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This course is aimed at people who want to learn Ancient Greek for reading and research purposes. Lessons focus on developing reading and text interpreting skills, allowing a fast pace progress. If your language level ranges from beginners to lower intermediate, you are welcome to join.

Key information

Course starting in October 2025

• Course: Tuesdays 6.00pm - 8.00pm 
  Delivery: On-campus (face-to-face)
  Timeline: Starts 7 October 2025 - ends 24 March 2026
  Lengths: 20 weeks (60 learning hours)
  Fees: £300* (payable in two termly instalments of £150 each)
  Bursary Fund available for UoL Students (£150)*

*As part of the Languages at Leicester's 20th Anniversary, Â鶹ÊÓƵ's students (undergraduate and postgraduate) are welcome to apply for a Bursary Fund covering 50% of this course fee. For further details, see our dates and fees and Terms & Conditions (Point 13).

This course requires a minimum of 7 and it can have up to a maximum of 12 students. The course fee includes all tuition, access to online resources, handouts and any tests/exams, but not a textbook.

Term 1 runs from October to December and Term 2 from January to March. A full course comprises 60 learning hours. Lessons are two hours long and take place once a week. When enrolling you are committing to the full 20 weeks. There is the option to pay for the full course in one payment or two instalments. UoL students can apply for the Bursary Fund. You are welcome to join in the second term of a course if you have previous knowledge and experience of the language.

Entry level

No previous knowledge of Ancient Greek is required. The course is suitable for absolute beginners.

Course content

The Beginners’ Ancient Greek for Reading and Research Purposes course aims to give learners an essential foundation culminating in the reading of simple (e.g. coins, inscriptions) and some extended prose texts. The course focuses on the fundamentals of the Attic dialect, spoken in Athens and its environs in the 5th-4th centuries BC. Each session will focus on fundamental aspects of Ancient Greek grammar, including morphology, syntax and vocabulary. You will also develop dictionary consultation skills, and practise reading strategies to interpret and translate texts in Ancient Greek. The course will also explore aspects of the history of the Greek language and culture as stemming from the topics covered weekly.

Resources

The tutor will provide all necessary handouts and resources.

Our approach

The course takes place at an accelerated pace to enable you to read Ancient Greek texts from a wide range of sources and time periods. Reading skills are developed by systematically working through short texts and focusing on the recognition of key grammatical structures (verbs, tenses, sentence patterns and word order, negation, nouns, connectors, pronouns, adjectives, prepositions, the passive, idioms, etc.). Students will be encouraged to seek opportunities to learn and practise outside the classroom taking advantage of learning resources provided by tutors and the programme. Group size are limited to 12 students and planned to allow intensive interactive practice with individual feedback and advice on progress.

Progression route

Upon completing this Beginners level for reading & research purposes (A1 & A2), you can progress onto the Intermediate level 3 for reading and research purposes (B1).