Study Ancient Greek and Latin
The Honours and Combined Honours streams require at least a year of either Ancient Greek or Latin in order to give direct access to the Ancient texts themselves. Students are encouraged to study Greek and Latin beyond this level.
The Roman Forum
First-Year
A foundation in Ancient languages are given by the first-year courses. Students in these courses learn about the discipline of daily language practise, attention to detail, and memorization, as they analyse how language works and acquire the terminology to talk about languages in general. Our introductory courses use a ‘grammar first’ approach. Students learn about the roots of English and other languages as they acquire Greek and Latin vocabulary, and they gain a love of language and enjoy the challenge of problem-solving.
Second Year
In second-year language courses students continue to learn the basics, with more emphasis on how to interpret thoughts expressed in one language and translate them to another. The method of instruction changes to a ‘reading first’ approach, followed by the analysis of grammar and syntax of longer passages.
In both the first and second years of language study, students gain direct access to aspects of the Ancient World through their reading passages of the primary texts of literature, history, philosophy, and law, as well as ancient inscriptions and graffiti.
Bust of the poet Sappho. Musei Capitolini, Rome.
Third and Fourth Years
At the advanced level Carleton’s GRS program cooperates with the Classics program at the University of Ottawa to offer a full slate of courses. In the fall, one of the institutions offers advanced Latin, while the other offers advanced Greek. In the winter, the offerings switch. These classes are very small, with third and fourth-year students in the same classroom. Students often analyse one long text, such as a Platonic dialogue or Roman comedy, bringing to bear knowledge from a variety of fields to provide literary or historical context.
Carleton’s GRS program is distinctive in offering the possibility of studying other Ancient languages, through language tutorials. In recent years Ancient Persian and Old Norse have been taught.
The Erechtheion. Acropolis, Athens.
More about what you will study
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