Active Approaches to Teaching Classical Languages
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Teachers are beginning to develop pedagogies and resources to establish more communicative approaches to teaching classical languages in the school and college classroom. This page lists some journal articles which may help teachers think about their own practices. Relevant websites and blogs can also be found here.​
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Articles in Journals and Books
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Ash, R. (2017). The MovieTalk: A Practical Application of Comprehensible Input Theory. Teaching Classical Languages, 8 (1) 70-83.
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Ash, R. (2019). Untextbooking for the CI Latin class: why and how to begin. Journal of Classics Teaching, 39, 65-70.
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Aurora, F. (2022). Spoken Ancient Greek and Latin Today: an overview and some reflections. In Lamers, H. and Bär, S. (eds). Studia in Honorem Vibeke Roggen, Oslo: Hermes Academic Publishing, pp. 523-542.
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Avitus, A. G. (2018). Spoken Latin: Learning, Teaching, Lecturing and Research. Journal Of Classics Teaching 37, 46-52.
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Bailey, J. (2016). The ‘ars’ of Latin questioning: circling, personalization and beyond. The Classical Outlook, 91, 1, 1-5.
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Blankenborg, R. (2022). Back to the Future. A Formative Approach to Ancient Language Teaching. In Rico, C. and Pedicone, J. (eds.) Transmitting a Heritage. pp. 281-298. Jerusalem: Polis Institute.
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Bracey, J. (2019). TPRS, PQA and Circling. Journal of Classics Teaching, 39, 60-64.
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Buth, R. and Alley, S. (2022). The Benefits and Challenges of Full Immersion in Teaching Ancient Languages. Focus on Hebrew and Greek. In Rico, C. and Pedicone, J. (eds.) Transmitting a Heritage. pp. 237-247. Jerusalem: Polis Institute.
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Carlon, J. (2016). Quomodo Dicitur? The Importance of Memory in Language Learning. Teaching Classical Languages 7.2
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Carlon, J. (2013). The implications of SLA research for Latin pedagogy: modernising Latin instruction and securing its place in curricula. Teaching Classical Languages, Spring 2013.
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Carlon, J (2011). Educating the Educators. Journal of Classics Teaching, 22.
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Carter, D. (2011). Hans Oerberg and his contribution to Latin pedagogy. Journal Of Classics Teaching 22.
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Clarke, E. (2013). An assessment of TPRS as a means of teaching Latin vocabulary and grammar. Journal of Classics Teaching, 28, 34-42.
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Chow-Kambitsch, E. (2017). [Blog] A Living Latin Workshop. UCL Arts and Humanities.
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Coffee, N. (2012). Active Latin. Quo tendimus? Classical World 105, 2, 255-269.
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Cortes, RZ and Rico, C. (2023). The Polis Method: Towards an Integrative and Dynamic Language Teaching Method. Teaching Classical Languages, 13.2.
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Eidt, L. (2025) [Blog] Responses to Common Misconceptions of Active/Immersive/Natural Methods of Language Teaching.
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Ellison, A. (2025) [Blog] “Living Latin”: Caution Warranted.
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Gall, A. (2020). A study in the use of embedded readings to improve the accessibility and understanding of Latin literature at A Level. Journal of Classics Teaching, 41, 12-18.
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Hill, S. (2022). Task-Based Language Teaching and Ancient Languages. In Rico, C. and Pedicone, J. (eds.) Transmitting a Heritage. pp. 249--267. Jerusalem: Polis Institute.
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Hunt, S. (2016). Starting to Teach Latin, London: Bloomsbury. Has some ideas on how the reading-comprehension and communicative methods work.
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Hunt, S. (2018). Latin is not Dead. In A. Holmes-Henderson, S. Hunt., and M. Musie (Eds.) Forward with Classics, London: Bloomsbury.
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Hunt, S. (2022). Teaching Latin: Contexts, Theories, Practices. London: Bloomsbury Academic. Chapters 2-3.
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Hunt et al. (2019) The Virtue of Variety: Opening the Doors to Wider Pedagogical Practices in UK Schools and Universities. Journal of Classics Teaching, 38, 53-60.
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Lanzillotta L. (2025). Pro Latinitate Activa: a student’s perspective on Active Latin. Journal of Classics Teaching. (51):101-102.
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Lindzey, G. (2015) The Biduum Experience: Speaking Latin to Learn. Teaching Classical Languages, 6 (1), 72-107.
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Lloyd M. (2016). Living Latin: exploring a communicative approach to Latin teaching through a sociocultural perspective on language learning (doctoral thesis): The Open University.
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Lloyd, M. and Hunt, S. (2021). Communicative Approaches for Ancient Languages. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
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Lloyd, M. (2017) Living Latin: An Interview with Professor Terence Tunberg. Journal Of Classics Teaching 34, 45-49.
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Lopez, A. (2021). Latina Loquenda: Creating a Regional Spoken Latin Program. Teaching Classical Languages, 12,1.
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Macdonald, S. (2011). Krashen and Second language Acquisition SLA theory – a re-evaluation of how to teach classical languages. Journal Of Classics Teaching 22, 3-5.
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Mahoney, A. (2011). A Communicative Approach to Ancient Greek. Journal Of Classics Teaching 22, 14-16.
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Markus, D. and Pennell Ross, M. (2004). Reading proficiency in Latin through expectation and visualisation. The Classical World, 98, 1, 79-93.
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Morehouse, A. Latinitas animi causa. Colloquia Facilia: Easy Latin Dialogues. Podcast chats.
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Olimpi, A. (2019). legere discitur legendo: extensive reading in the Latin classroom. Journal of Classics Teaching, 39, 83-89.
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Omrani, B. (2025). Veni, vidi, vici. Learning to speak Latin and Ancient Greek can save civilisation. The Spectator, 4 October 2025, p. 27.
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Owens, P. (2016). Barbarisms at the Gate: An Analysis of Some perils in Active Latin Pedagogy. Classical World 109, 4, 507-523.
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Panciera, M. (2017). An old teaching dog tries some new tricks. Changing a traditional Latin classroom. Teaching Classical languages, 8 (1) 37-55.
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Papy, J. (2022). How to Become a Fluent Reader of Latin? Johannes Nicolaus Funccius (1693–1777) and His New Reading Method. In Lamers, H. and Bär, S. (eds). Studia in Honorem Vibeke Roggen, Oslo: Hermes Academic Publishing, pp. 505-522.
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Patrick, M. (2019). Free Voluntary Reading and Comprehensible Input. Journal of Classics Teaching, 39, 78-82.
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Patrick, R. (2011). TPRS and Latin in the classroom. Experiences of a US Latin teacher. Journal Of Classics Teaching 22, 10-11.
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Patrick, R. (2015) Making Sense of Comprehensible Input in the Latin Classroom. Teaching Classical Languages, 6 (1), 108-136.
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Patrick, R. (2019). Comprehensible Input and Krashen's Theory. Journal of Classics Teaching, 39, 37-44
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Peckett, C. (1992). The oral method. JACT Review 11, 4-8.
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Pedicone, J. (2022). Aut..aut brief Candle: a Middle Path Between 'Active' Latin and Greek and Philology. In Rico, C. and Pedicone, J. (eds) Transmitting a Heritage. The Teaching of Ancient languages from Antiquity to the 21st Century. Jerusalem: Polis Institute Press. 141-152.
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Piantaggini, L. (2019). Input-based Activities. Journal of Classics Teaching, 39, 51-56.
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Piazza, J. (2017) Beginner Latin Novels, a General Overview. Teaching Classical Languages, 8 (2) 154-166.
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Piazza, J. (2019). Structuring CI-based Practices for Success. Journal of Classics Teaching, 39, 57-59.
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Ramahlo, M. (2019). On Starting to Teach Using CI. Journal of Classics Teaching, 39, 45-50.
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Ranieri, L. Latin Language Spoken | Can Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian speakers understand it? YouTube video.
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Rasmussen, S. (2015) Why Oral Latin? Teaching Classical Languages, 6 (2), 37-45.
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Reinhard, M-L. (2022). Is Speaking Ancient Languages Authentic? In Rico, C. and Pedicone, J. (eds.) Transmitting a Heritage. pp. 269-279. Jerusalem: Polis Institute.
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Rico, C. (2022). Living sequential Expression: Taking Inspiration from Francois Gouin (1831-1896). In Rico, C. and Pedicone, J. (eds) Transmitting a Heritage. The Teaching of Ancient languages from Antiquity to the 21st Century. Jerusalem: Polis Institute Press. 153-174​
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Ricucci, M. (2022). The neocomparative (Post-) Method in the Pedagogy of the Latin Language. An Overview of its Underpinnings. In Rico, C. and Pedicone, J. (eds.) Transmitting a Heritage. pp. 301-316 Jerusalem: Polis Institute.
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Rogers, K. (2019) Comprehensible Input FAQs. Journal of Classics Teaching, 39, 33-36.
Sears, L and Ballestrini, K. (2019). Adapting antiquity: using tiered texts to increase Latin reading proficiency. Journal of Classics Teaching, 39, 71-77.
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Slocum Bailey, J (2016) The Ars of Latin Questioning: Circling, Personalization, and Beyond. The Classical Outlook, 1, 1-6.
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Stray, C. (1992). The Living Word. W H D Rouse and the Crisis of Classics in Edwardian England. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press.
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Stray, C. (2011). Success and Failure. W.H.D Rouse and direct-method Classics teaching in Edwardian England. Journal Of Classics Teaching 22, 5-7.
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Tunberg, T. (2011). The use of Latin as a spoken language in the Humanist Age. Journal Of Classics Teaching 22, 8-9.
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Tunberg, T. (2022). Observations on the Spoken and Extempore use of Latin in the medieval and early Modern Period. In Rico, C. and Pedicone, J. (eds) Transmitting a Heritage. The Teaching of Ancient languages from Antiquity to the 21st Century. Jerusalem: Polis Institute Press. 57-76.
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Venditti, E. (2021). Using Comprehensible Input in the Latin Classroom to Enhance Language Proficiency. Journal of Classics Teaching, 22(43), 22-28.
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The following chapters from LaFleur’s book ‘Latin for the 21st Century’ emphasize the importance of providing different types of activity for students to learn in the early and middle stages:
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Polsky, M. (1998). Latin in the Elementary Schools. Pp. 59-69. In LaFleur, R. (Ed.) Latin for the 21st Century. Glenview: Scott Foresmann – Addison Wesley.
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Osburn, L. (1998) Latin in the middle grades. Pp. 70-89. In LaFleur, R. (Ed.) Latin for the 21st Century. Glenview: Scott Foresmann – Addison Wesley.
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Perry, D. (1998). Using the reading approach in secondary schools. Pp. 105-116. In LaFleur, R. (Ed.) Latin for the 21st Century. Glenview: Scott Foresmann – Addison Wesley.