Ancient Greek: Beginners - Part 2



Overview

This course builds on Ancient Greek: Beginners - Part 1, and allows you to extend and revise your grammatical knowledge so far while reading some engaging texts in Greek. We will consolidate our grammar from while covering further topics like 3rd declension nouns and adjectives, the future and imperfect tenses of verbs.

We will continue with the narrative from the first part of the course and will have increasing opportunities to practice translation skills. Through the study of texts and class discussions, students will gain an insight into aspects of Greek culture and thought. 

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

Programme details

Courses starts: 23 Jan 2025

Week 1: Recap of 3rd declension endings; practice with nouns and pronouns

Week 2: Negation and demonstrative pronouns

Week 3: Irregular nouns and adjectives

Week 4: Different types of 3rd declension nouns and 3rd declension adjectives

Week 5: More 3rd declension nouns and pronouns.

Week 6: Present participles - introduction

Week 7: Present participles - middle and contract; elision and crasis

Week 8: Imperfect active verbs

Week 9: Imperfect verbs in middle and contract forms

Week 10: Final 3rd declension nouns; the future tense

Textbooks

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

JACT      Reading Greek: Grammar and Exercises, Cambridge University Press, 2007

JACT      Reading Greek: Text and Vocabulary, Cambridge University Press, 2007

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 £275.00

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

Mrs Elena Vacca

Elena Giulia Vacca is a Classicist specialising in Comparative Literature and Classical Reception in Russian Literature. She lectures in Latin Language at the University of Oxford and is also a Classics tutor for Latin and Classical Greek in City Literary Institute of London. She is currently working on her PhD project at the University of Oxford. She also teaches Italian as a foreign language (L2) in the Italian Cultural Institute of London.

Course aims

Part 2 builds on the linguistic features covered in Part 1, to enable reading of more complex texts in Greek and develop confidence in translating into Greek. 

Course objectives:

  • Expand the range of vocabulary items studied.
  • Anaylse more complex sentence structures.
  • Provide opportunities for reading simple texts with fluency and confidence.
  • Introduce students to some aspects of Greek culture and thought.
  • Translate simple sentences into Greek. 

Teaching methods

Pre-recorded videos explaining vocabulary and grammar structures and working through texts will be supported by live sessions reviewing the same areas and offering opportunities for discussion, practise and development. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will: 

  • have acquired a strong basic vocabulary in Ancient Greek;
  • demonstrate the ability to recognise and analyse a range of linguistic structures in Ancient Greek;
  • be able to translate basic sentences into Greek;
  • have gained some understanding of the fifth century Athenian cultural background to the stories read during the course.

Assessment methods

You will be set short, optional assignments to consolidate your learning and allow you to progress at your own pace.

Application

We will close for enrolments 14 days prior to the start date to allow us to complete the course set up. We will email you at that time (14 days before the course begins) with further information and joining instructions. As always, students will want to check spam and junk folders during this period to ensure that these emails are received.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

This course assumes knowledge of the vocabulary and grammar structures covered in Part 1 and will build on these. The level of linguistic demand is moderately high in that there is a considerable amount of ground covered at some pace, but there is plenty of revision built in. 

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support