Module Catalogue 2024/25

CAG1001 : Beginners' Greek in Action Part 1

CAG1001 : Beginners' Greek in Action Part 1

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Richard Marshall
  • Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

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.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completion of the course, students should have acquired a range of key foundational linguistic skills, including:
- the ability to read and recognise the Greek alphabet;
- a command of some essential grammatical forms and syntactical structures of Greek;
- the ability to deduce the 'dictionary form' of Greek words from their form in a text, and look up their meaning;
- the ability to identify and understand the form and function of words within a Greek sentence;
- They should also have developed a range of translation strategies, and the ability to
- appreciate and analyse stylistic effects in the original text, and the contribution these make to interpretation.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students should have had the opportunity to develop skills involved in learning a classical language (logical and analytical thought, problem-solving, adaptability) and skills in interpersonal communication and teamwork.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion751:0075:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading921:0092:00Average of two-three hours preparation for each session
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching331:0033:00Full group interactive language classes.
Total200:00
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.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination901A70N/A
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Prob solv exercises1M3010 weekly in-class tests, requiring approx. 10 short answers (e.g. vocab items, word forms, translation of short sentences). The seven best results will be counted towards the mark.
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise1MOne language skills exercise (ca. 450 words).
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.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.