Latina in Horto – Latin courses for the public in Singleton Park

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It was the language of Rome, one of the great empires of the world, and it’s the foundation of languages and cultures across Europe. Now people living in the Swansea area will have the chance to learn Latin in Singleton Park, thanks to a scheme run by the Department of History and Classics at Swansea University.

300 x 200Every Saturday afternoon, from 14 June to 12 July, students from the department are going to be teaching classes in the open air in Singleton Park.  

There are classes for absolute beginners and for people who may have studied a bit of Latin in the past.

It’s all in a good cause too, as any money raised helps to fund the Department’s ‘Literacy through Latin’ project, which involves students helping local primary school children with their reading and writing, using Latin.

‌Courses running are:

•    Beginners’ Latin and Ancient Greek – for people with no prior knowledge
•    Intermediate Latin - for people who want to refresh their Latin.
•    Ancient Egypt – an introduction to ancient Egypt with a little bit of hieroglyphs.
•    Kids’ Latin – a playful introduction to the language and culture for the under-12s

600 x 344‌Picture:  a Latin class in Singleton Park.

Each lesson runs from 2-3.30.  The fee is £5 per lesson, (or £20 for all five).  You can book in advance or turn up on the day. Groups meet outside the University library.

The courses are run in partnership with the Iris Project and the South West Wales Classical Association.

400 x 505‌Dr Evelien Bracke, an expert in classics at Swansea University, and director of Latin in the Park, said:

“The Latin language lies at the basis of most Western European languages, and a grasp of Latin makes it easier to learn languages such as French, Spanish, and Italian.

English too has a lot in common with Latin, with over 60% of English words derived from Latin.

“Latin was the language of ancient Rome, the common language of Europe ever since, and has in fact shaped much of European history up to the present day.

Knowing Latin unlocks access to a wide variety of beautiful and timeless texts and stories; it is a skill which provides pleasure and understanding for a lifetime.”

Picture:  Roman soldier, drawn by children on the Literacy through Latin scheme, partly-funded by the Latin in the Park lessons.

 

600 x 400Picture:  children learning words in Latin, English and Welsh as part of the Literacy through Latin scheme.

Each lesson is followed by a talk by an expert in the classical world, from 3.30-4pm.  The first one, on 14th June, is by Dr Jennifer Grove.  She will be talking about an award-winning project, “Talking Sex with Objects from the Past”.  The project uses artefacts from antiquity to allow school-age pupils to discuss sexuality.  The talk is PG-rated.

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Latin in the Park lessons run on the following Saturdays.  14th June, 21st June, 28th June, 5th July, 12th July. 

Lessons are from 2pm to 3.30pm.   Each one is followed by an expert talk from 3.30 to 4pm.

Lessons will run on the lawn outside Singleton Abbey, or in a nearby room in case of wet weather.  Meet at the University library.  Campus Map.

The cost is £5 per lesson, or £20 for all five weeks.  There is no need to book; just turn up.

The lessons are open to all. Under-18s are welcome when accompanied by an adult. The teacher for the Kids’ Latin course is DBS-checked

More information, or contact Evelien Bracke (e.bracke@swansea.ac.uk)