CONGRATULATIONS!
You have been accepted to participate in Living Latin in Rome. We are very much looking forward to helping you develop your knowledge of Latin, and to spending time getting to know you amidst the enchanting landscape of Italy this summer.
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE
Living Latin in Rome’s curriculum includes classroom sessions, weekly site visits, lectures, a weekend trip, and conversational Latin sessions sub arboribus.
- Classes meet each weekday from 9am - 1pm daily with a 30 minute break, except on site visit days, when they meet later in the afternoon.
- On other afternoons, students are free to relax and explore Rome.
- The program will visit one site in Rome each week
- Most afternoons or and evenings will include optional activities, such as spoken Latin sessions "sub arboribus," or optional site visits in Rome.
- There will be a weekend trip in the middle of the course to visit Horace’s Sabine Villa in Licenza and Mount Soracte.
BOOKS AND RESOURCES
The course organizers will provide you with a packet with all necessary readings and assignments. In order to facilitate classroom discussions, we request that all participants have access to the same dictionary and grammar books.
GRAMMAR
We recommend that participants familiarize themselves with Allen and Greenough’s New Latin Grammar, though it is not required to bring a copy of it. A free PDF is available here.
DICTIONARIES
All participants should have access to A Latin Dictionary by Lewis & Short.
- The best (and lightest) free Latin dictionary available is the University of Chicago’s Logeion, which is available as a free app for both Apple and Android devices.
- John Traupman’s Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency is a handy resource for learning to speak Latin, organized by theme and may be helpful in our informal conversational Latin sessions.
OTHER RECOMMENDED BOOKS ON ROME
We would also like to recommend (but do not require) a few books that will help you access the sights, sounds, and history of Rome in your free time. These are:
- Alta Macadam’s The Blue Guide to Rome – a wealth of historical and architectural information on the city of Rome across all historical periods.
- Amanda Claridge’s Rome: An Archaeological Guide – an informative, accurate, and user-friendly guide to Rome’s ancient archaeological sites.
- Nancy and Andrew Ramage’s Roman Art - a good overview of ancient Roman art.
- Mary T. Boatwright’s The Romans: From Village to Empire is a detailed yet readable overview of Roman history. An excellent reference.
LATIN PREPARATION
You will get more out of Living Latin in Rome if you arrive with a strong foundation in Latin grammar and a strong active vocabulary. Below are some great resources for gaining the skills you need to enjoy the literature we will be reading.
- Participants who feel a need to review their grammar and forms should purchase and work through the first 10 chapters of Excelability in Advanced Latin by Marianthe Colakis before the program starts. This is a concise and straightforward review of Latin grammar.
- A broad vocabulary is essential for enjoying Latin texts. The Latin Vocabulary List available through Dickinson College is an excellent resource for learning the words that most frequently occur in Latin literature. Challenge yourself to know as many of these words as possible English --> Latin before the program starts. If you like flash cards, they are available as a Quizlet set here.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR TIME IN ITALY
CLOTHING: WHAT TO PACK
Rome is hot in July. Some of our site visits will involve spending hours outside in the sun, although we try to schedule them to avoid the worst of the heat. We recommend a good hat, plenty of sunscreen, and a good pair of UV-protective sunglasses. Sunscreen is very expensive in Italy; it’s best to bring enough from home.
Appropriate attire. While shorts and t-shirts are fine on most days, some of our site visits include trips to basilicas and churches, where visitors must wear clothing that fully covers knees and shoulders to be allowed entrance (e.g. trousers or skirts and shirts with sleeves). Many visitors to Italy bring a light shawl that can be thrown over the shoulders or tied around the waist as needed.
Come prepared with a swimsuit and beach towel. You might have the chance to visit the beach!
The course will be taking a weekend trip, so be sure to bring a backpack or daypack.
Bring good, strong shoes. One does a lot of walking on cobblestones in Rome, both because the public transportation system is inadequate and hot, and also because there is so much to see. Archaeological sites are full of dusty walkways, uneven flagstones, and low stone walls. Your feet will thank you if you do this walking in sturdy sneakers or cross trainers.
Some site visits will be to churches and require conservative dress, some will be to archaeological sites and require more rugged dress, and some to museums with no particular requirements.
STAYING IN TOUCH
Cell Phones: If your regular cell phone service doesn’t work in Italy, the easiest way to stay in touch while in Italy is to buy an Italian sim card for your smartphone, which provides both cellular and wireless coverage on a pay-as-you-go basis. We can help you purchase those upon arrival. Make sure your phone is unlocked to work with an international sim before you leave the US by calling your provider.
Internet Access: The classroom building is equipped with high-speed internet access.
In case of emergency, a Paideia staff member can be reached 24 hours a day at +39 340 885 7851. For anything else, please email [email protected], and we will respond within 24 hours. We will give you a staff phone number in Rome, which you can call for day-to-day concerns.
If you're interested in reaching out to course participants before or during the program, please join our Living Latin in Rome 2023 Facebook group.
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Medical care in Italy is first-rate and, should the need arise, the Paideia Institute has a physician on call 24 hours a day for the duration of the course. All participants must have their own health insurance covering them internationally during the full duration of their time in Italy.
If you are taking medication, be sure to bring enough for your entire stay. There are well-stocked pharmacies in Rome, but not all drugs are readily accessible without an Italian prescription, and it is better to bring one’s own supplies.
If you have a medical condition that could affect your ability to participate, we strongly urge you to share that condition with us ahead of time. This way, in the event of a medical issue, we can more quickly and efficiently arrange for your care. All such information will be held in the strictest confidence.
CLASSROOM
Living Latin in Rome classroom sessions take place at the Teresianum Faculty of Theology. This facility is located at Piazza San Pancrazio 5/A in the Monteverde neighborhood. For a Google Maps link, click here.
Classrooms are air-conditioned and equipped with wireless internet for student use.
HOUSING
Students must arrange their own housing for the part of the program that takes place in Rome. For an affordable, modest guesthouse near the classroom facilities, we recommend booking housing at Casa per Ferie Virgen del Pilar, located in Via Alessandro Poerio, 51 D, 00152 Roma RM. Participants booking housing with them should write to [email protected] or text/whatsapp +39 327 3637770, indicating that they are attending a Paideia Institute program. If you wish to room with other participants, please join our Facebook group for the program and make arrangements to book together.
Housing during the weekend trip to Licenza and Mount Soracte from July 7th to 9th is included in the cost of tuition. Participants will be housed in double or triple rooms according to gender and age. Single rooms may be available for a supplement.
If you have special housing considerations for this portion of the trip, let us know well in advance and we will do our best to accommodate you.
FOOD
A welcome drink and farewell dinner are included in the price of tuition, as well as a group dinner on the weekend trip. Otherwise, participants are expected to shop and cook for themselves, or eat in local restaurants.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Living Latin in Rome begins with a welcome drink the evening of Sunday, July 2nd. The final day of academic programming is Saturday, July 15th, so students can schedule their departure any time on the 16th.
Please make sure to fill out your travel form so that we are able to communicate with you on arrival day.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
U.S. Citizens do not need to apply for a visa to participate in this program, though they will need a passport. Please note that your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return date. If you do not have a passport, you should begin the application process as soon as possible, as it can be a lengthy process. Students who are not U.S. citizens may need a visa. To determine your visa requirements, please refer to the nearest Italian Consulate's website.
PAYMENT, FORMS, AND POLICIES
POLICIES
CANCELLATION POLICY AND TRAVEL INSURANCE
Once paid, the $500 deposit is non-refundable. Participants who withdraw from the program after the balance deadline will be given a credit for the amount of the balance (but not the deposit). There is no refund for students who withdraw after the start of the program.
Travel insurance may help protect your investment in this program in the event that something prevents you from coming. A Student Travel Protection Plan is available for this program through Travel Guard. For coverage information and to purchase this insurance prior to final trip payment, please visit this link. Please contact Travel Guard at 866-385-4839 with any questions.
CODE OF CONDUCT
All program participants agree to abide by the Paideia Institute’s Code of Conduct. Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, including removal from activities or, in serious cases, early dismissal from the program.
COVID-19 POLICY
Please familiarize yourself with Paideia’s COVID-19 Policy for Travel Programs. You will need to sign a waiver agreeing to comply with this policy during enrollment.
FORMS
ENROLLMENT FORM
To enroll in Living Latin in Rome, please click the button and enroll below by April 1st, 2023.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Please fill out the form below with your arrival and departure information by May 1st, 2023. A week before the trip begins, we will send you more information about our arrival day procedure
PAYMENT
PAYMENT DEADLINES
Deposit ($500) and enrollment form: April 1st, 2023
Remaining Balance ($2000): May 1st, 2023
PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD OR ACH TRANSFER
Please pay the deposit and balance below by the deadlines indicated above. Please note that payment by credit card includes a 3% convenience fee.