The Summer School, established in 1999, is highly intensive offering almost two years of instruction over an eight-week period. It is aimed primarily at students in any discipline who require knowledge of either language for further study. The Director of the Summer School is Dr Konstantin Doulamis, Lecturer in Classics at UCC who teaches Greek language and literature on the programme. The administrator and Latin language teacher is Vicky Janssens.
32 participants from a variety of national and educational backgrounds are attending this year’s School including students from Ireland, UK, Germany, Italy, USA, Canada, India, and Korea. The vast majority are currently reading for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Classics, Philosophy, History, European Languages and Literature, Archaeology and Theology and are attending the 8-week programme learning Classical Greek or Latin for study purposes or personal interest.
The Summer School was awarded the European Label for Innovative and Creative Language Teaching and Learning in 2004 by the Linguistics Institute of Ireland on behalf of the European Commission. The jurors were "impressed by the planning, energy and dedication which is being invested to ensure the success of such an intensive language learning module" and that we "have succeeded in making the UCC course exemplary at an international level" due to "the vision and professionalism" of all involved.
According to Shane Forde (Arts II student) who attended last year’s Summer School: “In a period when the opportunities for learning ancient languages are diminishing, the ancient Greek and Latin Summer School is exemplary. In an eight-week period a student is taken from scarcely knowing the language to being able to read ancient texts with the aid of a dictionary. This course attracts students from many diverse disciplines and backgrounds, however, the instructors manage to foster an atmosphere that is collegial and supportive.”
Picture: Attendees at the 2010 International Greek and Latin Summer School
1505MMcS
