University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 20

ECTS credits : 10

Level : SCQF level 11

Semester: Full Year

Planned timetable: 9.30 am - 11.00 am Mon and Tue

The three tiers of teaching (beginners, intermediate, and translation) provide suitable levels of engagement with Latin for students with earlier or no experience. The beginners' class covers the fundamentals of Latin grammar and syntax; gives practice in translating separate sentences, short Latin passages written specifically for the class; passages of genuine Latin taken from a wide variety of sources including the Vulgate, the Church Fathers, Medieval, and later historians, hymns, and popular verses; surveys various types of Latin literature from late antiquity to the eighteenth century, Latin as a spoken language, pronunciation, and the advantages of Latin as a lingua franca; translation techniques. The intermediate class offers revision and consolidation of the above, introducing students to more complex aspects of grammar and syntax. The advanced translation class uses authors of verse and prose, analyses Latin styles, includes translation into Latin as well as from Latin into English, and offers exercises in recognising and correcting mistakes in modern published authors' versions of Latin texts, and in improving other versions and in correctly transcribing and translating manuscript material.

Relationship to other modules

Anti-requisite(s): You cannot take this module if you take MO5012

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: The beginners' class meets twice weekly: Monday and Tuesday mornings from 9.30-11.00 The intermediate class also meets twice weekly, Mondays 10.00-11.00 and Tuesdays 11.00-12.00; and the advanced class meets once a week, Tuesday from 2.30-4.00.

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: Coursework = 100%


Re-assessment: 1,200-word assignment (combination of separate sentences and a short connected passage for translation)

Personnel