The Latin Page

Here are some resources that might be of use in your A276 studies, including advice from former students, study materials and some downloadable stuff that might help you with your preparation for the exam. There’s also Latin-related material of more general interest, and some videos and podcasts that could come in handy.

I will be adding material throughout the year: so keep checking in!

Starting a Latin course

Roman History: a quick summary: a very speedy overview of Roman history, for those starting Latin without a background in Classics.

Critical Appreciations: a step-by-step guide for anyone new to writing critical appreciations of texts.

How to work on a Latin passage without translating it: advice on how to deal with an unfamiliar Latin story.

On Dictionaries and Grammar Books: should you have some, and which ones are right for you?

Tutor Manifesto: what to expect in a Latin tutorial

Languages — *From https://twitter.com/opietasanimi/status/1042527258987180033*

Weekly Language Tips

Advice from a Latin Teacher: here you’ll find a series of suggestions from OU graduate, PhD student and Latin teacher Steven Havelin, to help you through the different stages of A276. Read these tips in order, to pick up skills which will help you to learn the course vocabulary and (from January onwards) deal with the grammar, with exam preparation tips from April.

Reading poetry

Horace, Odes 1.11: how to approach a critical analysis of a poem.

Preparing for the Exam

Grammar flashcards: a set of printable resources to help with exam revision.

Practice questions: some material that might be useful in preparing for the exam.

Memrise vocabulary: with thanks to Sandie!

After the Exam

Books to read after A276: if you’re wondering what to read next, now that you’ve learned the basics of Latin, here’s a list!

Consider a Latin or Greek Summer School (Booking for the Summer; Should you go to Summer School?)

Check out the other brilliant Lists from Legonium!

Latin To Make You Smile

Smol Dragon – a downloadable book written by Anthony Gibbins based on my illustrations!

Check out this Facebook retelling of the Aeneid, for amusement!

Legonium Resources – mostly free, and fabulous!

Grammar basics, with Tom and Jerry.

Other Latin-related Stuff

Tutorial materials: slides from tutorials, with exercises to work through.

The Cambridge Latin Course Online. This link takes you to the Cambridge Latin Course, with stories, story explorers, tests, activities and all sorts of ‘cultural background’ materials available for free online. Great to work through in conjunction with A276, if you have the time, or useful as a follow-on course if you want to continue studying Latin after A276.

Tips from former A276 students

Podcasts and videos

Here’s a collection of relevant clips, talks and lectures which might help to put some of your reading into a wider context!

‘Mr Tanner Teaches’ is a set of YouTube videos covering basic Latin grammar topics: I’ve put a few of them on this page, but you can watch them all here.

Subject and object.

Subject and object in different declensions.

Verb endings

The Aeneid in 5 minutes

How much was Virgil’s poem influenced by the extraordinary times in which it was written? How does it transcend the political pressures of Imperial patronage and what are the qualities that make it such a universal work? With Edith Hall, Philip Hardie and Catharine Edwards.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Augustan Age in Rome. Guests include Catharine Edwards, Mary Beard and Duncan Kennedy.

“We have been able to produce new reconstructions based on excavation data which have allowed us to compile a “tale of the landscape” by correlating changes attested by material remains to other information. The main controversies about early Rome, including the origin of the city itself can now be considered in the light of new evidence.”