Introduction to Latin

Thursday, 6 - 7pm

Start Date

2 October, 2025

There will be 10 weekly meetings on Thursday,  6 - 7pm, starting from 2 October. 

Overview

Introduction to Latin provides students with the basics key elements of Latin grammar and helps them gain an understanding of some important features of Roman culture and society. Students will be prompted to learn Latin vocabulary and to find English derivatives, an exercise which will also improve their English speaking and writing skills.

Introduction to Latin is suitable for students of both Humanities and Sciences: Latin is the mother language of the five Romance languages – Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Romanian – and also acted as the historical lingua franca of Western Civilisation. Latin provides the root words for sciences such as biology, chemistry, logic and law; its rich grammar system enables students to improve their attention to detail and critical thinking, and offers a great intellectual satisfaction. No prior knowledge of Latin is required to attend this course.

Syllabus

Week 1: 

  • An introduction to Latin language, its history and structure. Brief outline of resources which will be used in the module. Pronunciation of Latin – including difference between the classical and ecclesiastical varieties. Spoken Latin: Choosing a Latin name, dialogue with simple greeting and farewell, formulae for beginning and ending letters. Basic classroom instructions in Latin.
  • CLC Stage 1: Pompeii and Caecilius’ family.
  • Grammar: Nominative and 3rd. pers. sing. Verbs; syntax of SUM sentences.

Week 2:

  • CLC Stage 1: reading passage (Cerberus). Culture focus: a Roman house. Questions with quis and quid. CLC Stage 2: Reading passages (mercātor; in tricliniō).
  • Grammar: Introduction to cases: nominative and accusative singular of masculine and feminine 1st, 2nd and 3rd declension nouns. SOV structure.

Week 3:

  • CLC Stage 2: Grammar exercise and reading passage amīcus.
  • Cultural background: daily life in a Roman town.
  • CLC Stage 3: reading passages in forō; pictor; tōnsor [translation and comprehension exercise].
  • Grammar: Nominative and accusative singular. Sentence pattern NOMINATIVE + ACCUSATIVE + VERB (SOV).

Week 4:

  • Vocabulary quiz for stages 1, 2, and 3.
  • CLC Stage 3: Reading passage vēnālicius. Practice with nominative and accusative endings [language consolidation].
  • Cultural background: the town of Pompeii.
  • CLC Stage 4: reading passages Hermogenēs; in basilicā.
  • Grammar: 1st and 2nd person singular present, including sum, es. The pronouns ego and tu.

Week 5:

  • CLC Stage 4: Reading passage: Grumiō et leō.
  • CLC Stage 5: Reading passage: āctōrēs.
  • Cultural background: Roman Theatre.
  • Grammar: Nominative plural of 1st, 2nd and 3rd declension nouns, 3rd. person plural verbs. Brief introduction to the six cases and to the four verb conjugations with (Ppt LATIN NOUNS; ppt LATIN VERB).

Week 6:

  • CLC Stage 5: Reading passage Poppaea.
  • Grammar revision: LATIN NOUNS and LATIN VERBS (nominative singular and plural, accusative singular of declensions 1, 2, 3; singular present indicative and 3rd. person plural). Practising the language (CLC I, p. 63).
  • CLC Stage 6: Translation of in theātrō. Reading passage pugna; Fēlīx [comprehension exercise].
  • Grammar: The Imperfect and Perfect tenses.

 

Week 7:

  • CLC Stage 6: Reading passages Fēlīx et fūr; avārus.
  • Grammar: The Imperfect and Perfect tenses. Imperfect of SUM: erat and erant.
  • Cultural background: Slaves and freedmen.

Week 8:

  • Class Mock Test: grammar and vocabulary.
  • Grammar and vocabulary big revision.
  • Cultural Background Booklet and hands-on activity.

Week 9:

  • CLC Stage 7: Reading passages fābula mīrābilis; Dēcēns; post cēnam [translation and comprehension].
  • Grammar: Imperfect and Perfect revision; more Perfect tenses: second and third conjugations, some irregular forms.
  • Cultural Background: Roman beliefs about the afterlife.              

Week 10:

  • CLC Stage 7: Read Metella et Melissa. Language consolidation: Practising the Language (singular and plural verb; nominative and accusative).
  • CLC Stage 8: Reading passages gladiātōrēs; in arēna.
  • Grammar: Accusative plural.

Please note that the ‘last date available to book’ date is only a guide. We reserve the right to close bookings earlier.

In order to avoid disappointment, please be sure enrol as soon as possible. Registrations will not be processed until the following day if received after 3pm. 

Course Lecturer: Dr Guen Taietti 

Guendalina D.M. Taietti is an Italian Classicists based in Greece. Her research focusses on the Greek Reception of Alexander the Great from antiquity to the present day, Macedonian History, and the study of Human-Animal relationships in Antiquity. Guen completed her PhD in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Liverpool in 2017 and taught Classics both at school and University level in Italy, Greece, the UK, and China. In 2021 she joined the Continuing Education Department of the University of Liverpool as a Classics Tutor, and since April 2025 she is the Beatriu de Pinós Postdoctoral Researcher in Ancient History at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Alongside her research, Guen is extremely enthusiastic about making Classics accessible to the wider public, travelling, and learning new languages and cultures. In her free time, she is an amateur long-distance runner and an advocate for animal rights and the environment.

Courses fees: Full fee £155/Concession £80

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