Overview

The London Classics Summer School offers you 8 days of intensive teaching in Greek or Latin, at all levels.

Classes in ancient/medieval languages (Sanskrit, Hittite, Biblical Hebrew, and Byzantine Greek), will be available, subject to demand. Please note that some of these languages may be offered online only. 

The summer school caters for school and university students, and for anyone else who wants to learn Greek or Latin, or revive their knowledge of these languages.   

You'll undertake a thorough programme of language learning in a lively university environment, taught by highly experienced tutors. 

Course content

All classes are language based. Some classes concentrate mainly on reading texts, while others offer a mixture of grammar and translation practice. The precise content of each class is defined by individual tutors, depending on the needs of the class.

Depending on your level, and your chosen language, the aims of the course are to:

• introduce you to the vocabulary and grammar of your chosen language
• help you read simple texts and/or original texts
• help you brush up your language skills
• advance your knowledge in preparation for undergraduate or postgraduate study (if appropriate)
• help you acquire an ancient language

Who this course is for

This short course is suitable for:

• learners with no prior knowledge of the languages
• pre-GCSE level students
• GCSE and A-level students
• university students (UCL and elsewhere)
• mature learners who wish to expand their linguistic knowledge

Anyone over the age of 14 can apply.

Course structure and teaching

The summer school takes place over 8 days. You'll attend language classes, lectures and workshops, between 10:30am and 4:30pm each day. There's no teaching over the weekend.

For the classes, you'll be assigned to a teaching group of about 12 to 15 people. As far as possible, groups will be made up of students of roughly the same level of experience (beginners, intermediate or advanced).

You'll have 4 hours of teaching per day, focusing on grammar, syntax and translation techniques.

There may also be optional lectures and workshops on selected afternoons.

Assessment and certificates

There's no formal assessment. You'll be issued with a certificate of attendance on completing the course.

Learning outcomes

Depending on your chosen language, and level, you'll be able to:

• understand the grammar and syntax of Greek or Latin
• read texts in the original language (adapted or unadapted, depending on level)
• gain a better awareness of the inner workings of Greek and Latin and use this to approach real texts
• be introduced to Hittite, Sumerian, and Biblical Hebrew and read simple texts in these languages 
• read unadapted texts in Sanskrit and Byzantine Greek. 

Cost

The fee for the summer school is £170. This includes all tuition and online material.

Course team

Dr Dimitra Kokkini

Dimitra is an Honorary Research Fellow at UCL's Department of Greek and Latin. She was Director of the London Classics Summer School 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021-present, and has taught on the summer school since 2007. She's also taught at other institutions including King's College London, Royal Holloway, Birkbeck, Cardiff University, and the University of Kent. She's an alumna of the UCL Department of Greek and Latin, where she completed a PhD in Ancient Greek Literature.

Course information last modified: 26 Jan 2024, 12:01