Language/Poetry Classes

Pax vobiscum.

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We are offering the following online language and poetry courses for the 2008/09 academic year:

• Introduction to Latin  Mondays beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 8.
   

• Latin II: Latin and Roman Culture  Wednesdays beginning at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 3.
   

• Attic Greek: The Way to Athens  Tuesdays beginning at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 2.
   

• Poetry: Education by the Muses  Mondays beginning at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 8.
   

The course descriptions are below. 

           INTRODUCTION TO LATIN

The instructor will be Dr. James Taylor. Those of you familiar with Dr. Taylor will appreciate that students who study Latin with him will benefit in more ways than by simply acquiring Latin skills.

Students new to Latin will learn to read accessible Latin texts minimizing the “fear factor” in this slower but steady approach. All Latin students taught in this way find the experience enjoyable and the content more memorable. Grammar is first discovered as it exists in context then reinforced with helpful drills. Online class time is spent in reading Latin aloud, translating with the help of the teacher and the class, and going over homework as a group. Intriguing word histories (etymology) are discovered along the way. The first, second and third declensions are learned with three case endings, and the first three conjugations of Latin verbs are memorized and used in context.

Open to grades 7 to adult or with permission of instructor.

Specifics for Introduction to Latin:

• There will be 28 hours of class time each semester. Each class will be 2 hours long and will take place in one of our online classrooms.  There will be 14 weeks of classes.
   
• The classes will be on Mondays beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 8.
   
• Tuition is $395 per semester.  If you register for both semesters you will receive a 10% tuition discount.  Tuition will be $711 rather than $790.
   
• Family discounts are available for those who would like to enroll two or more students. The discount is 10% for all students after the first one.
   
• To take advantage of these family discounts you may enroll by mail sending the appropriate payment.  You can also enroll with us by phone at 800-331-6071.  Or you may simply enroll your students here online and send us an email at info@greatbooksdiscussions.org requesting your family discount.  We'll promptly mail a check to you in the amount of the discount.
   
• The course will continue with a second semester of 14 two hour classes to begin in January.
   
• Oxford Latin Course One will be the student text.  Dr. Taylor will be providing to students some supplemental materials by email. The Oxford book may be purchased from our bookstore here.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Latin course feel free to write to Dr. Taylor at orientalelumen@oct.net .

Please scroll down to enroll securely online.

Latin II: Latin and Roman Culture

Students who have successfully completed Introduction to Latin or its equivalent will proceed to longer and more detailed readings in Roman literature and culture. Likewise, there will be more memorizing of vocabulary and grammar so that the readings and the ability to translate are appreciated. Some conversational Latin is introduced in the second year so that students can begin to converse in this lively “dead” language. However, the same genial approach is maintained, the slower pace so there is time to enjoy the readings and translations and better retain new material.

Open to grades 7 – adult or with permission of instructor.

The instructor will be Dr. James Taylor.

Specifics for Latin and Roman Culture:

• There will be 28 hours of class time each semester. Each class will be 2 hours long and will take place in one of our online classrooms.  There will be 14 weeks of classes.
   
• The classes will be on Wednesdays beginning at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 3.
   
• Tuition is $395 per semester.  If you register for both semesters you will receive a 10% tuition discount.  Tuition will be $711 rather than $790.
   
• Family discounts are available for those who would like to enroll two or more students. The discount is 10% for all students after the first one.
   
• To take advantage of these family discounts you may enroll by mail sending the appropriate payment.  You can also enroll with us by phone at 800-331-6071.  Or you may simply enroll your students here online and send us an email at info@greatbooksdiscussions.org requesting your family discount.  We'll promptly mail a check to you in the amount of the discount.
   
• The course will continue with a second semester of 14 two hour classes to begin in January.
   
• Oxford Latin Course One will be the student text.  Dr. Taylor will be providing to students some supplemental materials by email. The Oxford book may be purchased from our bookstore here.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Latin course feel free to write to Dr. Taylor at orientalelumen@oct.net .

Please scroll down to enroll securely online.

Attic Greek: The Way to Athens

The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley once said: “We are all Greeks. Our laws, our literature, our religion, our art, have their roots in Greece.”

If our civilization owes its origins to the ancient Greeks then the study of the ancient Greek language is sure to deepen our knowledge of our world, past and present. Students of the Great Books Program should especially benefit by a knowledge of ancient Greek.

For these reasons, we are offering an introductory course in ancient Greek. The text for this course is the first volume of Maurice Balme’s and Gilbert Lawall’s introduction to ancient Attic Greek (the language of the ancient Athenians), entitled Athenaze (meaning the way to Athens), published by Oxford University Press (Second Edition).

This text is very accessible. In its first chapter the student begins to read ancient Greek. The readings are interesting and substantive, giving the student a strong impression of what life was like in the ancient Greek world. Study of this text will also prepare the student to read the Greek New Testament.

Open to grade 7 to adult or with permission of instructor.

Our instructor for the Greek class is Dr. Curtis Hancock.

Specifics for Attic Greek: The Way to Athens:

• There will be 28 hours of class time each semester. Each class will be 2 hours long and will take place in one of our online classrooms.  There will be 14 weeks of classes.
   
• The classes will be on Tuesdays beginning at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 2.
   
• Tuition is $395 per semester.  If you register for both semesters you will receive a 10% tuition discount.  Tuition will be $711rather than $790.
   
• Family discounts are available for those who would like to enroll two or more students. The discount is 10% for all students after the first one.
   
• To take advantage of these family discounts you may enroll by mail sending the appropriate payment.  You can also enroll with us by phone at 800-331-6071.  Or you may simply enroll your students here online and send us an email at info@greatbooksdiscussions.org requesting your family discount.  We'll promptly mail a check to you in the amount of the discount.
   
• The courses will continue with a second semester of 14 two hour classes to begin in January.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Greek course feel free to write to Dr. Hancock at Curtis.Hancock@rockhurst.edu .

Please scroll down to enroll securely online.

Poetry: Education by the Muses

What is this class?  Here's Dr. Taylor to tell you:

Why don't poets say what they mean? I answer, they do, we just need to listen closely and learn to read poetry in the spirit of the Muse.

Do you hate poetry? I would too if I had been taught by teachers who cut, chop and dissect the poor defenseless poem until it dies a brutal death. And too often such a manner of "teaching poetry" kills something in our souls, as well. Millions of students graduate from high school, and from college too, having a keen distaste for poetry and the poetic way of seeing life. It was never thus in the past -- and the remedy is here and now, following the natural way of reading poetry before the academics and specialists got hold of it and ruined one of the greatest experiences of a good education.

I say let the poem be your teacher and let me be your guide.  We will read and talk about selections from the huge treasury of world poetry, from Mother Goose and the English tradition, to medieveal Arab poets to modern American poetry.

Do not fear the poem! It wants only to be your friend and your teacher.

Open to high school age to adult.

Specifics for Poetry: Education by the Muses

• There will be 28 hours of class time each semester. Each class will be 2 hours long and will take place in one of our online classrooms.  There will be 14 weeks of classes.
   
• The classes will be on Mondays beginning at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 8.
   
• Tuition is $395 per semester.  If you register for both semesters you will receive a 10% tuition discount.  Tuition will be $711 rather than $790.
   
• Family discounts are available for those who would like to enroll two or more students. The discount is 10% for all students after the first one.
   
• To take advantage of these family discounts you may enroll by mail sending the appropriate payment.  You can also enroll with us by phone at 800-331-6071.  Or you may simply enroll your students here online and send us an email at info@greatbooksdiscussions.org requesting your family discount.  We'll promptly mail a check to you in the amount of the discount.
   
• The courses will continue with a second semester of 14 two hour classes to begin in January.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Poetry course feel free to write to Dr. Taylor at orientalelumen@oct.net . 

Please scroll down to enroll securely online.

Enrollment is Easy

Step 1 - Provide Information
Enrollment Information Form - Language/Poetry Classes

Step 2 - Make Payment
Tuition may be paid securely with a credit card online below or by phone at 800-331-6071. You may also send a check to:

Great Books Discussions
P.O. Box 756
Morton, Washington 98356

Before making your tuition payment please visit our Policies page.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call us at 1- 800-331-6071.  We are happy to speak with you.

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INTRODUCTION TO LATIN, 1st semester
Tuition: $395

LATIN II: LATIN & ROMAN CULTURE, 1st semester
Tuition: $395.00