Latin: Beginners - Part 1



Overview

This course is intended for beginners but is also suitable for those wishing to refresh their Latin. It will comprise one weekly, one-hour pre-recorded lecture to be viewed by students in preparation for the weekly tutor-led live session at the advertised time. Students will be encouraged to prepare and study at home.

Using the first two sections of Jones and Sidwell's textbook 'Reading Latin', we will meet major noun and adjective groups, several tenses of active verbs, and a number of pronouns. 

We will be working through the first two sections of Jones and Sidwell's lively textbook Reading Latin, using adapted extracts from comedies by Plautus, and providing an amusing introduction to the Roman comic tradition. The structure of the course means that we will be translating extended passages from the beginning - an essential way to get to grips with Latin in practice.

By the end of the course we will have encountered all major noun and adjective groups, and be familiar with the future and present tenses of active and deponent verbs and the perfect form of active verbs, giving students the confidence to begin to navigate original Latin texts. 

This course combines online study with a weekly 1-hour live webinar led by your tutor. Find out more about how our short online courses are taught.

Programme details

This course begins on the 15 Sept 2025 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 22 Sept 2025, 5.30-6.30pm (UK time).

Our public programme is open access, and most adult language classes are mixed ability. The weekly course schedule below is intended to give an overview of the main grammatical and linguistic constructions likely to be covered each week. Please note that these may sometimes change according to the tutor’s discretion to reflect the interests of course participants.

Week 1: Introduction and verbs - the irregular verb 'sum'; first conjugation; second conjugation. 

Week 2: Nouns - the Latin case system; 1st declension nouns; second declension nouns. 

Week 3: Nouns - 3rd declension nouns; Adjectives - 3rd declension.

Week 4: Adjectives - 1st and 2nd declension adjectives; 2nd declension neuter adjectives; irregular nouns. 

Week 5: Verbs - imperatives; the verb 'eo'; prepositions; possessive adjectives; personal pronouns. 

Week 6: Nouns and adjectives - 1st and 2nd declension nouns and adjectives in -er; 3rd and 4th conjugation verbs.  

Week 7: Interrogative pronouns/adjectives; 3rd declension neuter nouns.  

Week 8: Verbs - mixed conjugations; imperatives; enclitic -ne. 

Week 9: Verbs -  irregular verbs 'fero' and 'volo'; quid + genitive. 

Week 10: Personal pronouns; infinitives; prinicipal parts of verbs. 

Textbooks

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

  • Jones, P. V. (Peter V.), and Keith C Sidwell. Reading Latin. Text and Vocabulary. Second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016. 
  • Jones, P. V. (Peter V.), and Keith C Sidwell. Reading Latin. Grammar and Exercises. Second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016

In addition to the course textbook, there will be additional learning resources made available for self-study and consolidation.
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 £360.00

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 Nicolas Liney

Nicolas Liney completed a Bachelor of Arts  at the University of Sydney and obtained his Master of Studies in Latin Language and Literature and DPhil in Classics from the University of Oxford. He specialises in Imperial Latin poetry, and has taught Latin and Greek widely.

Course aims

To equip students with a strong foundation for fundamental Latin grammar and syntax, help them develop a small working vocabulary, and introduce them to reading basic Latin texts. 

Course Objectives:

  • To cover, through translation and exercises, the grammar topics as outlined in the programme details.
  • To develop understanding of the Roman cultural world through discussion of the adapted texts and their context.
  • To encourage students to pursue Latin at a higher level. 

Teaching methods

This course takes place over 10 weeks, with a weekly learning schedule and weekly live webinar held on Microsoft Teams. Shortly before a course commences, students are provided with access to an online virtual learning environment, which houses the course content, including video lectures, complemented by readings or other study materials. Any standard web browser can be used to access these materials, but we recommend Google Chrome. Working through these materials over the course of the week will prepare students for a weekly 1-hour live webinar you will share with your expert tutor and fellow students. All courses are structured to amount to 100 study hours, so that on average, you should set aside 10 hours a week for study. Although the course finishes after 10 weeks, all learning materials remain available to all students for 12 months after the course has finished.

All courses are led by an expert tutor. Tutors guide students through the course materials as part of the live interactions during the weekly webinars. Tutors will also provide individualised feedback on your assignments. All online courses are taught in small student cohorts so that you and your peers will form a mutually supportive and vibrant learning community for the duration of the course. You will learn from your fellow students as well as from your tutor, and they will learn from you.

Learning outcomes

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

  • have developed a demonstrable understanding of basic Latin grammar and syntax, displayed through weekly assignments, class work and discussions, and quizzes;
  • be able to read and write basic Latin sentences, and analyse their grammar and syntax;
  • comprehend basic, adapted Latin prose and dramatic texts, with a view to pursuing further study and reading autonomously. 

Assessment methods

You will be set optional assignments to consolidate your learning and to allow you to progress at your own pace. Weekly tests/quizzes and homework will provide a means of gauging progress over the course. 

 

Application

Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.

Level and demands

Latin: Beginners assumes no prior knowledge of Latin, but it is also suitable for those who wish to refresh their Latin. To benefit from the course, regular preparation in advance of each class is strongly encouraged. In addition to the course textbook, there will be additional learning resources for self-study and consolidation.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support