Ancient Greek: Lower Intermediate - Part 1



Overview

Learning ancient Greek opens up a window into a captivating world, one that is both completely alien to ours and in some ways remarkably close. It allows us unmediated access to the religious, political, philosophical and scientific thought of a culture that has hugely influenced our own, as well as to some of the some of the most compelling literature ever composed. This course will prepare you to read such texts in the original language, and to explore the grammar and deeper meanings of the language.

Students are expected to have either completed Ancient Greek 1 or have equivalent prior knowledge of ancient Greek. In the classes, we will translate texts from Greek into English, compose texts in Greek and identify grammar structures using the JACT Reading Greek textbook. We will explore aspects of literature, religion, philosophy, the visual arts and the society of ancient Greece, and discuss how cultural developments in the ancient world affect our modern lives.

Programme details

Course starts: 18th Sep 2023

Week 0: Course orientation

Week 1: Revision of AG1 content and weak aorist and aspect

Week 2: Strong aorist 

Week 3: Indirect speech (interrogative/indefinite/relative pronouns)

Week 4: Participles

Week 5: Infinitives

Week 6: Comparative and superlative adjectives

Week 7: Reflexive and non-reflexive personal pronouns

Week 8: Optative

Week 9: Independent optative and infinitive as a noun

Week 10: Subjunctive and adverbs

Certification

Students who attend a minimum of 70% of classes will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £251.00

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 Anna Athanasopoulou

Anna studied Classics at the University of Athens, including a semester in Paris, France, before pursuing her postgraduate studies in the UK. She earned her MA from UCL and a PhD from Magdalene College, Cambridge. Currently, she supervises papers in Greek and Latin language and literature for the Faculty of Classics at Cambridge and teaches for the Department for Continuing Education at the University of Oxford. She has also previously taught a postgraduate course on Greek philosophical language at UCL. Her research interests encompass Imperial Greek literature (1st-5th c. C.E.), ancient and modern ecphrastic writing, text/image theories, as well as embodied, sensory, and ecocritical approaches to Classics.

Course aims

Students will explore adapted texts from ancient Greek literature in the original language and become familiar with aspects of ancient Greek culture, thought and society. They will expand their vocabulary and grammar structures to be able to translate or compose simple texts without needing a dictionary.

Course Objectives:

  • To understand, analyse and translate adapted texts in ancient Greek.
  • To expand the range of vocabulary items and understand advanced grammar topics.
  • To develop an insight into ancient Greek culture, thought and society.

Teaching methods

This course will consist of a weekly, one-hour pre-recorded lecture to be viewed by students in preparation for the once weekly tutor-led live session at the time advertised.

The real time interaction will focus on grammar, translating and composing ancient Greek texts and exploring aspects of ancient Greek culture. Students will be encouraged to practise reading and writing skills in their own time.

English will be the medium of instruction and will be used to explain new concepts, vocabulary items, grammar rules or the methodology behind an activity.

To benefit from the course, regular preparation in advance of the class is required. In addition to the course textbook(s), there will be some additional learning resources for self-study and consolidation. Students will be encouraged to participate and have fun.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • translate short texts from ancient Greek into English and compose their own basic texts in Greek;
  • feel confident with Greek grammar and vocabulary;
  • have gained some knowledge of ancient Greek culture, thought and society.

Assessment methods

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

Application

We will close for enrolments 7 days prior to the start date to allow us to complete the course set up. We will email you at that time (7 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.

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

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

Level and demands

The course relies on students having a thorough knowledge of the content of the introductory Greek Course, as taken from the JACT Reading Greek textbook. The course is challenging: it is fast-paced and covers a considerable amount of grammar, as outlined above. The texts are also of an increasing level of difficulty, but are enjoyable and rewarding. 

Selection criteria

This course assumes a knowledge of the material covered in the introductory Greek course, and builds on that knowledge. It continues with Reading Greek, supplemented with additional materials. The nature of the grammar covered becomes more complex, with additional linguistic constructions, many of which rely on a thorough knowledge of what has been covered previously. The texts which we read will become progressively more challenging, offering opportunities to start reading original Greek and enjoy ancient authors. The details of the points of grammar covered are listed in the programme details.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support