‌The “Classics Hub” project is led by Dr Evelien Bracke of the College of Arts and Humanities.  In its first year, fifty 11-14 year olds at comprehensive schools in Wales will be able to study Latin/Classics for one year after school hours.  A pan-Wales conference for teachers on the importance of learning ancient and modern languages will also take place on 6 February. The languages award, which is worth £4,000, will support this work.

The awards are for innovative projects aimed at increasing the numbers of students learning languages at higher levels.  More than 150 applications were submitted to the British Academy from schools and colleges across the UK.  Fourteen projects, spanning 17 languages, received awards.

Picture:  local schoolchildren visiting Caerleon Roman Fort as part of the Literacy in Schools programme, one of the ventures aimed at firing children's interest in classics

Dr Evelien Bracke of the College of Arts and Humanities at Swansea University said:

“This award will help us get the Classics hub work off the ground, introducing the riches of Latin and the classical world to school pupils across Wales.

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 not only to a wide variety of timeless stories, but also to an understanding of our current world. It is a skill which provides pleasure and understanding for a lifetime.”

‌Alun Evans, Chief Executive and Secretary of the British Academy, said:

“Congratulations to the 2015 winners. Our Awards aim to find innovative and inspiring ways of encouraging more students to study languages to higher levels of education.

‌We’re delighted that schools across the UK have responded passionately with such high quality applications, understanding the importance of language skills.

We hope they will continue to inspire and challenge their pupils with learning initiatives and help to ensure the next generation are thoroughly equipped with the language skills they need.”

More about the British Academy Schools Language Awards

Picture:  children at a Swansea school improve their literacy by looking at words in English, Welsh and Latin, as part of the Literacy through Schools programme.

Languages at Swansea

‌‌Swansea University is renowned for languages, with high ratings for student satisfaction.  It offers Latin, ancient Greek, French, German, Spanish and Italian as degrees, including through the medium of Welsh, as well as other world languages such as Chinese and Arabic as part of its Languages for All programme.

How a second language boosts your earning power – The Economist

All modern languages degrees combine both language and cultural learning in the first and second years before spending a year either studying or working abroad in the country of your chosen language.  

The department of languages, translation and communication also has close links with schools, for example through the Think German network.

Promoting classics:

Picture:  a drawing from one of the participants in Latin in the Park, a summer school in ancient languages

As well as the classics hub, other initiatives run by Dr Evelien Bracke and her colleagues in history and classics also help fire interest in the ancient world.

• “Literacy through Classics” programme:   Swansea students help local schoolchildren with their literacy, using the ancient world as a subject. So far, more than 160 Swansea students have taught ancient languages and cultures to more than 600 school pupils in 14 schools in the Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, and Carmarthenshire areas.    
  
  The classes include exercises aimed at boosting the children’s literacy, but they also involve bringing history alive through dressing the children up in period costume, and activities such as making Roman bread, and practising Roman military drills.  Learning resources are available to teachers free of charge.

• Summer School in Ancient Languages:  this is open to all, and will run in 2016 from 17 to 30 July at Swansea University. There will be intensive courses on Latin and Greek (all levels) as well as Hieroglyphs (beginners and post-beginners’) and Medieval Latin.  These courses correspond to one semester of the language at university. Bursaries and a student discount are available.

• The Cymru Wales Classics Hub: this is a new network for teachers of the ancient world in Wales of all levels. The hub provides subject knowledge, financial support, and help in the development of local hubs.   

• Schools’ competition: Swansea University and the South West Wales Classics Hub are organising the first annual schools’ competition. There are prizes for primary and secondary school pupils for work on ‘heroes in the ancient world’,  as well as Latin and Greek translation prizes, and a blog writing competition. 

.