This document introduces a course for learning conversational Latin. It aims to help beginners improve their vocabulary. Some key reasons discussed for learning Latin include better understanding related languages through shared vocabulary and grammar, and gaining access to classical literature and culture. Speaking Latin can help appreciate how it was used historically. Latin remains used in various fields today and in common English phrases. The course will cover basics but further study is needed to gain strong proficiency.

1. Hacking Latin
Welcome

2. This course is for you if…
You want to improve
You are a
your vocabulary
beginner at Latin
for conversation

3. Why learn Latin?
 The words
 To better understand the words and grammar of English,
French, Italian, Spanish and many other languages, dead
or alive
 The culture
 To give you access to an immense body of art, philosophy
and literature NOT just from the Classical Ages, but –
since Latin remained the language of learning, politics
and religion – from more than a thousand years
afterwards

4. Why learn to speak Latin?
 Dead languages were spoken too!
 To help appreciate the workings of the language not just
as a literary medium, but as it was used by the majority of
people at the times of Cicero and Caesar (and beyond)
 As a learning aid
 Multi-sensory learning is the best way to remember
things: if you can listen to the sound of words and write or
speak Latin sentences yourself you will pick up the
language much faster
 To have secret conversations with other people who
know Latin!

5. Latin is still used widely today in…
 Medicine and biology,
 Agriculture and gardening,
 History and archaeology,
 Christian religion,
 Academic writing, and
 In common English phrases

6. Taster: Common Phrases
 alter ego
 alter = another, a second
 ego = I
 status quo (the norm)
 status = the state
 quo = in which
 Curriculum vitae
 curriculum = course
 vitae = of life
 et cetera (etc.)
 et = and
 cetera = the others, the rest

7. Taster: Harry Potter
 Voldemort = He who flies from death
 volat = he flies
 de = from
 morte = death
 Knockturn alley = alley of the night
 nocturnus = nocturnal, of the night
 Expelliarmus
 expelle = expel, drive out
 arma = arms, weapons
 Albus Dumbledore
 albus = white

8. This course
 This course will help you get to grips with the very
basic essentials of conversational Latin, but gaining
a strong understand of the language requires a lot of
time and some good resources
 If you are a self-taught beginner, and
want to go further, I recommend:
 Wheelock’s Latin

9. For now, you’re ready to go!
Get started!