Aims

The overall aim of the Beginners’ Greek modules is to allow students to engage with what ancient authors wrote in their own words, and to introduce them to the study of Greek literary texts in the original languages.

The linguistic aims of CAG1001 are to:

1. instil the acquisition and consolidation of core linguistic skills and knowledge (words and their various forms; clauses, sentences, and their structures; strategies for reading and translating);
2. train students in the use of linguistic reference tools such as the LSJ dictionary.
3. to train students in the application of language skills, building towards the reading of texts in the original language.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module introduces students to key grammatical patterns and structures of Greek, which will enable students to identify the function performed by the individual words in a Greek sentence. It also trains students in:
— 'dictionary skills': how to work back to the form of a Greek word to be looked up, from its form in a text; how to take into account the range of meanings and connotations many Greek words carry.
— the skills required to translate and engage with original Greek texts.

Students are expected to complete regular homework exercises.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

General rationale: This set-up aims to preserve as much of the (traditional) method for from-scratch language teaching which has worked so well over the past years, and has been commended by students.

The three taught classes per week introduce, explain, demonstrate, and give students the opportunity to apply under guidance, the knowledge of the Greek language and the approach to reading Greek texts which the module aims to instil. Time is set aside in each session for students to ask questions.

In private study, students consolidate knowledge imparted in the taught classes, further practise applying that knowledge to set exercises, and learn to use their language skills to think in analytical and constructive ways about original Greek texts. Written exercises are set in order to aid students review, apply, and consolidate their linguistic knowledge.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Written examination: An examination is still inevitably the best way of testing students' assimilation of linguistic knowledge and skills, and their translation skills in both seen and unseen texts, without the use of aids (e.g., grammar charts etc.). It is thus the ideal format for assessing the students' assimilation and command of the taught material.

The tests ensure students’ constant review of the material covered in the module, and allow the teacher to detect difficulties early on in the semester and provide students with constant feedback on their progress.
Machine-marked tests will be offered on Canvas to help students revise new material on a regular basis and prepare them for the in-class test of the following week.

Short homework exercises help students review and consolidate the material introduced to them in the previous session.

The formative language skills exercise will test students' ability to understand and critically analyse a text.

Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.

This module cannot be made available to Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students under any circumstances.

All Erasmus students at Newcastle University are expected to do the same assessment as students registered for a degree.