Latin SLI 2024 - In Person
The Latin Summer Language Institute will help you to build the skills you need to read centuries’ worth of texts—from the Classical Period through late antiquity and into the Middle Ages—in all the glory of their original language. Learning Latin will also enhance your knowledge of English, facilitate access to the modern Romance languages (French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and others, which developed from Latin), and indeed help you to grasp the structure of language more generally.
The Latin SLI provides you with an intensive study of the Latin language and an introduction to Latin literature. The program covers the equivalent of four semesters of college-level courses and is designed either for students with no prior knowledge of Latin or those who wish to gain a more solid grounding in the fundamentals of the language. At the end of the program, you can expect to be able to read Latin on your own with the aid of a dictionary, and you will have the knowledge and ability to succeed in advanced courses in Latin.
We welcome both undergraduate and graduate students to apply, as well as any other applicants with a desire to learn this unique and fascinating language. Students may choose to enroll for credit or non-credit, but all students will be expected to participate fully in all aspects of the program. Students who have mastered a full year of Introductory Latin (or its equivalent) may apply for enrollment in the second half of the program only (the equivalent of Latin 2010 and 2020 at UVA).
Pedagogy and Philosophy
The first half of the program introduces you to the grammar and basic vocabulary of the Latin language. You will apply that knowledge almost immediately, beginning to read short sentences from ancient Latin authors in the first week. This early exposure to unsimplified Latin in conjunction with drills and exercises gives you the best opportunity, especially valuable in the condensed timeframe of an intensive course, to learn what to expect from Latin texts.
By the end of the first half of the program, students will be able:
-to develop your knowledge of Latin vocabulary and your command of Latin morphology and syntax
-to gain facility with Latin reference materials and aids.
-to read and translate adapted continuous Latin poetry and prose
-to compose sentences in Latin
The second half of the program allows students to read famous and influential works of both prose and poetry by authors such as Cicero, Ovid, and Vergil in original Latin. During this part of the program, you will also learn to use common reference works such as dictionaries and grammar books to assist in reading Latin on your own.
By the end of the second half of the program, students will be able:
-to expand your command of Latin vocabulary, morphology, and syntax
-to efficiently use Latin reference materials and aids.
-to read and translate authentic Latin texts
-to explore various different literary genres and develop knowledge of their stylistic differences
-to familiarize with Roman culture and the contemporary backgrounds that color the readings assigned during the program
If you would like to take a placement exam to determine whether the whole program or just the second half would be the best fit for you, please email Camilla Basile (cb8vd@virginia.edu) with the subject line "Latin SLI Placement Exam Request" and you will be given instructions to schedule one with the Department of Classics.
Unique Features of the Program
By covering the equivalent of two years of college-level Latin courses, the Summer Latin Institute helps undergraduate students to meet their language requirements and prepare for advanced courses in Latin. Graduate students can expect this program to enable them, with the help of a dictionary, to read Latin on their own; they can then use this skill to pass departmental language exams or to aid in their own research. Our faculty is composed entirely of faculty and graduate students from the Classics Department who have extensive experience teaching Latin courses at the University of Virginia. While they offer a wide variety of knowledge and interests, all faculty members share energy and enthusiasm for teaching the Latin language.
What students say about Latin SLI
“I had a great time at the Latin SLI this year and wish I could repeat it. I learned so much and my translating skills grew immensely. It was a ten out of ten experience and I would recommend it to anyone interested in improving their translations.”
"I was nervous coming into the SLI program but with the help of the caring teachers and fully immersive Latin experience, I was able to thrive and excel as a student in this environment!"
Required Textbook
First Half:
-
Wheelock's Latin (7th ed.) F. Wheelock & R. LaFleur ISBN: 9780061997228
-
Thirty-Eight Latin Stories (5th ed.) A. Groton & J. May ISBN: 9780865162891
Second Half:
-
Packet for pickup, details TBD
-
Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar (ISBN-13: 978-0486448060)
-
A hard copy of a Latin dictionary.
Program Structure
Because of the intensive nature of this program, you should expect to spend much of each day either in class or preparing assignments for the following day. Each day will involve three-hour classes in the morning and the afternoon, as well as an additional evening session for one-on-one or small-group instruction. The purpose of this rigorous schedule is to immerse you in Latin to the greatest extent possible and to maximize the extensive progress that we expect you to have achieved by the end of the program. All students who enroll will be expected (barring medical or family emergencies) to be free to attend every class session.
Tentative Daily Schedule:
The program meets five days a week.
Morning 9:00-12:00
Afternoon 1:00-4:00
Evening 4:00-7:00
Check all the available options before applying
Students are strongly encouraged to register for the full 8-week program and complete the intermediate level. The option to apply for the first or second half is also available. The table below provides information on the available options.
|
Application Options |
Dates |
Credits |
Language Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Full Program (8 weeks) |
June 17 – August 9 |
12 credits |
Intensive Elementary and Intermediate (LATI 1016, 1026, 2016, 2026 - 2 years of language) |
|
First Half (4 weeks) |
June 17 – July 13 |
6 credits |
Intensive Elementary (LATI 1016 and LATI 1026 - 1 year of language) |
|
Second Half (4 weeks) |
July 15 – August 9 |
6 credits |
Intensive Intermediate (LATI 2016 and LATI 2026 - 1 year of language) |
2024 Costs
Students in all SLI programs, including the non-credit option, must pay the Institute Fee of $60.00 and the Comprehensive Fee. See Summer Session Housing for information on housing costs. See Dining for Information on meal plans.
| Virginia Resident | Non-Virginia Resident | |
|
Required Fees Institute Fee Comprehensive Fee |
$60 $453 |
$60 $513 |
| Undergraduate Student Tuition | $456 x credit hour | $1,685 x credit hour |
| Graduate Student Tuition | $535 x credit hour | $1,084 x credit hour |
| Non-Credit Study Option Tuition | $5,472 | $5,472 |
Please note that graduate-level tuition applies to current UVA students who will graduate in May, before the start of the SLI.
Contact Information:
Department of Classics
Director: Camilla Basile - cb8vd@virginia.edu
Cocke Hall, Room B018
434-924-6535