Latin: Beginners - Part 2



Overview

Building upon Latin: Beginners - Part 1, this course 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 sections 2 and 3 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 sections of Jones and Sidwell's lively textbook Reading Latin, using adapted extracts from comedies by Plautus and other Latin authors. The structure of the course means that  translating extended passages will be a central part of the course  - 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 12 Jan 2026 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 19 Jan 2026, 4.30-5.30pm (UK time).

Listed below are the grammatical and linguistic constructions to be covered each week: 

Week 1: Introduction - 3rd declension adjectives 

Week 2: Nouns - the dative case; the ablative case

Week 3: Verbs - the future tense

Week 4: Nouns - 4th declension; introduction to numbers

Week 5: Verbs - deponents, present tense; negative commands

Week 6: Nouns - 5th declension; special adjectives 

Week 7: Pronouns - demonstratives 'hic' and 'ille' 

Week 8: Verbs - the perfect tense 

Week 9: Verbs - the pluperfect tense

Week 10: Verbs - deponents, future tense

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. Nicolas 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. 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 a strong and 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 short, optional assignments to consolidate your learning and to allow you to progress at your own pace.

Application

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

Level and demands

Students will be expected to have completed Latin: Beginners - Part 1, but the course 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.

IT requirements

Any standard web browser can be used to access course materials on our virtual learning environment, but we recommend Google Chrome. We also recommend that students join the live webinars on Microsoft Teams using a laptop or desktop computer rather than a phone or tablet due to the limited functionality of the app on these devices.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support