Greek 3001: Beginning Greek
Instructor: Emily Fairey, Visiting Professor of Classics
Classroom: Dudley Lawrence 04
Office: Titsworth A2
Class meetings: Mon./Thurs. 2:00 pm-3:25 pm; Wed. 12:35 pm-1:30 PM
Course Description
Why learn ancient Greek? This subject represents a whole mode of learning that not only passes on the knowledge of a gloriously colorful civilization, but has been powerfully effective, even for hundreds of years after the end of its civilizations, in developing students’ abilities in creative arts and letters. When we learn Ancient Greek we re-learn language in a way that is analytical-we apply a framework to examine language structure as we absorb it. By internalizing paradigms of forms and inflections, by using flash cards to memorize vocabulary, we are stretching the muscle of memory and strengthening it; when we learn grammatical concepts and how these forms fit into them, our brains are forging new connections that will help us learn any other language. The most important part of this is that we discover that linguistic concepts transcend word for word translation, and ultimately have to be understood as the expression of ideas by symbols which differ from culture to culture-so no translation can ever be truly complete in expressing the original idea spoken.
Course Requirements
In this full-year course, participation is first, and frequency- doing some Greek every day- is second. It takes repetition and practice, as well as a willingness to be wrong and correct one’s mistakes. This is why we have three class meetings per week and practice memorization with mnemonics such as digital or homemade flash cards, oral and written repetition, as well as translation exercises. For assessment, there will be three quizzes and a final exam each semester. The prime objective of this course, however, is a sustained process of reading ancient Greek texts, and to engage in discussions that arise from these readings.
For conference work, in the fall each student will develop a Classical Greek topic in conference meetings and produce either as a short paper or digital presentation. In the spring semester, as we continue our study of grammar, students will engage in directed reading of an ancient Greek text of their choice, and will compose a short analytic commentary on a selection of this text, to be shared with the class.