Summer course of Latin in Rome – L.V.D.V.S. (Loqui Vere Discere Verum Sapientis)
Live a unique experience in the heart of Rome! Together with students coming from all over the world, study Latin language and literature, by immersing tousled in the language: all the activities, from the lessons to the meals, are completely held in Latin! The IISC methodology, more and more appreciated and known all over the world, guarantees a fast and sound learning: students will deal both with the grammar and the vocabulary, learning thousands of words, in order to be able to read fluently literary texts.
Overview
The course
The IISC summer course allow students to completely immerse themselves in Latin, guaranteeing a fast and sound learning of the language.
Lessons are completely held in Latin and they do not require any pre-requisite: students are guided into the learning of the language starting from the very first notions of the language up to the direct access to the original texts of Classical literature.
Students who wish to have an even deeper and more effective immersion in the language, may be accommodated at the Guesthouse Mater Mundi (Via Lorenzo Rocci, 64 – Rome), for the four weeks of the course, sharing every moment of their daily life using actively Latin, thus making the language immersion even more effective. Not only lessons but also meals, recreational moments, visits to the archeological sites of Ancient Rome are completely held in Latin.
Morning lessons are held from Monday to Friday; afternoon courses are held from Monday to Thursday. Didactic field trips to the archeological sites of Ancient Rome are held on Saturday: through the reading of Latin literary texts, students will listen the Ancient writers’ voices where they first echoed. Sunday is free; students who make an official request at the moment of subscription might reserve guided tours (in English) to the Roman monuments with a licensed guide.
IISC methodology
Didactic
Language lessons are held in the morning, from 9 am to 1.30 pm. Besides, two supplementary lessons of Latin are held on the first and second Friday of the course, from 4 to 6 pm.
Lessons will cover the entire grammar and they guarantee the learning of the 2000 most frequent words of Latin literature.
At the end of the course, students will be able to read fluently Classical literary texts in the original language.
The following supplementary lessons are given in the afternoon (from Monday to Thursday):
- Chapter focus: lessons review and focus on the main topics of the morning lessons.
- Reading, speaking, writing: lessons strengthen and expand knowledge of the Latin vocabulary and grammar. Under the teacher’s guidance, students are faced with different exercises which aim to enhance their skills in speaking, writing and reading. Lessons include written production of texts in Latin, conversation in Latin and reading of both Classical texts and artificial texts, specifically thought for acquiring active language skills.
All lessons aim to enhance and consolidate the ability to read Classical texts in the original language and to acquire a deeper knowledge of the language.
It is of the utmost importance that students have their textbook since the first day of classes:
- H. H. Ørberg, Lingua Latina per se illustrata – Pars I: Familia Romana, any edition
- F. Pirrone, Grammatica latina: guida allo studio di Familia Romana, Edizioni Istituto Italiano di Studi Classici for students who cannot read Italian: M. Neumann, A companion to Familia Romana, Focus)
- H. H. Ørberg, Exercitia Latina (Cap I-XXXV)
- Excerpts (provided by the instructor) from textbooks from the 1900s, based on the inductive-contextual method, by the following authors: W.H.D. Rouse, R.B. Appleton, W.H.S. Jones, G. Pasquetti, G.B. Gandino, C.W.E. Peckett, A.R. Munday, U. E. Paoli
- Excerpts (provided by the instructor) of Latin classics, including passages from Seneca, Cicero, Catullus, Martial, and others
Recommended readings (the following texts are not required for the exam, but are recommended for those who wish to strengthen their knowledge):
- C. Pavanetto, Elementa linguae et grammaticae Latinae, LAS
- W. H. S. Jones, Intermediate oral Latin reader, based on Cicero’s De senectute, with extracts from Martial and Horace, Blackie and Son (Download the pdf)
- Erasmo da Rotterdam, Colloquia (see the link)
– Students who have attended at least 75% of class hours may obtain a course completion certificate.
– Those who wish to obtain university certifications (12 CFU/ECTS) should pass the final exam with an evaluation fo at least 18/30. The exam will consist in a written test structured as follows: (a) grammatical competences, (b) comprehension of a written text, (c) production of a written text.
In virtue of an agreement between the Italian Institute of Classical Studies (IISC) and the Faculty of Classics of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) – whose titles are recognized by Italy – the ECTS issued at the IISC are automatically recognized for the student enrolled at the UPS and they are recognizable at the Italian Universities (without prejudice to the discretion granted to the universities by the Italian law).
Accommodation
Students may be accommodated at the Guesthouse Mater Mundi, in Via Lorenzo Rocci 64, Rome (if they wish to).
In this case, students are given:
- Single or double bedroom with private bathroom and air conditioning;
- weekly cleaning of the room and linen change;
- study rooms;
- complete pension, which includes breakfast, lunch and dinners (first dish, second dish, side dish, fruit, bread, water and wine);
- laundry service (not included in the fees).
The Guesthouse has also an outside garden and is served by public transport. In the area, there are also many bars, restaurants and other services.
Bedrooms will be available from Sunday June 29 at 4.00 pm. On Sunday June 29 at 7.00 pm a presentation of the course will take place. Lessons will start on Monday June 30.
The course ends on Friday July 25 with a “goodbye” dinner! The overnight stay and the breakfast (July 25-26) are on the IISC.
The check-out should be completed within the morning of Saturday, July 26.
Course fees
Didactic You may choose among the following options:- Basic: € 1.300 (it includes only the morning lessons of Latin, 9:00 am -1:30 pm);
- Complete: € 1.400 (it includes: 1. Morning lessons of Latin; 2. “Chapter focus” in the afternoon; 3. “Reading, speaking, writing” in the afternoon; 4. Three didactic field-trips on Saturday (tickets included));
- Advanced: € 1.600 (it includes all the activities of the Complete option and three guided tours in Rome on Sunday).
- Place in double bedroom with private bathroom and air conditioning;
- Cleaning of the room and linen change;
- Full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner (first dish, second dish, side dish, bread, fruit, water and wine);
- Free access to classrooms and study rooms.
| Without accomodation | With accommodation in double bedroom | With accommodation in single room | Deadline | |
| Registration fees | – € 200 for the “basic” option – € 300 for the “complete” option – € 500 for the “advanced” option | – € 300 for the “basic” option – € 400 for the “complete” option – € 600 for the “advanced” option | – € 350 for the “basic” option – € 450 for the “complete” option – € 650 for the “advanced” option | Upon registration |
| I installment | € 400 | € 650 | € 775 | by March, 31 |
| II installment | € 400 | € 650 | € 775 | By Aoril, 30 |
| III installment | € 300 | € 600 | € 725 | By May, 31 |
Instructor
- Start/end dates: 2025 June, 29 - July, 26
- Teaching method: in person (with possibility of accommodation)
- Schedule: from Monday to Friday (+ field-trips in the weekend)
- Duration: 120 hours
-
Structure:
Latin language: 90 hours
Chapter focus: 16 hours
Reading, speaking, writing: 16 hours -
Location:
Rome
Guesthouse Mater Mundi in Via Lorenzo Rocci 64, Rome - Titles released: 12 CFU/ECTS
- Language Latin
- Limited enrollment: up to 30 participants
- Academic fees: starting from € 1300 (payable in installments)