BA Ancient History

Year of entry: 2023

Course unit details:
Intensive Greek 1

Course unit fact file
Unit code CAHE20151
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Offered by Classics, Ancient History & Egyptology
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

This is the first half of a two-module intensive programme that will take you beyond A-Level standard by the end of the year. It is designed to be fast-moving but rewarding, and is based on the second edition of the excellent Reading Greek course. It is available to undergraduates in any year as well as to postgraduates. This first module assumes no previous knowledge of Greek or any foreign language, but if you have GCSE Greek you may still take it for credit; if you have AS Level Greek, you should audit this module in order thoroughly to revise and consolidate your Greek, and then in Semester 2 take CLAH 30162 Intensive Greek 2 for credit.

Pre/co-requisites

None. However, this course may not be taken for credit by candidates who have already achieved a qualification in Greek which is higher than GCSE. Students on programmes administered by Classics and Ancient History are expected to register in addition for CAHE30162 Intensive Greek 2.

Aims

To introduce students to the basic elements of the Greek language.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this course students will have developed the following abilities:

  • a knowledge and understanding of the basic workings of a highly-inflected language, Classical Greek;
  • mastery of (roughly half of) the basic Greek forms and constructions (accidence and syntax), together with a vocabulary of several hundred words, and a developing ability to use them both actively and passively;
  • the ability to read a simple Greek text, seen or unseen, with fluency and accuracy.

Intellectual skills

By the end of this course students will have developed the following abilities:

  • subject-specific skills, including an incipient ability to read, understand, translate and write Greek;
  • an insight into the nature of the differences between English and Classical Greek.

Practical skills

See specific skills listed below

Transferable skills and personal qualities

By the end of this course students will have developed the following abilities:

  • an increased awareness of the structures and resources of the English language;
  • a developed ability to analyse and to describe linguistic forms and structures.

Employability skills

Other
The course supports the development of a large number of important employment skills, most notably the ability to understand, commit to memory, and successfully deploy the elements of a complex communication system. Conscientious study of an ancient language enhances understanding of English grammatical structures and broadens vocabulary, thereby enhancing the ability to communicate clearly, concisely and eloquently. Students of ancient languages also learn how to extract key elements from complex information and to identify, make sense of, and solve associated problems.

Assessment methods

Assessment task

Formative or Summative

Weighting within unit (if summative)

Regular homeworks

Formative

 

Test

Summative

40%

Exam

Summative

60%

Feedback methods

Feedback method

Formative or Summative

Written feedback on weekly homeworks

Formative

Oral feedback in seminars

Formative

Written and oral feedback on summative assessments

Formative and Summative

Recommended reading

Compulsory purchases:

  • Reading Greek: Text and Vocabulary, Second Edition. Joint Association of Classical Teachers, 2007
  • Reading Greek: Grammar and Exercises, Second Edition. Joint Association of Classical Teachers, 2007

Additional reading:

  • Speaking Greek. Joint Association of Classical Teachers, 2007 (CD Audiobook)

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 22
Seminars 22
Independent study hours
Independent study 156

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Jenny Bryan Unit coordinator

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