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Spoken Latin: Learning, Teaching,
Lecturing and Research
by A. Gratius Avitus
y experiences both as a learner and as Three steps to start speaking Latin communication in Latin, my second step
Ma teacher of Latin have led me to the was to join the Grex Latiné Loquentium
conviction that speaking Latin advances a Traditional approaches to Latin do not (GLL). This is a unique on-line mailing
more nuanced understanding of the aim at, and will therefore not of list for on-going discussion completely in
language, and leads to an enhanced level of themselves yield, spoken fluency in the Latin. It is also a useful source of
reading fluency and greater ease in engaging language. Dedicated methods are needed information on all living Latin matters.
closely with the text. Even after having to acquire and exercise the communicative Traditional Latin composition courses are
studied the language to any degree of strategies that will enhance more a good way to practise active use of the
competence in a passive capacity, bringing it traditional learning and teaching language, but anyone who is aware of the
into active use does not come without some experiences. After I completed my first rôle of emotional involvement in learning
investment of time and effort. With the Classics degree back in 1992, I used the will understand how much more efficient
intention of facilitating access to the following course (a book and set of in developing your compositional skills it
benefits of speaking Latin fluently, I have audio-recordings) as my springboard to is bound to be to strive to put down in
set out some recommendations for those active usage: persuasive Latin your personal opinions in
who would like to explore this approach, the context of a heated argument on
and put together an overview of its recent some contemporary issue about which
spread in formal teaching, and in research, • Clément Desessard, Lingua Latina sine you feel very strongly (Brexit anyone?
around the UK and Europe. It is my hope molestiá, published by Assimil, now student fees?) than to just transfer into
that in drawing attention to the rapidly under the simpler name of Le Latin: Latin someone else’s passage on Numa or
increasing number of initiatives, this article http://fr.assimil.com/methodes/ Napoleon, Caesar or Coleridge.
will promote cross-fertilisation of ideas le-latin-294#super-pack-livre-cd-
between the disparate influencers in the audio-cd-mp3 • Grex Latiné Loquentium: http://www.
field of Latin pedagogy. alcuinus.net/GLL/
I will first provide some advice, based I still believe this course provides the most
on my own experience, on getting started efficient method available for developing After a period of passionately personal
with speaking Latin. I will then share what spoken use of Latin, and I most writing in Latin, the third step must be to
I know of the current developments in wholeheartedly recommend it. The actually start speaking it! Short of talking
the UK, and provide guidance on extensive audio material is essential for to oneself, which a considerable number
speaking Latin options available success, as the natural way for languages to of people do recommend in the absence
throughout the world, and in our enter our brains is through the ears rather of anything else, it becomes necessary, and
neighbouring continent in particular. than the eyes, certainly if those languages it is ideal, to meet other Latin speakers,
After that I will contribute some are to make their way on to our tongues. and the more fluent the better. It was
reflections on teaching in Latin at schools Desessard’s method is currently available through the GLL that I found out about a
and lecturing in Latin at universities. Last through the medium of French (best surprisingly varied number of
but not least I will give some pointers on edition), but also German and Italian. See international gatherings taking place every
research, and conclude with an invitation below for support for English speakers. summer throughout Europe and America
to greater sharing of projects, resources Once this course had helped me where Latin alone is spoken. Just a week
and information. develop strategies for active of full immersion in the language can be
The Journal of Classics Teaching 19 (37) p.46-52 © The Classical Association 2018. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of
the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits
46 non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written
permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631018000065 Published online by Cambridge University Press
transforming, and I attended my first two (Licoppe, 2014), the only stable space to It was a remarkable event, and a particularly
in 1998. Soon after that, I went on to exercise actual spoken Latin in the UK vivid example of the department’s
found back at home the London Latin had long remained the monthly sessions commitment to innovation in teaching in
Circle, for the same purpose of providing a of the London Latin Circle (http://www. line with the recent UCL Education
regular space for practising speaking Latin. circuluslatinuslondiniensis.co.uk/). These Strategy 2016–21. Dr. Emily Chow-
These were the beginnings of my sessions, taking place in the context of an Kambitsch, who convened the UCL
own path to Latin fluency, a path I affable pub dinner, include social Living Latin Workshop, contacted me
recommend. Inspired by the value of the conversation and discussion of Latin through the London Latin Circle. She was
Assimil course in my own progress, and literature passages. The London Latin looking for a fluent speaker who could
wanting to help others benefit from it too, Circle has always welcomed participants give a lecture on current active Latin
I further established the free on-line Schola of any level of ability. resources, and who could also
Latína Európæa & Úniversális (SLEU). At a A remarkable change of tide in the last demonstrate spoken Latin as a tool for
slow or a fast pace, in two years or one few years, however, has brought about a teaching not only Latin language, but also
respectively, it provides students with wider explosion of interest in spoken Latin Latin literature. After the success of this
comments and explanations, exercises, finally spreading to schools and universities venture, some of the students who had
tests, and real-time answers to queries too. This surge has gained momentum helped organise the workshop that year
from volunteer experts. Those who have thanks to a rapidly growing number of wanted to continue to explore speaking
no French, German or Italian can also successful endeavours, largely so far from Latin this year too, and I was requested
follow the method with the SLEU in abroad, which people have either been again to come and facilitate their sessions.
English or Spanish. Overall, working with experiencing in person or witnessing A group of around 15 students, and one
the SLEU is much easier than trying to through social networks, and indeed also other UCL lecturer, have therefore been
tackle the long and considerably dense thanks to the daring initiatives of a few regularly meeting once a week for the
Assimil method alone. People from all praiseworthy scholars and the committed whole of the academic year for this
over the world have long been benefiting interest of an ever more numerous body of purpose. We also use the textbook by
from the course (Avitus, 2008) and students themselves eagerly asking for this Hans H. Ørberg, Lingua Latina per se
practically all current members of the form of training in the UK. illustrata.
London Latin Circle have completed it At Oxford, the so-called Oxford I understand that there are similar
too. Their fluency bears witness to its Latinitas Project has recently been created. initiatives emerging at other universities
success. Under the ægis of Regius Professor of and schools too of which I know less, and
Greek, Gregory Hutchinson, and we all look forward to hearing about
• Schola Latína Európæa & Úniversális: supported by the committed dedication them. Meanwhile I am really delighted to
http://avitus.alcuinus.net/schola_ of a very active group of postgraduate report on the remarkable number of
latina/ organisers, around 30 students (last time I Classics students at two of the top UK
visited) are meeting up to four times a universities who are increasingly showing
My advice to those wanting to develop week every week to activate their Latin. a proactive determination to develop
fluency speaking Latin is therefore: a) to Three groups working at different levels spoken fluency in Latin.
find a copy of Desessard’s Assimil book use the famous method developed by The story does not end here though,
and audio, and to work through it with the Hans H. Ørberg under the title Lingua because in another proof of commitment
aid of the Schola Latína Európæa & Latina per se illustrata. Those who wish to to innovation in Classics teaching, the
Úniversális, b) to practise expressing your gather on a different day converse in Latin UCL Summer School 2018 will now for
own thoughts and opinions, not someone over lunch in a group open to all abilities. the first time offer two academic modules
else’s, in written Latin, through the Grex A further two groups read and discuss taught entirely in Latin. The modules are
Latiné Loquentium or even a personal diary, classical authors in the original at two assessed and award credit (15UG) but are
and c) to start attending spoken Latin different levels. The project also holds a also open to any interested applicants
gatherings, seminars, events and courses, study day once a month on a Saturday. with a good passive knowledge of the
for exposure and the necessary benefits In London, where I am a Senior language. The first module (2–20 Jul:
of immersion. Teaching Fellow at the University College https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-
I will now enlarge on this last point, London’s Centre for Languages & students/study-abroad-ucl/summer-
providing information about the wonderful International Education, there are also school/modules/latin-usage) will explore
things that are being done in spoken Latin exciting initiatives to report. In 2017, the Latin usage and idiom through the works
in the UK, and about the even larger UCL Department of Greek & Latin took of Terence, Cicero and Virgil, illuminated
number of options to experience speaking on a pioneering initiative to run a Living by the writings of their Latin
Latin throughout the world. Latin Workshop. This was filled to commentators, and by the most recent
maximum capacity with 20 attendees scholarship on the matter. It will also
from different backgrounds, and offered include some practical training in teaching
Recent developments in the UK participants the opportunity to experience Latin idiom, again through the medium
various pedagogical methods involving of Latin. The second module (23 Jul to 10
Although spoken Latin had been the active use of the Latin language for Aug: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-
gathering some momentum for a number Latin language learning (https://www.ucl. students/study-abroad-ucl/summer-
of decades in Europe and America ac.uk/classics/newsletter/Newsletter2017). school/modules/latin-literature) will
Spoken Latin: Learning, Teaching, Lecturing and Research 47
https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631018000065 Published online by Cambridge University Press
comprise an academic introduction to think English is part of his national to be reachable by train. I would like to
British literature written in Latin, and heritage. A Briton may like Schiller, but make sure in this article that we all remain
provide an overview of its periods and will never pretend that the German alert to this too, and so reap the fruits of
genres. It will dwell on detailed language has a significant presence in his their decades of work in the area
commentary and discussion of specific national culture. However, a Briton is (Licoppe, 2014).
key texts (Monmouth, More, Francis aware that Latin has an inextricable and Two European endeavours stand out
Bacon), and further explore the rich pervasive part in his national history and above the rest in their success and their
cultural connection between Britain and is core to his cultural heritage. A German practical achievement, the Académía
the rest of Europe (e.g. epistolography feels that Latin is intrinsic to his national Vívárium Novum, based near Rome
between More and Erasmus). Once again culture too. A Hungarian considers Latin (Italy), and the Cursus Æstívus Latínitátis
the module will be delivered in Latin. the very same way as well. It is a very Vívæ Matríténsis, held yearly in the
These two modules constitute a giant powerful experience to meet Germans, summer in Madrid (Spain).
stride for spoken Latin in the United French, Hungarians, Poles, and feel that The Académía Vívárium Novum
Kingdom. In an intensive regime of full we are communicating in a language, the (https://vivariumnovum.net/) is based in
Latin language immersion, they bring only language, that we can all feel is really a Renaissance villa next to ancient
together ancient and modern scholarship ours in the same way, a language that Tusculum, and currently holds the
to advance knowledge of two important automatically immerses us all in a culture greatest reputation in the spoken Latin
areas: the genuine nuances of idiomatic that we all feel is our own in the same way. world, deservingly so on account of the
usage in the Latin of the native period in For some reason, although the level of fluency participants reach. It
classical Rome, and the often neglected British are known for their ease to travel hosts male youths under 24 for free
and yet exuberant and momentous around the world, I have had quite a hard during the academic year (October to
treasure of national British literature time trying to persuade fellow British June), and has an extended summer
originally produced in the Latin language Latin speakers to go abroad to meet the school (four or eight weeks) open to all
through the ages. wider international community we are a genders and ages. Many illustrative videos
part of. I hope the readers of these lines can be found on YouTube. Most of the
will be encouraged to be a bit more students behind the recent flourishing of
The international dimension of adventurous. living Latin at Oxford have strong links
When UK Latinists discuss with this academy.
speaking Latin institutions that promote speaking Latin, The Cursus Æstivus Latinitatis Vivæ
their hearts and thoughts often fly first to Matritensis (CÆLVM) is a now five-year-
As we have seen, the British Latinist has the USA. This is understandable, but it old initiative in Madrid (http://www.
an increasing number of occasions to get somewhat circumvents the experiences I culturaclasica.com/?q=caelum) which
involved in spoken Latin at home. This was commending above that come from readers of this journal should mark as
has to be celebrated, every local communing with Latin speakers of uniquely specialising in teacher training
opportunity seized and all endeavours different mother tongues. for spoken Latin through intensive
fostered. However, the larger provision is I am satisfied that good information summer courses of one week. It attracts
still to be found abroad. This is not a bad has been gathered in the literature (Hunt, about 180 Latin teachers every summer.
thing, for various reasons. It is not 2016; Lloyd, 2016), regarding the Some Spanish is used at the opening and
uncommon to suspect that initiatives of Professor Terence Tunberg closing of the course, but all other
communication in Latin is some kind of at the University of Kentucky (Institute course activity takes place in Latin. A
pretence which only works because we are for Latin Studies & Conventiculum good sample video (more on YouTube)
all thinking of the same English words Latinum), as well as those of the is this one from the 2014 event:
and expressions hiding beneath the incomparable Reginald Foster’s disciples https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
amusing sounds. There is no better way to at the Paideia Institute, of Nancy 2f5VpyFoznU&index=2&list=PL6PTtr
allay this suspicion than to start speaking Llewellyn at the North American Institute PBAg9xuW8733IZ3IzYKIcQEVcmF
Latin with native speakers of German or of Living Latin Studies (SALVI), and of The Collegium Latinitatis (http://
Polish, and realise that we indeed the amazing Justin Slocum Bailey at www.collegiumlatinitatis.com/) is an
understand each other in Latin through Indwelling Language. Information also initiative of a passionate group of Latin
Latin alone, and that there is no circulates about the work of Jason Harris teachers from Valencia (Spain) closely
underlying common language that could at University College Cork, in Ireland, and involved in the CÆLVM. They are
explain the phenomenon. The Latin we Christopher Rico at the Polis Institute, in likewise intent on improving teaching
have all been learning from our Cicero or Israel. The reader should easily be able to standards of Latin at all levels of
our Seneca still communicates. This is in find much more on all of these wonderful education. They teach Latin literature in
itself an experience of the vigour of the endeavours through the internet, and I Latin, and also organise guided visits in
language worth going abroad for. But wholeheartedly commend experiencing Latin of the Museo del Prado in Madrid
there is more. I am persuaded that living each and every one of them. (there are videos on YouTube).
the international dimension of Latin is As Tunberg points out in his online The most veteran organisations
essential to understand the real cultural videos though, the breeding ground of all however, which in many ways set the
importance of this language. A Hungarian this was in continental Europe, where the foundations for all of the aforementioned,
may admire Shakespeare, but will never initiatives still thrive, and which happens and which are still active to various
48 Spoken Latin: Learning, Teaching, Lecturing and Research
https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631018000065 Published online by Cambridge University Press
extents, and so worth exploring, are in took place in Kentucky 27–31/7/2017). way that develops the linguistic instincts
Germany and Belgium. Its website used to have a section aimed at conducive to fluency. It is also the method
The Societas Latina Saravipontana of gathering information on all current living of choice for the aforementioned
the University of Saarland is the child of Latin initiatives, but they seem to be speaking Latin initiatives of Oxford and
late Cælestis Eichenseer, one of the most currently unable to offer such a crucially London. The enhanced version produced
influential spoken Latin advocates of his needed service. The academy has suffered by the Académía Vívárium Novum is
time. It still publishes the Latin periodical many vicissitudes in its long history supported by a tremendous wealth of
Vox Latina and organises two spoken (Licoppe, 2014) and needs our resources: https://vivariumnovum.it/
Latin seminars per year (click on seminaria involvement in order to be able to provide catalogo/latino/corso-base
Latinitatis vivæ at: http://www.voxlatina. a cohesive and effective centre for Ørberg recorded the text of his
uni-saarland.de/). speaking Latin endeavours at an method himself with very good
The Septimanæ Latinæ Europææ, international level. pronunciation, despite rather fast diction,
now very popular and attracting a younger A good way to obtain further probably in an attempt to fit as much as
crowd of school and university students, information and support for speaking possible onto every tape! Now iTunes has
also has two spoken Latin seminars each Latin is through the many Latin Circles audio files of all of this, most of them
year, at Amöneburg in Hessen and that spread from Seattle to Hong Kong. free: https://itunes.apple.com/us/
Freising near Munich (http://www. Their websites (not all of them active) can album/familia-romana-latine-audio/
septimanalatina.org/). be found listed in several places, and for 528790763
The Latinitati Vivæ Provehendæ instance here: https://www.google.com/ Ørberg’s method is somewhat similar
Associatio (LVPA) also organised maps/d/viewer?mid=1IErsi89dopBy to the graded reading approach of Reading
immersion seminars, often in Eastern 9tPtiW2h12stDWs&hl=en_US&ll=8.800 Latin, but is completely self-explanatory
Europe (mostly Poland, although I once 841462142246%2C133.480009&z=1 in Latin, and so requires no use of any
attended a wonderful one in Serbia), but Of course, even more information vernacular at all.
I am uncertain about its current activities than this can be found through Google, Lingua Latina per se illustrata does not
(http://www.lvpa.de/). and the scores of spoken Latin videos on refer to any modern contexts. In case of
A now independent scion of the YouTube. any specific interest in that direction, a
above is the Schola Æstiva Posnaniensis, good option, among a few others, would
which organises summer courses in Poland be Robert Maier et al., Piper Salve, Cursus
(https://scholaaestivaposnaniensis. Some notes on Latin school Vivæ Latinitatis, Recanati, ELI s.r.l., 1998.
wordpress.com/). This was produced by the organisers of
In Brussels, the long-standing teaching the Septimanæ Latinæ Europææ
Fundatio Melissa (http://www. mentioned above. The website says it is
fundatiomelissa.org/) hosts a Circulus Many good textbooks for teaching now out of print, but they have a new
Latinus and publishes the Latin periodical Latin have been published and are in use version: http://www.maierphil.de/
Melissa. Also in Belgium, the Schola Nova in this country. A number of recent ones PiperSal/
(watch the video at: http://www. have included conversational elements, Of course, a wonderful method is
scholanova.be/) is a private school that some dialogue and a grammatical the one I also mentioned above,
offers a strongly Græco-Latin curriculum progression inspired by the advances in Desessard’s Lingua Latina sine molestiá; but
with a living approach. pedagogy made in the vernaculars. this is more for self-study, and not so
In the Netherlands, the Athenæum Examples of this go from the charming practical for an actual face-to-face class.
Illustre (http://www.athenaeumillustre. Minimus to the Cambridge Latin Course. There is certainly still much room for
org/) has organised since 2012 many Based on progressive reading, Reading improvement in the area of textbooks to
spoken Latin conferences, with activities Latin also comes to mind. teach Latin in a communicative manner,
in Amsterdam and other cities like Leiden; English being a global language, all and I and others have this very much in
although, again, I am unsure about its of these methods are well known abroad, mind. However, a word of warning is
current situation (many magnificent and have received praise. However, the necessary. Sufficiently good methods for
videos on YouTube). method currently most widely and almost teaching classical languages this way were
In Italy, the Schola Latina (http:// unanimously used internationally, both in already produced, here in Britain of all
www.scholalatina.it/) is run by a number Europe and in America, by all those places, by W.H.D. Rouse, and as early as
of previous partners of «Vívárium interested in spoken Latin is the the beginning of the 20th Century. A
Novum» who have returned to Montella, following: number of reasons can be adduced to
where it all started. They also offer explain why his attempts were not more
summer courses. • Hans H. Ørberg, Lingua Latina per se successful. A crucial factor in the fate of
This international network of illustrata, Hauniæ apud Museum those initial efforts would appear to have
initiatives finds some coordination Tusculanum 1991 [1981] https:// been that, at the time (Rouse was active at
through the Académía Latínitátí Fovendæ lingualatina.dk/wp/ Perse 1902–1928), the number of
(http://www.academialatinitatifovendae. initiatives and opportunities to master
org/). One of its greatest contributions is This method teaches classical Latin speaking Latin that we have today were
the scholarly conference it organises fully grammar and the 3000 words most not yet available. No matter how good a
in Latin every four years (the latest one frequently found in the classical texts in a range of textbooks we have, if the
Spoken Latin: Learning, Teaching, Lecturing and Research 49
https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631018000065 Published online by Cambridge University Press
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