Latin was the language of the Roman Empire, the language of the Caesars and enslaved people, of philosophers and demon hunters, and the root of modern Romance languages such as French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, and at the core of much English vocabulary.
In the UBC Latin courses, you can learn the basics, or follow a course of study that, by the third and fourth years has you reading some of the most famous and enduring ancient Roman authors, including Cicero, Caesar, Catullus, Virgil, Sulpicia, Ovid, Seneca, Tacitus, and more. From history to poetry to novels and bizarre medical texts, Latin has a little something for everyone.
Arch of Titus
Latin language instruction can be a key part of the undergraduate major in Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies. Many students also come to Latin from other departments and programs around the university. It is a great language for students who are pre-med or pre-law.
For advanced Latin learners, including those coming in with a background in Latin from high school or those who move through the Latin program quickly at UBC, there is the opportunity to take Latin courses at the graduate level.
In the first year of Latin, you can expect to learn the basics of Latin vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, read connected passages of adapted Latin, read real Latin inscriptions, mottos, and phrases, and learn a bit about Roman culture. In the second year of instruction, we delve into more complicated grammatical concepts, build on reading fluency, and start to read connected unadapted Latin texts.
In the third and fourth years of Latin instruction at UBC, you can expect to read unadapted Latin texts organized by authors or themes and delve more deeply into Roman culture, society, and history.
Dictionaries and grammars
Recordings
Texts: adapted
Video lessons