LIVING LATIN IN ROME HIGH SCHOOL
APPLICATION AND GUIDELINES
June 30, 2024 - July 14, 2024
Thank you for expressing interest in Living Latin in Rome High School 2024. We hope that you will join us in the Eternal City as part of a group of enthusiastic students of the Latin language.
Please read these application guidelines thoroughly, then fill out the application linked at the bottom of this page.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Over the course of history, Latin has been the language of emperors, popes, scholars, poets, peasants, and soldiers. But the vitality and range which Latin has developed over the course of its long, layered history sometimes fails to come through in the traditional classroom setting. Too often, Latin is treated as a grammatical exercise to be dissected and translated instead of as a language to be heard, spoken, written, and read. This course treats Latin as a living language. By combining daily readings and rigorous grammar and syntax review with active oral production in situ in Rome, this course hopes to make students fall in love with Latin and make it their own.
This intensive Latin language course provides motivated high school students a continuous period of study of Latin and introduces them to the most important ancient sites of Rome and its surrounding areas. The course combines traditional classroom instruction with the active use of Latin as a living language. In some sessions, students meet in an air conditioned classroom to read and discuss well-known passages from Latin literature connected with an ancient Roman site. Other sessions use the city as a classroom. Students visit sites mentioned in the readings and work with the teachers in small groups, using Latin actively to interact with each other and the site they are visiting. Grammar, vocabulary, and syntax seen in readings are reinforced and practiced in a memorable and authentic setting. On some days, students may also take a full-day trip to an ancient site outside of the city.
ADMISSION
This course is open to high school students of all grades, including graduating seniors.The minimum requirement for participation is one year of Latin study and/or a thorough knowledge of the basics of Latin grammar. When admissions are competitive, as they have been for the past few years, preference has been given to older applicants with more language background. A firm dedication to improving one's Latin language skills is also a prerequisite. Your application and one letter of recommendation must be received by March 1, 2024 to be guaranteed full consideration. We will notify all applicants of the results approximately 3 weeks after this date. Applications received after this deadline can only be considered on a rolling basis if space is available.
ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD
Students will be housed in double rooms in central Rome’s Monti neighborhood at the Casa per ferie Salesiane dei Sacri Cuori guesthouse. They will be supervised at all times by the program’s teachers and student life staff, who live with the students in the same facilities. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided daily. Classes are held in modern, air-conditioned classrooms at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, located about a five minute walk from the Casa.
TUITION AND COSTS
The cost of Living Latin in Rome High School is $5500. It must be paid in full by May 1, 2024. This cost includes tuition, housing, meals, the costs of all trips, museum and site admissions, and transportation to and from Rome’s Fiumicino airport.
Airfare, snacks, and spending money are not included in the cost of tuition. Please consider the exchange rate when planning your budget.
DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required of all participants by April 1, 2024. Our acknowledgement of receipt of this deposit guarantees the student a post in the course. The remaining $5000 is due by May 1, 2024.
TRAVEL
All participants will be met by Paideia Institute staff at Rome’s Fiumicino airport and driven to their accommodations, provided that their flight arrives at Fiumicino between 7:00am and 5:00 pm Central European Standard Time. The Paideia Institute will also book a chaperone on a direct flight from New York's JFK Airport. Students may travel to Rome on their own, or book their own ticket on the chaperoned flight. At the end of the program, students who will not be traveling on the chaperoned group flight will need to book a flight that leaves Rome no later than 2:00pm on departure day to take advantage of the included airport transfer.
If you do not have a valid passport, get one immediately. This process can be time consuming and should not be left to the last minute.
Please wait until the deposit deadline of April 1st to book any nonrefundable travel.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Paideia Institute is able to offer a number of full and partial scholarships to participants with demonstrated financial need. Please visit our scholarships page to learn more. Scholarship applications received by the priority application deadline for the program (March 1, 2024) will receive fullest consideration.
QUESTIONS
Please direct all questions to [email protected].
APPLICATION
To apply, please fill out the application below and send this Teacher Recommendation Form to the teacher you would like to write your letter of recommendation. For priority consideration, please get both forms in by March 1, 2024 at 5pm EST. We will notify all applicants of the results 3 weeks after this date.