coming up in 2012

August .... 

                POST-BEGINNERS' FIVE-DAY LATIN COURSE  

                20th-24th August 2012    Click here for details and enrolment

Coming soon in 2012....  

               MYTHS AND STORIES FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD

               An evening session on ancient stories (e.g. Aeneas, Daedalus and

               Icarus, Narcissus and Echo), to include readings of Latin. Details to follow.    

More about Gloucester Cathedral

Student reviews

Five-day course (August 2011)

This five-day Latin course held in the Parliament Rooms at Gloucester Cathedral in August 2011 was the first of its kind in this historic setting. Twenty-five students gathered for an introduction or re-introduction to Latin and the writings of ancient authors. Here are some students' feedback:

"News of a five-day Latin Course in Gloucester Cathedral came to me by word of mouth from a friend who was following an MA course in classical studies at Birkbeck College, London. A flyer had alerted her to this initiative.

     On the one hand, it seemed a wonderful, retro, zany idea, and one that would fit in very well with my own plans to take an Open University course in "Reading Classical Latin" in the autumn. But, on the other hand, what kind of student could it possibly attract? The course was geared to both "complete beginners" and"rusty returners", and the worry was how many of the students would be familiar with learning a new language? Would we be spending five days discussing subject and object, and drinking tea in the cloisters?

     As it turned out, the students were as varied as the course was focused. A rigorous plan took us from "The farmer fears the bull" to judiciously chosen quotations from Suetonius and Cicero—all in five days! For "rusty returners", this made great sense. The greatest pleasure was that from day one, we were introduced to quotes from the ancients. There was also a very pleasing chronological progression in the quotations given (for translation) that amounted to a brilliant survey of the history of Rome from the Republic to the Decline of the Empire. But I did worry that those who were coming to the language for the first time might be struggling to get a grip.
      We were organized in groups of five, and competition was encouraged, in a very friendly and relaxed way. All in all, the course turned out to be both a challenge and a pleasure. One of the greatest pleasures was, of course, the venue. We had a view of Gloucester Cathedral through the windows of the Council Chamber where we were situated (any student will tell you how important the view from the windows is for inspiration, concentration, daydreaming, association, etc).
      What was, however, a total surprise and unexpected delight, was the stress put on spoken Latin. This came towards the end of the course—a couple of film clips, with actors speaking Latin in dramatic roles, and a recital of Horace by the course leader. Was Latin really so melodious when recited? This aspect of the course really added a new and very exciting dimension to my appreciation of the language. I will certainly refer back to it in my future study of Latin language and literature."

"I think you covered a huge amount in the time given, and working together on the translations was great fun. The quick canter through the history of the period was excellent: I learned a great deal and it has inspired me to further reading."

"The course was comprehensive, and because of the time span, at times quite pacey. Though there was some sweating and head-scratching (and why shouldn't there be?), I found that my previous knowledge may have been buried but was by no means lost. By the end of the week, I had not only improved in ability, but perhaps more importantly, in the confidence to take it further."

"I wanted to brush up on my Latin to help with reading seventeenth century scientific texts as part of my research degree. Although I'd originally learned Latin at school, I'd let it go completely and expected a real struggle to get back into it in just a week. The course at Gloucester Cathedral was hard work, but it was so much more fun than I'd expected too! The class was a great mix of people, all different ages and experiences of the language and Roman history and literature—and working in teams was a great way to make the most of everybody's knowledge. The group exercises and quizzes were fun and a good way to practise the grammar and vocabulary without feeling you were having to memorise big lists. Plus, having the class in Gloucester Cathedral gave it just that little bit more atmosphere than a standard classroom! Thanks Latin Qvarter—a great course!"

"Just to say a huge “Thank you” for your care and enthusiasm during our whistlestop tour of the Roman world. I loved it, every minute! It really was brilliant and thank you."

Beginners' weekend course (February 2012)

A weekend Latin course for beginners which covered the first part of Get Started in Latin (Sharpley/Hodder):

"A challenging but wholly positive experience with superb tutoring."

"Fast pace, but as an absolute beginner I made remarkable progress and was able to manage the translation of the story by the end."

"Very well pitched at beginners yet still challenging in a positive way. Gave me both the language knowledge and a feel for how English was influenced and enriched by Latin."

"Totally alien structure, words and then three-dimensional grammar came as a real shock. Lost the will to live by lunchtime. Consolidation and revision saw me through. Very good tuition."

"The pace was brisk. Amazed that I managed to keep up. Teaching excellent. A challenge which I really enjoyed."

"The coursebook is clear and concise and amusingly put together."

"The course was set at an ideal pace for beginners, and the course material was very interesting and informative and also challenging. The location and tutor were superb."

"The course was perfect for both the complete beginner and someone with a smattering of Latin vocab, and the teaching style very inclusive. Wonderful venue!"

"The course was very much in line with our expectations. We came with different levels of Latin-literacy and the tutor was wonderfully able to “pitch” the material to different individuals’ levels of learning. Many thanks for a very instructive, enjoyable learning experience!"

Latin poetry workshop (March 2012)

A one-day course on the pronunciation of Latin and Latin verse:

"Really enjoyed the day, it was fascinating getting to grips with the idea of balancing stress and metre in a kind of counterpoint or syncopation!"

in a kind of counterpoint or syncopation!

"Thank you for a very interesting day on Saturday. I feel as if I have looked into a whole new book that I hadn't had time for before."

"A fascinating day—and what a good lunch and tea!"

Latin language classes, courses, readings, books and films