About this resource:
The nature of the learners
Students have prior experience of learning Classical Greek and bring a range of capabilities, strategies and knowledge that can be applied to new learning. They are expanding the range and nature of their learning experiences; from synthetic reading material, they may progress to some authentic Classical Greek texts, encountering selections from famous works of poetry and prose. Through their reading, analysis and translation of texts, students of Classical Greek further develop their literacy in English, through close attention to detail, precision, accuracy, memory, logic and critical reasoning. They have a growing awareness of the wider world, including the diversity of languages and cultures that have continued to be an integral feature of society since ancient times. They are considering future pathways and prospects, including how further study of Classical Greek may feature in these.
Classical Greek language learning and use
Learners gain direct access to life in the ancient Greek world through reading, analysing and interpreting Classical Greek texts that reveal the language use and social and cultural practices of the ancient Greeks. They use vocabulary, grammar and textual cues to analyse and interpret language use and cultural references in Classical Greek texts, such as historiography, drama or philosophy, and convey their interpretations of information and ideas about ancient Greek society and culture, in oral, written or digital forms, using Classical Greek as appropriate. They respond to Classical Greek texts by analysing themes, values and literary features, such as plot development and characterisation, and sharing and justifying opinions. They read aloud, recite or perform Classical Greek texts, such as oratory, history, drama or poetry, to entertain an audience, using phrasing and voice inflection to convey meaning and emotion. They translate a range of texts that incorporate complex sentence structures and extensive vocabulary into Standard English, reproducing the style and purpose of the texts. They evaluate the effectiveness of different English translations and interpretations of a text, and develop strategies for successful translations. Learners apply the principles of pronunciation for the reading of Classical Greek texts, and apply an extended knowledge of vocabulary, accidence and syntax to analysing how Classical Greek is used in complex sentences. They analyse the structure and organisation of different text types in Classical Greek, exploring how they relate to context, purpose and audience. Learners identify ancient Greek values, attitudes and beliefs implicit in Classical Greek texts, reflecting respectfully on the interdependence of language and culture. They investigate the enduring linguistic and cultural legacy of the ancient Greek world in the modern world. They question and explain their own and others’ reactions to and assumptions about the language, culture and values of ancient Greek society, discussing how these relate to their own. They reflect on the power of language, and the impact of learning Classical Greek on their own style of communicating, and ways of thinking and viewing the world.
Contexts of interaction
Task characteristics and literary styles at this level are complex and challenging, providing opportunities for independent as well as collaborative language interpretation and performance, and development and strategic use of language and cultural resources. The language class remains the principal context for learning Classical Greek. Learners may participate in wider experiences relating to language and culture, such as competitions in recitation, art and essay writing; weekend camps; quiz nights; study seminars; summer schools; drama productions; and visits to museums and galleries. These experiences give learners a sense of connectedness and purpose, and allow them to make use of and extend their understanding of the ancient Greek world and their language capability beyond the school context.
Texts and resources
Learners engage with a range of texts designed for language learning, such as textbooks, audio recordings, teacher-generated materials and online resources. A variety of texts gives opportunities for discussion and analysis of the relationship between language and culture. Research tasks allow for exploration of themes, cultural references and historical events.
Features of Classical Greek language use
Learners apply the principles of pronunciation for the reading of Classical Greek texts, for example, using accentuation, crasis and elision to maintain speech flow. They apply an extended knowledge of accidence and syntax, including parts of speech, case, gender, number, person, declension, for example, τῆς γυναικὸς ὀργιζομένης ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀπέδραμε, and conjugation, for example, contract verbs in -οω and -μι, agreement, tense, mood, voice, participles and infinitives, to the analysis and translation of texts that incorporate complex sentence structures. They analyse texts more critically, identifying the structure and features of different text types, and explaining their relationship with context, purpose and audience. They recognise the ongoing influence of Classical Greek on English, through the transfer of specialist vocabulary and abstract concepts, for example, sympathy, theorem, chaos, and the coining of vocabulary for new technology and new discoveries, such as in science and medicine, for example, phenotype, glycolysis and neurosis. They analyse implicit values, concepts and assumptions embedded in texts, explaining the interrelationship between language and culture.
Level of support
This stage of learning involves consolidation and progression. Learners need opportunities for new challenges and more independent learning experiences. Continued scaffolding, modelling and monitoring are required to support these challenges. A range of resources is provided and processes are modelled for the development of more autonomous self-monitoring and reflecting strategies, such as online collaborating for translation, video documenting and discussion forums. Continued focused attention on grammatical and literary features supports learners in the reading, analysis and translation of texts.
The role of English
Classical Greek is the language of texts studied, such as narratives, drama, poetry, history or oratory. Classical Greek is also used for reading aloud, reciting or performing texts. English is used for translation, analysis, explanation, discussion, evaluation and reflection.
About this record:
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