Ancient Languages

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Learning Ancient Greek  – or any other language – is like learning to play a musical instrument or learning how to draw or learning any other skill  – it takes practice. A little bit of focused work regularly is what counts – whatever regular means to you – everyday, every other day or some other regular pattern.  If you can set aside at least 10 minutes most days, you too can learn to read ancient Greek.

Our intention is that this course of study – and other opportunities like advanced courses and translation groups – is empowering for you and complements the conversation seminars you participate in and your own private reading. We want to do more than just offer courses, but help to build and support a community around the love of learning ancient languages like Greek.

Why Homeric Greek?

There is perhaps no finer way to begin learning ancient Greek than with the work of Homer, in particular, Book 1 of the Iliad. The familiarity you develop with Homeric Greek can easily be applied to later Attic Greek (Sophocles and Plato etc) and Koine Greek (New Testament). 

What’s our approach?

This is a conversational reader’s course. We make use of Clyde Pharr’s text, 4th edition (Homeric Greek: A Book for Beginners Fourth Edition, ISBN-13: 978-0806141640) the purpose of which is to get us immersed in the world and thought of Book 1 of the Iliad in the original language as soon as possible. During each two hour session, we will work together through the material, sharing translations, raising and answering questions. The instructor is always on call to answer questions and to help beginners advance in their learning; but at the same time, we want to stress the collaborative character of learning in our language studies.

Fall 2022, we will offer two Homeric Greek courses: Beginning Homer Greek (Homeric Greek I) and Homeric Greek II.

The courses meet generally every two weeks on regular days/evening times. Study Groups voluntarily scheduled on off weeks have been found to be useful by current students, and are encouraged to help support collegiality in the effort of learning this ancient language.  Students have daily/weekly access to instructor by means of a private forum for any questions or problems that arise. Make-up lessons are offered in the event that students miss any regularly scheduled sessions. No refunds on payments rendered, but credit is offered for students who wish to try again the following year. Discount on regular cost available for subscribers of Slow Reading Program.