Learning Ancient Greek, for Non Greek Speakers. Course 1-Absolute Beginner

Learning Ancient Greek – for non-Greek speakers

Ancient Greek, the language of Aeschylus, Aesop, Alexander the Great, Archimedes, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Euclid, Euripides, Hippocrates, Homer, Pericles, Plato, Ptolemy, Sophocles, Thales, Thucydides, Xenophon, the language of the New Testament and the Holy Fathers, is foundational. Even in the 21st century we continue to think about heroism, mythology, tragedy, comedy, satire, history, the novel, destiny, virtue, politics, art, science and philosophy largely because of what people said and wrote in this subtle language. The influence of the ancient Greeks is still around us and within us. Learning Greek is excellent training for such diverse fields as literature and linguistics, theology, philosophy, political science, and law.

The Evgenios Voulgaris Academy of the St Maxim the Greek Institute (running under the blessing of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi, Mount Athos) will be offering four graded webinar courses in Ancient Greek in the academic year 2022-23.

Where necessary, a placement test will be given to participants before admitting them to their appropriate level.

Each class will last two hours and will meet twice weekly (Mon. & Thurs.) for a total of 36 hours roughly over a four month period (Oct.-Jan.).

A certificate of attendance will be given to students upon completion of the course.

Course 1/4: Absolute Beginner - 36 Hours

The course is designed for absolute beginners aged 14 years and older. Students will be introduced to the foundations of ancient Greek, including the alphabet, the morphology of the language, and grammar and syntax, and will develop basic reading skills in Greek.

This course is for…

Ancient Greek Webinars are addressed to persons aged 14 and older from all professional backgrounds wishing to learn the language of the Iliad and the Odyssey, Sophocles, Plato, Aristophanes, the Septuagint, the New Testament, the Early Church Fathers, and many other authors. The courses may serve as continuing education and are ideal for clergy and laypersons alike who would like to revive or strengthen their reading knowledge of Greek, especially koine. Students under 18 years of age will need proof of parental permission upon registration.

English Language Requirements

If English is not the mother language of the webinar student, then a TOEFEL, or B2 First, (formerly known as Cambridge English: First (FCE), Cambridge English Qualification or equivalent level of English Language knowledge is necessary.

Textbook

We shall be using Balme, Lawall, and Morwood’s highly successful and easy-to-follow Athenaze, An introduction to ancient Greek, Book I (3rd edn revised, Oxford University Press, 2016).

To order the textbook direct from Oxford University Press, see the link https://global.oup.com/academic/?lang=en&cc=gb

Then click ‘Arts & Humanities’ > 'Classical Studies', and in the upper right-hand corner οf the ‘Classical Studies’ page, enter the keyword ‘Athenaze’.

The two books required for Absolute Beginners Greek are:

1) Athenaze, Book I

An Introduction to Ancient Greek

Revised Third Edition

£57.99

Maurice Balme, Gilbert Lawall, James Morwood

9780190607661

Paperback

2016

2) Athenaze, Workbook I

An Introduction to Ancient Greek

Revised Third Edition

£21.99

Maurice Balme, Gilbert Lawall, James Morwood

9780190607685

Paperback

2016

Instructor profile

Prof. Ioannis (John) Petropoulos

Director Emeritus of Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece, CHS, Harvard University Greece

Professor of Ancient Greek Literature, Democritus University of Thrace

Adjunct Professor of Classics, St Photius Orthodox Theological Seminary in Etna, CA

Ioannis (John) Petropoulos was educated at the University of Athens Law School, Harvard University (AB, Classics), and the University of Oxford (DPhil.,Litterae Humaniores, Lincoln College). He taught ancient Greek literature at Oxford for several years before settling in Greece in 1990. Since then he has taught at the University of Crete, the Democritus University of Thrace, and the Hellenic Open University. He has also lectured and taught at universities in Brazil, China, the EU, UK, and the US. He is Professor of Ancient Greek Literature in the Dept of Greek Philology, Democritus University of Thrace, Adjunct Professor of Classics, St Photius Orthodox Theological Seminary in Etna, CA, and Director emeritus of the Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece (CHS Greece).

He has supervised a number of doctoral and post-doctoral theses affiliated with Greek, Brazilian, and Chinese universities, and is currently supervising a doctoral thesis (‘Liturgical and Biblical Greek: A Coursebook’) at the University of Redlands & San Francisco Theological Seminary.

His books include Kleos in a minor key: The Homeric education of a Little Prince, published in 2011 by the Center for Hellenic Studies and Harvard University Press.

His forthcoming books include The Gospel and the Greeks: Case Studies in the Reception of ancient Greek literature in the early Church, and A Cabinet of Monstrosities: Essays on the Cyclopes and other early Greek monsters.

Course 1. Dates and Times

1. Monday 31 October 2022
2. Thursday 3 November 2022
3. Monday 7 November 2022
4. Thursday 10 November 2022
5. Monday 14 November 2022
6. Thursday 17 November 2022
7. Monday 21 November 2022
8. Thursday 24 November 2022
9. Monday 28 November 2022
10. Thursday 1 December 2022
11. Monday 5 December 2022
12. Thursday 8 December 2022
13. Monday 12 December 2022
14. Thursday 15 December 2022
15. Monday 19 December 2022
16. Thursday 22 December 2022
17. Monday 9 January 2023
18. Thursday 12 January 2023

Times for all seminars: 7 - 9 pm Eastern European Time (Greek)

Details for Course 2: Lower Intermediate, Course3: Upper Intermediate and Course 4: Advanced will be announced shortly. Each new level will follow after the completion of the previous one.

Time Zone Converter

Since the Evgenios Voulgaris Academy (EVA) seminars are available globally please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

You will be sent a link to the webinar 1 day before the the start time. Please email secretariat@voulgarisacademy.com if you have not received the access link within two hours of the scheduled start time.

General Terms of Participation and Payment

Minimum class enrolment of 20 persons. The Evgenios Voulgaris Digital Academy will confirm via eventbrite your enrolment prior to the commencement of the course. Students will be advised if classes have to be cancelled or postponed, if the desired course is fully booked, or if there is any other change which affects their enrolment. The Evgenios Voulgaris Digital Academy reserves the right to refuse enrolment and to cancel or postpone classes or courses.

REFUND POLICY: Students should enrol only if they have a reasonable expectation of completing the course as no course fee or part of it will be refunded once the course has begun. If a course is cancelled due to lack of numbers you will be refunded in full. The Academy cannot be held responsible for changes in student's circumstances. Students withdrawing their enrolment less than one week prior to commencement of courses OR students requesting a deferral will be charged an administration fee of €150.00.

Please contact the Evgenios Voulgaris Digital Academy secretariat@voulgarisacademy.com for any queries or concerns

For more information about the Evgenios Voulgaris Digital Academy, you may visit the official website