Online introduction to classical Latin course

Step into the world of Ancient Rome and begin learning the language behind some of history's greatest literature, philosophical ideas, and enduring traditions. Designed for complete beginners, this 10-week online Introduction to Classical Latin course offers a rewarding introduction to Classical Latin while bringing the ancient world vividly to life.

Latin has influenced Western thought for more than two thousand years. As the language of Caesar, Cicero, and Virgil, it shaped the literature, philosophy, politics, and law of the Roman world before becoming the shared language of scholarship, science, and diplomacy across Europe for centuries. Its legacy continues today in modern Romance languages such as French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as throughout English, particularly in fields such as law, medicine, science, and academia.

Rather than memorising grammar in isolation, you'll learn Latin through the renowned Cambridge Latin Course, following the lives of Lucius Caecilius Iucundus, his family, and their household in Pompeii before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. As the story unfolds, you'll steadily develop your understanding of Latin grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure while gaining fascinating insights into everyday Roman life.

Whether you're fascinated by ancient history, literature, philosophy, archaeology, or simply enjoy the challenge of learning languages, this course offers a rich and intellectually rewarding introduction to one of history's most influential languages.

Course content

What will be covered in this Introduction to Classical Latin course?

During the course, participants will work with concepts, techniques and ideas that may include:

• Introduction to the Latin language and its historical context

• Basic sentence patterns and structure

• First and second declension nouns (masculine, feminine and neuter)

• Agreement of adjectives

• Verbs across the four conjugations (singular and plural)

• Present tense forms across all persons

• Infinitives and common verb constructions

• The third declension and selected irregular forms

• Imperatives and prepositions

• The genitive case (“of”)

• Neuter nouns and adjectives

Students will also have the opportunity to review their progress through short exercises and guided activities throughout the course.