About the project
This website has been designed to share the resources created by Swansea University students taking part in the Literacy through Classics project, in collaboration with the Project Coordinator. Its goal is to create a free and extensive range of resources that can be used in the primary classroom, yet are also accessible to children and their parents at home.
If your school is interested in getting involved, have a look at our brochure with information for teachers and parents:
updated__letter_for_parents-teachers_2015.pdf | |
File Size: | 928 kb |
File Type: |
reports & articles |
Evelien Bracke, the project Coordinator, has written a number of articles about the project. Her article on 'The role of university student teachers in increasing Widening Participation to Classics’ is available here. Her report written for the Council of University Classics Departments (CUCD) can be found here.
An article about the Modern Foreign Language approach to Latin teaching was published in the Journal of Classics Teaching 28 (Autumn 2013). A report about increasing the profile of Latin in Wales was written for Iris, the Iris Project journal (2012). An article about the project was published in Medusa 33.3 (2012), a Swedish Classics journal: Medusa.pdf Download File |
pupil feedback |
We provide pupils with a questionnaire every semester to gauge how the project is developing. Here are some of their thoughts on what they like most:
I liked it when we made mother’s day card and when we do puzzles and games.
I loved every single lesson. I enjoy learning songs in Latin. I liked it all. I liked the mock test because I like being challenged and learning new things. I liked learning the Christmas songs in Latin. I liked the last lesson before Easter because of the song and the Easter egg hunt and the Harry Potter lesson. We had to write fairy tales in English but add Latin words that we know in English and we watched videos. It makes you learn more for the future. When I learnt about the imperfect tense. All of the Latin songs were very helpful to remember the words and all we were focusing on; otherwise I enjoy all lessons. It is exciting for me to learn. I talk to my friends and parents about the work we did, e.g. Roman story and myths. I have told my friends, close family and distant family. I tell them about how fun it is and I compare it to other languages with my sister who is learning Spanish and French. |
THE STUDENTS
|
This website would not exist if not for the continuous enthusiasm and drive of the students who take part in the project and dedicate their free time to making it work - I am incredibly grateful for their continued input and creativity. The following students have contributed since 2011 to the creation of resources now available on this website (in alphabetical order):
Thomas Atkinson, Gemma Barnes, Alison Bartow, Rhiannon Birdsall, Jenny Blake, Callum Carroll, James Chase, Tom Cox, Alex Dyer, Jess Fallon, Alex Ferron, Beth Flynn, Michael Flynn, Laura Freeman, Rosie Gitsham, Jon Graves, Thomas Gresham, Caitlin Harris, Leigh Herring, Tarian Jenkins, Kimberley Jones, James Lawrence, Steph Leech, Luke Lyden, Frank Mazzotta, Carys Mills, Ally Montgomery, Jak Mullins, William Murphy, Amanda Myers, Joe Perry, James Presland, Mollie Proudfoot, Harvey Richardson, Hannah Roberts, Rhiannon Sandy, Chloe Scott, Jessica Smith, David Smitherman, Sinead Symons, Rhiannon Terrett, Yasmine Thorne, Zoe Timney, Stefan Trapp, Harry Wallace, Rebecca Watton, and Natasha Westwood, Luke Whelan, and Lewys Zastapilo. In particular, I would like to thank Michael Flynn for designing this website, and Jacob Marsh for making it more fit for publication during his Week of Work with me. I run this project to benefit both pupils (by improving their linguistic abilities) and students (by providing them with teaching experience), and so, each year, students are also invited to provide feedback. Here are some of their thoughts on their teaching experience: I have found this entire project very compelling. I have learnt a great deal, both in terms of skill and language.
Steph Leech The many opportunities and fun aspects of learning a language are a source of inspiration. Emily Raine I am only a sixth form student and I have never done Latin before, but by being a teaching assistant on this project I have improved my own literacy as well. The student teachers and the pupils have helped me to get an insight to the world of work. I have had fun as well. I believe that Latin is a precious language that when learnt strengthens your literacy just like the deep roots of a tree. Huria Szpah, sixth form student I have really enjoyed creating stories using personification, similes etc. Seeing the pupils start to look at Latin and see derivatives in English or other languages has been really rewarding. Sinead Symons Being part of the Literacy through Latin project has been an amazing experience. It's so rewarding to know that you are helping pupils to improve their skills and knowledge. It has taught me so much about myself and my own abilities too. Vicci Stokes The project has been an extremely positive experience for me in several ways. Not only has it increased my understanding of the language and the methods behind the learning process from a teacher’s point of view, but it has shown me how to transmit my knowledge of the subject to others. The experience has solidified my ambition to become a teacher and has given me invaluable teacher training experience which can only increase my employability in my future endeavours. Jak Mullins |
THE PROJECT COORDINATOR
|
The Project Coordinator is Dr Evelien Bracke, Senior Lecturer in Classics at Swansea University, who has been running this project since 2011. Evelien is the Chair of the Cymru Wales Classics Hub and of the South West Wales Classical Association, and Employability and Schools Liaison officer for the Department of Classics, Ancient History and Egyptology.
Evelien's PhD explored the representations of Medea and Circe in ancient Greek poetry and she is currently researching the reception of Classics in Wales. As part of her public engagement work, she has written articles for the Iris project's magazine, and has also written an article on Welsh identity for the Western Mail. |
THE IRIS PROJECT
|
The Literacy through Latin project is organised nationally by the Iris Project and is designed to increase children’s awareness of the English language through the medium of Latin. Across the country volunteers are going into schools and helping to improve children's English skills by teaching them Latin. The national Literacy through Latin project was awarded with the prestigious EU Language Label in 2013, for innovative teaching.
|
FUNDING AND SUPPORT
|
This project would not be able to thrive without the generous financial support of the Strategic Insight Programme (HEFCW), the Swansea Academy for Learning and Teaching (SALT), the British Academy (Schools' Language Award), the College of Arts and Humanities (Swansea University), the Classical Association, Classics for All, Cymru Wales Classics Hub, the Friends of Classics, the Society for Roman Studies, and the Society for Hellenic Studies. We are very grateful for the support received.
I would also like to thank Swansea Metropolitan University, particularly the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof David Warner, for supporting the project in its initial stages, and to Lynne Meiring for providing teacher training. I also wish to thank CILT Cymru (National Centre for Languages Wales) for the teacher training they have provided. |