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No knowledge of the language is presumed. The First Experience of the Latin language introduces the student to authentic Latin literature with a clear presentation of how human thought is expressed in Latin.

Encounter the living Latin language. Learn to pronounce and read Latin from original texts, both ancient and modern. Learn to compose your own sentences. Instruction given in English.

No vocabulary cards! No paradigms to memorize! Just the living language to understand, write and speak.

Working patiently, using simple texts for a clear understanding of what the author originally said. No rushing to impress others, just clear concise understanding.

We use the teaching method of Reginald Foster OCD directly from his book Ossa Latinitatis Sola.

Content: Beginning Latin is designed to introduce the beginning student with no previous knowledge of the Latin language to its following elements:

• the verb in all times of the indicative, both active and passive and deponent;
• nouns and adjectives of all groups in five of their functions (subject; object; of-possession; by-with-from-in; to-for-from)
• commands, active, passive, deponent;
• personal and reflexive pronouns, conjunctions, relatives, prepositions.

We read together Latin texts from all ages and very many authors.

Classes are held both weekly during the academic term and daily two weeks during the summer term (enrol and enquiries here).

Required books:

♦ SIMPSON, D.P. Cassell’s latin Dictionary, Macmillan, New York 1959 or equivalent, including a small English to Latin section. A pocket dictionary is not sufficient.

♦ FOSTER, R.T., – D.P. MCCARTHY, Ossa Latinitatis Sola ad mentem Reginaldi rationemque: The Mere Bones of Latin according to the thought and system of Reginald, (Latinitatis Corpus 1), Catholic University of America Press, Washington DC 2016. Available from the publisher or from Amazon.co.uk or from Amazon.com.

Recommended chapter:

♦ FOSTER, R.T. – D.P. MCCARTHY, “Collectarum latinitas”, Appreciating the Collect: An Irenic Methodology (DREI, AL : LA 1), ed. J.G. Leachman – D.P. McCarthy, St. Michael’s Abbey Press, Farnborough, England 2008.Foster, R.T. – D.P. McCarthy, “Collectarum latinitas”, 27-56. This chapter presents a brief schema of many elements presented in this intermediate Latin experience and their application to the prayers of the Missale Romanum. Available from the publisher.

Academic Term 2020-2021

Instructor: Laura Pooley.

Online courses are offered in the Latin language at three levels and private tuition (tutoring):

Beginners = First Experience
Intermediate = Third Experience
Advanced = Fourth Experience
Private tuition (tutoring) at any level

Online sessions at each level are held twice a week for the following three terms:

Autumn Term: two encounters for six weeks in October and November 2020.

Winter Term: two encounters during each week beginning 25 January, 1, 8 [not 15], 22 February, 1, 8 March 2021

Spring Term: two encounters during each week beginning 19, 26 April, 3, 10, 17 24 May 2021.

For two to three students the cost per term: £380; per year (three terms): £950

Private instruction: Prepare for an exam or learn Latin through personalised and individual intrruction. Costs on an hourly basis to be confirmed with tutor.

The schedule depends on demand, so please enquiry with Clare Cogswell, Registrar, at info AT benedictine-institute DOT org.

Summer Term, 2021

Like all of the courses in the Summer Latin School, the introductory course is offered for enjoyment, not for credit. We read together Latin texts from all ages and very many authors, including texts suitable for people studying Canon Law at KU Leuven and students of liturgy from the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy, Rome..

Dates. Enrol for both weeks 16-27 August 2021 (not Saturday – Sunday, 21-22 August).

Limited accommodation is available for students enrolled for both weeks. Non-residential students may enrol in both weeks or for the first week only.

Hours. Two sessions are held every morning and two sessions after lunch daily for a total of 3 hours including a 24 minute break weekdays.

Activities include the presentation of Latin and reading Latin texts together and a daily ludus domesticus, “home-game”, for self-study and in class review.

Tutor: Lydia Roberts with Jonathan Day

This course is not offered for credit, so there is no exam, just the enjoyment of learning the Latin language.

Canon Law Students at KU Leuven may take these summer courses and study Latin online in two sessions weekly throughout the academic term to prepare for two proficiency exams at KU Leuven. Intermediate Latin, will prepare them to take the sufficiency exam for Christian Latin (A08A0A), which covers about the first 25 chapters of Collin’s Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin. Proficient Latin for Liturgists, which also considers canonical texts regarding liturgy, along with Readings Cicero’s Letters will prepare students for the advanced Latin exam at KU Leuven.

Students for personal interest: There are no exams, just the enjoyment of learning Latin.

Contact:

To schedule a visit write to the Registrar and Course Coordinator:

Clare Cogswell
Benedictine Institute
74 Castlebar Road, Ealing, London W5 2DD, UK

enquiries: +44 (0)20 8194 2320
E-mail: il AT liturgyinstitute DOT org
Location on Google Maps is found here.

More information on travel to Ealing by air, train or metro and on accommodation at or near Ealing Abbey is available on this web-site under the button: “Registration”.

Page updated 23 September 2020 by DMcC.