JACT Durham Greek & Latin Summer School
Courses
At the JACT Durham Greek & Latin Summer School we offer a range of courses in both Latin and Greek to cater for all abilities and experience. This ranges from absolute beginner to university-level study. We are also offering two new course options for 2026! These include a brand new Classical Civilisation course and a Homer & Tragedy Reading Group.
Please read the descriptions of the courses below and contact our Director of Studies, Dr Joe Watson on - joe.durham.lgss@gmail.com if you have any questions, or aren't sure which course would be most appropriate, as it's very important to pick a course option that is both enjoyable and comfortable for you.
At Higher and Advanced levels, it's possible to study half a week of each language. However, please note that at Beginner's, Post-Beginners', and Intermediate levels, we think it's more important to focus on one language, and don't allow that flexibility.
‘I had a fantastic experience at the Summer School. The teaching was excellent, the atmosphere was welcoming, and it was inspiring to be surrounded by others who share a passion for the Ancient World’
(Higher Greek Student - 2025)
‘My tutor was excellent! He often broke down foundational grammatical rules into really understandable structures which has now shifted my interest towards Ancient Greek’
(Beginners' Greek Student - 2025)
‘My tutor was amazing’
(Advanced Greek Student - 2025)
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?
Latin to GCSE Book 1
What will be expected of me in lessons?
The sessions will involve learning vocabulary and grammar, reading short, basic texts, and some group work. There will be plenty of time for revision and individual study in between sessions.
Beginners' Greek
What prior experience should I have?
None
How do I know if this is the right level for me?
You have never done any Greek before (or you have done a bit but have forgotten!)
What texts will I study?
Greek to GCSE Book 1
What will be expected of me in lessons?
The sessions will involve learning vocabulary and grammar, reading short, basic texts, and some group work. There will be plenty of time for revision and individual study in between sessions.
Post-Beginners' Latin
What prior experience should I have?
You should be familiar with …
- Present indicative active (incl. imperatives)
- verbs from conjugations 1-4
- 1st, 2nd & 3rd declension nouns and adjectives
- 1st & 2nd person pronouns
- Prepositions: in, ad, ā/ab, ē/ex
- Interrogatives: quis/quī
- 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, 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 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?
Latin to GCSE Book 1
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' Greek
What prior experience should I have?
You should be familiar with …
- The Greek alphabet
- The definite article
- The verb endings for present indicative active in omega
(e.g.. ω, εις, ει etc.).
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 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?
Greek to GCSE Book 1
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 Latin 1
What prior experience should I have?
You should have studied Latin for a few years or be 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.
This would be an ideal option if you are currently studying at GCSE level or would like revision of key constructions and grammar; if you would prefer more time reading Latin texts in the original, you may wish to consider Intermediate Latin 2.
What texts will I study?
Latin to GCSE Book 2
What will be expected of me in lessons?
You 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 1
What prior experience should I have?
You should have studied Greek for a few years or be preparing for a GCSE qualification 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 optative, present and aorist participles, infinitives and imperatives (active and middle); the main irregular verbs; adjectives and pronouns; and prepositions.
This would be an ideal option if you are currently studying at GCSE level or would like revision of key constructions and grammar; if you would prefer more time reading Greek texts in the original, you may wish to consider Intermediate Greek 2.
What texts will I study?
Greek to GCSE Book 2
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.
Intermediate Latin 2
What prior experience should I have?
You should have studied Latin for a few years, have just finished at GCSE level, or have already completed Intermediate Latin 1.
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.
This would be an ideal option if you have just completed GCSE Latin. If you would prefer more time reading Latin texts in the original, you may wish to consider Higher Latin.
What texts will I study?
Latin Beyond GCSE
&
Reading Latin
What will be expected of me in lessons?
You 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 Greek for a few years, have just finished at GCSE level, or have already completed Intermediate Greek 1.
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 optative, present and aorist participles, infinitives and imperatives (active and middle); the main irregular verbs; adjectives and pronouns; and prepositions.
This would be an ideal option if you have just completed GCSE Greek. If you would prefer more time reading Greek texts in the original, you may wish to consider Higher Greek
What texts will I study?
Greek Beyond GCSE
&
Reading Greek
What will be expected of me in lessons?
You 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.
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 Year 12 to Year 13, 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?
Texts for 2026 - Selections TBC
The texts selected for Higher Latin reflect and support the unseen component of the OCR A Level. For 2026, this means that students will study Ovid (for the verse selection) and Livy (for the prose selection).
What will be expected of me in lessons?
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 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 Year 12 to Year 13, 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?
Texts for 2026 - Selections TBC
The texts selected for Higher Greek reflect and support the unseen component of the OCR A Level. For 2026, this means that students will study Sophocles (for the verse selection) and Xenophon (for the prose selection).
What will be expected of me in lessons?
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 Latin
What prior experience should I have?
You should have previously studied Latin at A Level, or be studying it at university level or similar.
How will I know if this level is right for me?
This group would be suitable if you would like to read Latin texts at speed and discuss their context or significance without the need for reviewing grammatical constructions; this is also the right level for students interested in the ways that scholars think about the texts being read. If you would prefer more grammatical support, Higher Latin might be more appropriate.
What texts will we cover?
Texts for 2026 - Selections TBC
What will be expected of me in lessons?
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 Greek
What prior experience should I have?
You should have previously studied Ancient 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 group 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; this is also the right level for students interested in the ways that scholars think about the texts being read. If you would prefer more grammatical support, Higher Greek might be more appropriate.
What texts will we cover?
Texts for 2026 - Selections TBC
What will be expected of me in lessons?
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.
Classical Civilisation
Women: The Reality Behind the Myth
This course examines the tension between myth and reality in the lives of women in Ancient Greece.
Beginning with mythological portrayals such as monstrous hybrids, sorceresses, and figures of “otherness”, students will consider how women were imagined in epic poetry, tragic drama, and visual culture. The course will go on to examine Athens in the 5th century BCE, and explore women’s roles in religion, the household, and civic life.
Drawing on literary texts, visual evidence, and archaeological sources, students will investigate how representations both reflected and distorted women’s lived experiences. Central to the course is the question of how myth shaped, concealed, or revealed the realities of women’s place in Greek society.
How will I know if this course is right for me?
This course assumes no prior knowledge of Ancient Greek society or language and will be especially valuable for students preparing for the 'Women in the Ancient World' component of the OCR GCSE syllabus in Classical Civilisation, or as advanced preparation for A Level or undergraduate study in Classics and Ancient History.
Additionally, this course will be ideal for anyone who has an interest in the lived experiences of women in the Ancient Greek World.
Homer & Tragedy
Reading Group
What prior experience should I have?
This course is aimed at highly-skilled students who already have extensive experience in reading Greek, and want to focus on reading through a heavily prepared text, with little or no pause for grammatical explanation.
What texts will we cover?
Texts for 2026
Homer: 1 Book (text TBC)
Tragedy: Half a play (text TBC)
How will I know if this level is right for me?
You will be asked to prepare extensively throughout the year, ahead of the Summer School to enable an elevated reading pace. The course tutor will lead on conversations about the text's finer points, but this is a group for students who want to work on a text with which they are already familiar.