Ancient Greek: Lower Intermediate - Part 2



Overview

This course offers progression from Ancient Greek: Lower Intermediate - Part 1.

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 prepares you to read such texts in the original language, and to explore the grammar and deeper meanings of the language.

In the classes, we will translate texts from Greek into English, compose texts in Greek and anaylse 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.

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

Programme details

Course starts: 20 Jan 2024

Week 1: Imperative mood; vocative

Week 2: Impersonal constructions; root aorist

Week 3: Aorist optative; athematic verbs; 3-1-3 and 3-3 declension adjectives

Week 4: Relative pronouns and clauses; voice; genitive absolute; adverbs (formation and comparatives)

Week 5: Aorist passive; ἵστημι; infinitives in indirect speech; accusative absolute

Week 6: Conditionals; wishes; ὅπως clauses

Week 7: Future passive; participles in indirect speech

Week 8: Two uses of the infinitive (gerund + πρίν); perfect

Week 9: Subjunctive; sequence of tenses and moods; subjunctive and optative usages compared; uses of ἄν; the negatives οὐ and μή

Week 10: Pluperfect; verbal adjectives; purpose and fear clauses

Textbooks

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

Reading Greek: Grammar and Exercises (Second Edition) / JACT

Reading Greek: Text (Second Edition) / JACT

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

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

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 be able to translate or compose simple texts without needing a dictionary.

Course Objectives:

  • To translate and understand adapted texts in ancient Greek.
  • To build up vocabulary and understand advanced grammar topics.
  • To develop contextual knowledge about 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:

  • understand and translate short texts from ancient Greek into English and compose their own basic texts in Greek;
  • demonstrate familiarity with some aspects of 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 learning and 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.

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 will assume knowledge of the Introductory Greek course, and Part 1 of the Lower Intermediate course, both of which are based on the JACT Reading Greek course, second edition. 

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 Lower Intermediate - Part 1 course and builds on that knowledge. It continues with Reading Greek, supplemented with additional materials. The nature of the grammar covered becomes more advanced, with additional linguistic constructions, many of which rely on a thorough knowledge of what has been covered previously. The texts we read are more demanding but offer further opportunities to read ancient Greek authors in the original language. Details of the grammar and syntactic structures to be covered are listed in the prgramme details.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support