Intermediate Homeric Greek 

Currently, only intermediate and advanced Greek learners are accepted into this group. For beginners, “Beginning Homeric Greek” course will be offered again in Fall 2024. If you would like to join this current group, or you’d like to be placed on an interest list for 2024, please email David Saussy david.saussy@symposiumsa.com. 

Duration: September 2023 – May 2024 (Fall/Winter/Spring)

Days/Times: Sundays, 6:00 pm -8:00 pm Central (7-9 EST)

Frequency: 17 two-hour Sessions, approximately every two weeks, from September to May. 

Instructor: David Saussy

Text: Clyde Pharr, 4th Edition.

+ Voluntary “Study Halls” on off-weeks supported.

+ Private Forum for course.

+ Access to Instructor through Private Forum messaging and other means.

+ Make-up lessons available

+ Class schedule calendar for planning ahead

“Thank you for a great class, I never thought I’d be learning Greek! Introduction to Homeric Greek has been ideal for me as an adult beginner of Greek. The seminars with Mr. Saussy – and the study halls – provided structure and added help, but also accountability and something to look forward too. Translating the Iliad adds motivation as the text is not a mere exercise, but a Western masterpiece. I highly recommend this course.”   -Erik B

“My favorite thing about this course in Homeric Greek is being able to tackle the challenge in a “no-threat/no fear” environment. This was my first attempt at an ancient language. It was intimidating but David Saussy set just the right setting for learning – positive, supportive, and collaborative. We learned together – the ones with Greek experience or language aptitude cheerfully helped those of us who struggled. Even as I struggled there was never a moment where I felt like I didn’t belong because we all belonged no matter our skill level. As long as you didn’t leave the battlefield, no Homeric Greek Warriors were left behind!” –Dawn S.

Regular Course Tuition: $360

Option 1: One payment of $360
Option 2: $185 X 2 months.

χαίρετε

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?

Language is a window or opening to a world of meaning. Typically Greek and Latin courses teach an abstract language, full of rules, detached from the real ground of meaning, in the actual speech event itself in written form.  You learn paradigms and translate sentences, but never really have the opportunity to ‘get into’ what you are translating. In a way, it is as if you learn to cook a meal, but then, you are not allowed to eat and enjoy that meal with gusto. This course is built with an eye to overcoming this problem.  

On the first day of this course, as you learn the Greek alphabet and word basics, we will begin looking at the Greek of the Homeric text right away. And this Greek text will be in front of us for the rest of the course.  

For reference assistance on the side, we will make use of Clyde Pharr’s textbook, 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 face the Greek together, sharing translations, raising and answering questions, and engaged in a collaborative learning pursuit.  

The course will meet generally every month 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.