Undergraduate

Reading classical Latin

On this page

• What you will study
• Entry
• If you have a disability or additional requirement
• Study materials
• Teaching and assessment
• Students also studied
• Future availability

This beginner’s course in reading classical Latin introduces you to key vocabulary and the basics of Latin grammar, as you work towards tackling original texts on your own – such as passages from Roman drama and Cicero’s famous speeches. The language is taught in its historical and cultural context, complementing your studies with an awareness of Roman society and literature. No previous knowledge of Latin is needed, but you’re strongly advised to familiarise yourself with grammatical terms in English beforehand – a preparatory booklet is available. Reading about Roman civilisation is also a helpful and enjoyable way to gain a cultural background to the course.

Course facts

Register for the course

This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.

What you will study

This course introduces the vocabulary, grammar and language structures needed to study Latin passages. You will progress from basic to more complex grammatical exercises which tease out the constructions you are meeting in your texts. Much of your time will be devoted to studying passages adapted from real texts so that you gain a sense of the structure and style of Latin sentences. You begin by reading passages adapted from the second-century-BCE comic playwright Plautus. Towards the end of the course, however, you’ll begin to read adapted extracts from the legal speeches which shot Cicero to fame: namely his prosecution of the Roman governor Verres (first century BCE).

The course is also a useful introduction to the history and society of the Roman Republic and explores terms, concepts and figures that appear in Exploring the classical world (A219) and the Level 3 course Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds (A330).

The study materials make the language as accessible as possible for the distance learner and no prior experience of language learning is assumed. The book around which this course is based, Reading Latin: Grammar Vocabulary and Exercises (GVE), provides you with steady support throughout your studies and plenty of opportunities to reinforce the vocabulary and grammatical concepts you meet. The exercises will help you familiarise yourself with word endings and Latin sentence structure. The Study Guide is a purpose-written tutorial text designed as a companion to GVE. For example, it suggests a range of strategies for learning vocabulary and getting to grips with grammatical forms and structures. The Study Guide provides answers to the exercises and English translations of all the Latin passages.

The book of texts, Reading Latin: Text, contains a brief introduction to the Roman world and the life of Plautus. The passages that follow, which are based on scenes from three of his plays, provide you with extensive practice at reading Latin and an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the language’s basic structure. Section four moves on to the volatile political situation of Cicero’s day and introduces you to passages based on his prosecution speeches against Gaius Verres. The assignments test the grammar you meet in these four sections and give you an important opportunity to evaluate your progress as you work through the course.

The Reading Latin books and the Study Guide have regular discussions on features of Roman culture that are bound to arise from a lively engagement with the language. The survival of so many Latin words, terms and phrases in modern languages is just one aspect of Latin's cultural continuum.

Two audio CDs give you an opportunity to listen to Latin and to practise pronunciation yourself. You’re also taken through a piece of Latin poetry to demonstrate the way in which Latin’s flexible word order can be manipulated in the hands of a skilful poet – a taster of the richness of Latin literature that awaits you if you continue your study at Level 3.

This course should certainly set you on the path to reading unadapted Latin in a variety of genres. The follow-on course, Continuing classical Latin (A397), will allow you to take your study of Latin to the next level and to read a broad range of Latin texts in the original. Because the study materials offer a wide range of subject matter drawn from the long history and broad geographical spread of the Latin language, Reading classical Latin has a truly cosmopolitan appeal.

Entry

This is a Level 2 course and builds on the Level 1 courses The arts past and present (AA100), Voices and texts (A150) and Making sense of things: an introduction to material culture (A151). These Level 1 courses develop skills such as logical thinking, clear expression, essay writing and the ability to select and interpret relevant materials. They also offer an introduction to a range of subjects in the arts and humanities.

If you have not studied at university level before, you are strongly advised to study at Level 1 before progressing to Level 2 study.

Your regional or national centre can advise you on where you can see reference copies of Level 1 study materials. Some are also available from Open University Worldwide Ltd. We particularly recommend looking at these materials if you have not successfully completed Level 1 study or studied at an equivalent level elsewhere.

Although you do not require any knowledge of the Latin language, this course does demand consistent work and commitment from the beginning. If you have experience of learning an ancient language you will be aware that regular study sessions are the only way to gain and retain a reading knowledge of the language.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Preparatory work

If you would like our preparatory leaflet, please send an A4, self-addressed envelope without a stamp  to the A297 Curriculum Manager, Faculty of Arts, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA.

If you have a disability or additional requirement

Sample pages of text are available from the A297 Curriculum Manager, at the address above. The study materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Written transcripts are available for the audio material. The written study material is available in comb-bound format. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Study materials

What's included

Books, other printed materials, audio CDs, website.

You will need

CD player.

Computing requirements

This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.

You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course.

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You must submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• Continuing classical Latin (A397)
• Exploring the classical world (A219)
• The arts past and present (AA100)
• World archaeology (A251)
• Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds (A330)

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.

Fees 2012

See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.

Study explained

Financial support

- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.

Study explained

- all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.

A taste of OU study

Student Reviews

This was a very enjoyable course. In fact this is my favourite course so far. The tutor was exemplary, and ...
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After reading the other reviews I was in two minds about doing this course as I was a complete beginner ...
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