises.
Intermediate Latin 1
What prior experience should I have?
You should have studied Latin for a few years or preparing for a GCSE level qualification or equivalent.
How do I know if this is the right level for me?
You should be comfortable recognising verb forms of all conjugations in the active and passive indicative and subjunctive, be familiar with participles and infinitives, and have come across all the noun declensions and some pronouns. If so, this level is fine for you; if you would prefer to challenge yourself and read some original text, you might want to consider Intermediate Latin 2, which will continue Reading Latin from the end of Chapter 8 before reading from Ovid’s Remedia Amoris
What texts will I study?
JACT Reading Latin Chapters 5-8, which covers sections of Cicero In Verrem
What will be expected of me in lessons?
IYou will be asked to prepare a short section of text of about 10-15 lines,and study vocabulary at your own time. You will work on more complex constructions and subordinate clauses in the lessons
Intermediate Greek 2
What prior experience should I have?
You should have studied at GCSE level or equivalent.
How do I know if this is the right level for me?
Intermediate Greek 2 will follow on from Intermediate Greek 1. If you are comfortable recognising standard subordinate clauses and constructions and have some experience of studying a set text, then this level should be an appropriate challenge. If you would prefer to reinforce key grammar and constructions, or have never studied an unmodified Greek text before, you might want to consider Intermediate Greek 1.
This would be ideal preparation for A Level if you have completed GCSE (or are due to complete it shortly)
What texts will I study?
JACT Reading Greek Sections 9-11 in the first half of the week, followed by extracts from Greek prose authors in Reading Greek Sections 16-19 in the second half of the week (Demosthenes, Plato and Herodotus)
What will be expected of me in lessons?
You will be asked to prepare a short section (equivalent of 20-30 lines of prose) ahead of each hour-long session and then to contribute to the translation and discussion of the text.
Intermediate Latin 2
What prior experience should I have?
You should have studied at GCSE level or equivalent.
How do I know if this is the right level for me?
Intermediate Latin 2 will follow directly on from Intermediate Latin 1. If you are comfortable recognising standard subordinate clauses and constructions and have some experience of studying a set text, then this level should be an appropriate challenge. If you would prefer to reinforce key grammar and constructions, or have never studied an unmodified Latin text before, you might want to consider Intermediate Latin 1.
This would be ideal preparation for A Level if you have completed GCSE (or are due to complete it shortly)
What texts will I study?
JACT Reading Latin beginning from Chapter 8-9 in the first half of the week, followed by extracts from Ovid’s Remedia Amoris in the second half of the week.
What will be expected of me in lessons?
You will be asked to prepare a short section (equivalent of 20-25 lines of verse) ahead of each hour-long session and then to contribute to the translation and discussion of the text.
Higher Greek
What prior experience should I have?
You should be studying Greek at A Level or equivalent
How will I know if this level is right for me?
This would be suitable if you are currently studying Greek at A Level, particularly if translating verse is new to you; Higher Greek is aimed at supporting the transition from y12 to y13, but would also be appropriate if you have studied Greek previously at A Level in the past. There will be revision of key grammatical components throughout the week, as well as discussion of the context and significance of the text. If you would prefer to read texts at a slightly faster pace without grammatical support and revision, Advanced Greek might be a more suitable level.
What texts will we cover?
Xenophon Memorabilia; Euripides Medea
What will be expected of me in sessions?
You will be asked to prepare a section ahead of each hour-long session and then to contribute to the translation and discussion of the text, with translation supported by the group leader. You will be asked to answer questions on key grammar, modelled on A Level-style questions.
Higher Latin
What prior experience should I have?
You should be studying Latin at A Level or equivalent
How will I know if this level is right for me?
This would be suitable if you are currently studying Latin at A Level, particularly if translating verse is new to you; Higher Latin is aimed at supporting the transition from y12 to y13, but would also be appropriate if you have studied Latin previously at A Level in the past. There will be revision of key grammatical components throughout the week, as well as discussion of the context and significance of the text. If you would prefer to read texts at a slightly faster pace without grammatical support and revision, Advanced Latin might be a more suitable level.
What texts will we cover?
Livy Book 1; Ovid Metamorphoses 10
What will be expected of me in sessions?
You will be asked to prepare a section ahead of each hour-long session and then to contribute to the translation and discussion of the text, with translation supported by the group leader. You will be asked to answer questions on key grammar, modelled on A Level-style questions.
Advanced Greek
What prior experience should I have?
You should have previously studied Greek at A Level, or be studying it at university level or similar
How will I know if this level is right for me?
This would be suitable if you would like to read Greek texts at speed and discuss their context or significance without the need for reviewing grammatical constructions; if you would prefer more grammatical support, Higher Greek might be more appropriate.
What texts will we cover?
Iliad 1; Lucian Menippus
What will be expected of me in sessions?
You will be asked to prepare a section of prose or verse text and to engage in translation and discussion; the group leader will prompt but it is expected that the majority of translation will be led by students preparing it in advance.
Advanced Latin