COURSES

Classical Languages
Course outline
In language classes, you will concentrate on
developing your knowledge of grammar and
vocabulary, and will come to appreciate subtleties
beyond the GCSE syllabus. Each week there will be
grammatical work to complete and vocabulary
to learn.
In literature lessons, we read and translate original
classical works set by the exam board. One prose
text and one verse text are set for AS, and a different
prose and verse text for A2.
The verse text will be epic or elegiac poetry or
drama (in Greek), and the prose text will be drawn
from history, a legal speech or philosophy. You are
encouraged to understand the content and context
of the texts studied, and to appreciate their literary
qualities. In the Sixth Form, prep is often to look
ahead at the passage of Latin or Greek which will
be studied in the next lesson, or to go back over
material covered previously. This approach supports
your language work, and helps you develop
independent powers of analysis.
Further information
The courses in Latin and Greek complement other
subjects very well. In recent years pupils have
combined them very successfully with Modern
Languages, History, English, Maths, and even sciences.
Whatever area you intend to specialise in, taking one
classical language to AS or A2 level shows very
impressive intellectual breadth and will strengthen
your university application. Pupils interested in
studying Classics, Ancient History or Classical
Civilisation at university should consider taking
both Latin and Classical Greek to A2.
Recently we have welcomed pupils from abroad
who had already studied Latin and/or Greek to the
equivalent of GCSE level. These pupils achieved
excellent results. They also found that studying
Latin and Greek was enormously beneficial to their
progress in English, both helping with the spoken
word and aiding the development of high quality
formal English, which will be a huge asset to them
in their working lives.
It is essential that you have at least a grade B at
GCSE in the classical language(s) you wish to take in
the Sixth Form because of the intellectual demands
of these courses. In exceptional circumstances pupils
with strong enough track records in Latin or other
languages may be able to learn enough Greek over
the summer to begin the AS course when they join
the Sixth Form. Please contact us if you are
considering this route.
The specification numbers are:
Latin - H039 (AS); H439 (A2),
Classical Greek - H040 (AS); H440 (A2)
Full course details can be found at:
www.ocr.org.uk
For further information, please contact:
i/c of Classics, Mr S Costello,
scc@millfieldschool.com
Millfield Sixth Form Courses 2014-2015 29