This is for complete beginners with no prior (or just a little) knowledge of the language. We will be using the Lingua Latina course developed by Hans H. Ørberg, along with supplementary materials. In the early chapters you will be introduced to the geography of the ancient Roman Empire (in Latin), the familia of Aemilia and Julius, and the mystery of the missing money. You will learn to count, make statements, ask questions and give orders in Latin, developing the skills and confidence to continue with Lingua Latina alone if you so wish or to move up to Level 1B at the next summer school.

Tutor: Maxwell Han and Jemima McPhee

This will begin with the basics, and move into simple translation with lots of grammar. For those who have begun Latin but have not progressed very far. Topics to be covered include: first, second and third declension nouns and adjectives, comparative and superlative adjectives, indicative active verbs (present, imperfect, perfect and pluperfect), imperative and infinitive verbs. A composite course booklet will be provided.

Tutors: Damaris Wikramanayake

This requires some knowledge of Latin grammar which will be developed, and classes will be split between reading passages of original Latin and grammar work. Grammar topics to be covered depend on the needs of the class, but might include: the introduction of subjunctive forms, indirect statements, ablative absolutes, and conditionals. A composite course booklet will be provided.

Tutors: John Coombs and Mike Salter

This will have greater emphasis on extensive graded readings with (optional) prior preparation, while grammar will be revised and extended. You should be familiar with all tenses and cases, but not necessarily passives or subjunctives. Grammar topics to be covered depend on the needs of the class, but might include: revision of verb forms (and introduction of passive or subjunctive forms as required), word order and tactics for reading Latin sentences, gerunds and gerundives, case usage, uses of the subjunctive, revision of noun and adjective declensions and participles: a composite course booklet will be provided.

Tutor: Alexander Westenberg

This is designed to widen your reading experience with a variety of original Latin texts, and will include work on style, interpretation, scansion and reading technique. Prior preparation of the readings is essential. Grammar will be explained as needed. Suitable for students sitting the HSC exams in 2025 and 2026, and for undergraduates with one year’s Latin.

Tutors:
Argyris Giantsis: Lyric Poetry: Horace and the Odes (Selection of poems from the four books of Odes)
Anne Rogerson: CAMILLA RIDES TO WAR Aeneid 11.498-521, 532-96, 648-89
Paul Roche: Julius Caesar: Digressions and descriptions from the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico)

You will have three teachers, in alternation each day, and read all three groups of texts.

For Adult students only
Tales of laughter from two contemporaneous ancient writers: Apuleius’ account of the Risus Festival and a couple of witty stories from Gellius’ Attic Nights. HSC level Latin at least required for this course.

Tutors: Phillip Dupesovski

This level will be reading-based, and texts may be allocated for translation in class. Students are expected to have prepared the texts in advance and discussion is encouraged. Attention will be paid to literary analysis, grammatical and textual problems, and social and historical context. There will be two sessions each day, and participants choose one class from each session. Optional special interest classes will be offered for Level 4 students in the afternoons (you sign up for these on the first day of the summer school). Composite course booklets will be provided.

Tutors, topics and times:

4.4: Andrew Miles – Coniuratio Catilinae C. Sallusti Crispi
4.5: Alexandra Pinkham – Medea: Selections from Ovid, Seneca, and Valerius Flaccus
4.6: Bob Cowan – Plague and passion in Virgil’s Georgics