Accessibility statement

Latin - MST00007M

« Back to module search

  • Department: Centre for Medieval Studies
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

Over the course of two terms, this module will introduce students with no, or very little, prior knowledge of Latin to the basic grammatical rules of the language. Students will also have the opportunity to learn how to use a range of dictionaries and online resources to aid their translation work. The module aims to develop a good reading knowledge of a variety of elementary Latin texts ranging from documentary sources, such as wills and charters, to chronicles and sermon exempla.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the course students should:

  • have a sound grasp of basic Latin grammar and some familiarity with more complicated grammatical constructions
  • be able to read simple documents with confidence and to attempt slightly more difficult ones with help
  • be able to extract the information they want from documents which they may not be able to translate in full

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Open Examination 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Open Examination 100

Module feedback

Weekly verbal feedback on class translation exercises. One piece of formative assessment is set at the midpoint of the course, so that students can receive written feedback on their progress. Exam results are given within 25 working days.

Indicative reading

Please note that there is NO set textbook for this course. Students will be provided with a course booklet and weekly handouts that cover all the Latin texts and grammar topics considered on this module.

Students may find it helpful to own a Latin Primer, in order to follow up the grammar topics covered in class. The recommended Primer for this module is:

J. Morwood, A Latin Grammar (Oxford: OUP, 1999)

Students will also need to have access to a Latin dictionary and the following works are
recommended for this course:

  • Collins Latin Dictionary and Grammar 2 nd ed. (Glasgow: Collins, 2016)
  • C.T. Lewis, An Elementary Latin Dictionary (Oxford: OUP, 1963)
  • D.P. Simpson, Cassell’s Standard Latin Dictionary: Latin/English, English/Latin (London: John Wiley & Sons, 1959; rev. ed. 1977)

Please note, however, that there is no need to buy a dictionary, as a number of academic Latin dictionaries can be accessed online for free. Two particularly useful volumes are:

  • Lewis and Short, A Latin Dictionary (Oxford: OUP, 1879; reissued 1963)
  • R.E. Latham et al., Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources (Oxford: OUP, 1975-2013).

Both tomes are now available via: http://logeion.uchicago.edu



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.