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How about trying out an exciting way of learning and fully absorbing Latin or Greek or Akkadian? Living Classical Languages is all about enjoying our languages by speaking them 鈥� or trying to!
厂础尝痴脡罢贰!听 XA脥PETE!听 L弄 艩ULMUM!
Welcome to Living Classical Languages. Whether you want to begin learning the classical languages (Latin, Greek, Akkadian), or you already know them to any level, with us your fluency will soar as you practise expressing yourself in the languages, meet lots of like-minded Latinists, Hellenists, Akkadologists, and certainly have loads of fun. Our sessions are free and open to all, including students from other universities and non-students, so why not give it a try?
Who we are
We are a group of students, researchers and language enthusiasts seeking to cultivate the active use of perennial Latin, classical Greek, ancient Akkadian. Established in 2017 following the success of the first 白小姐论坛 Living Latin Workshop, led by Dr Emily Chow-Kambitsch, 白小姐论坛 Living Latin, then Living Latin & Greek, and now Living Classical Languages, provides a space to actively learn and practise the fascinating languages we are devoted to.
What we do
We facilitate free living classical languages instruction with the communicative approach at various levels, from complete beginners to advanced, and particularly those who have no previous experience speaking it. We are open to everyone!
For details on specific programmes, please refer to the section below. If you are interested in any of our classes, please contact the facilitator(s) of the session(s) indicating which one you would like to join and that you would like to be added to our mailing list.
Why we do it
We know from research on second-language acquisition in general and for our languages in particular [cf. Lloyd & Hunt (edd.), Communicative Approaches for Ancient Languages (2021)], and indeed from our very personal experience, that actively engaging with and immersing ourselves in Latin or Greek or Akkadian, just as we do with the other modern languages we learn, enables us to develop a greater mastery of those languages, as well as the ability to read, not just translate, their literature with much greater ease. We can thus cultivate a deeper appreciation for that literature and even engage with the scholarship and commentary produced across the ages directly in those languages as we likewise discuss the texts in the very languages in which they were written. The absorption and degree of acquisition of the languages that active mastery ensures is also a guarantee that we will never now forget them and grow unable to access them for the rest of our lives.
We are a community of like-minded people who all share an interest in Classical Languages, and, whether that be for academic reasons, or to access the wealth of their perennial literature, or because we simply find enjoyment in expressing ourselves in the languages we love, find tremendous joy speaking Latin and Greek and Akkadian in the friendly company of each other.
Come and join us!
When we do it
In-person sessions will be held in room G09, Gordon House, 29 Gordon Square, London听 WC1H 0PP, unless otherwise indicated. Sessions will start again in the new academic year, from Monday 7 October. The timetables for the Intermediate level sessions are listed below. Beginners' sessions have yet to be fixed: this is where you can influence things!
There will be an information meeting on Monday 30 September at 6 pm in room G09 (as above) in which you can find out more about what we do, and the timetable for Beginners' sessions will be decided in line with the availability of all interested parties.听
For Latin, the options are the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. For Greek, the evenings of Wednesday or Thursday. Akkadian may take place in the day time. If you cannot attend that meeting, please could you email us (details above) with your name, email address, language interest, current linguistic level, and your availability (or non-availability) for the options above.
- Intermediate Latin: Mondays 6-8 pm at Gordon House G09
- Greek 2 with 峒屜娤勎肯�: Tuesdays 5-7 pm
- Akkadian 2: Wednesdays 6-8pm