About this subject
Do you want to speak to family and friends in another language? Perhaps you are going on holiday and want to be able to order in a restaurant? Or maybe you just fancy a new challenge?
As the ancestors of European language, learning Latin or Ancient Greek will not only introduce you to an ancient world, but will also give you a better understanding of grammar and the origin of words.
Our courses will introduce you to basic vocabulary, grammar and structures in the context of simple, adapted texts in the language.
Our courses run over a period of weeks for a term three times a year from September to July plus short courses at the start of summer.
Enrolments open each term in March, July and November. If courses have already started you may still be able to join so please contact us.
If courses are full please sign up to our newsletter to hear when enrolments open again.
Course levels
We offer Latin and Ancient Greek courses for beginners and will respond to demand for higher levels as required. Your tutor will teach you practical language skills to help you handle real-life situations, and will ensure you are working at the right level for you.
There are six modules in the course, each one building on the last. You will cover topics such as:
- greetings
- giving personal information
- ordering food and drink
- numbers and prices
All of our language courses are mapped against the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages. For 2023 to 2024, we have changed how we name our courses to better reflect the CEFR levels and help learners understand where they are in their language learning journey.
Each course spans two to three years and is arranged into termly modules. If you are unsure which level is right for you, please refer to the table here or complete our online self-assessment form below.
| Our course levels | CEFR Level | Number of hours of prior learning you should have had to join the first module of this level |
|---|---|---|
| Beginners (Modules 1 to 3) | A1 Beginner | 0 |
| Beginners (Modules 4 to 6) | A1 Beginner | 50 |
Self assessment
Complete our languages self assessment form to help you to choose the right language level.
Fees and discounts
We have a range of discounts and support with fees available, including money off your first course if you are a library member, a Surrey Heritage user, or over the age of 66.
Please note: Your tutor will also advise you of any required course books, which typically cost £15 to £30. They will also be able to recommend other optional resources that you may find useful for your learning.