Salve, !
Congratulations! You have been accepted to participate in Living Latin in Paris. We are very much looking forward to helping you develop your knowledge of medieval Latin, and to spending some time getting to know you in the amazing city of Paris.
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Living Latin in Paris aims to introduce participants to a period of Latin literature which is marked on the one hand by continuities, on the other by shifts and varieties. In the later Middle Ages and Early Renaissance, particularly in the 13th-century, Paris was one of the most important intellectual centers of Europe. This year’s program will feature dedicated readings from nearly a millennium of Latin texts on the Merovingian, Carolingian, Angevin, & Capetian dynasties, the origin and development of medieval knighthood, and the historical transition from the late middle ages to the early modern period. As is usual for Paideia programs, we will also occasionally take our reading of the letters on site to places connected with the text and our authors, as well as speaking Latin both in situ and in the classroom.
SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE
Living Latin in Paris’ curriculum includes classroom sessions, site visits, lectures, a day trip, and conversational Latin sessions in taberna.
- Classes will meet from 9:00am to 1:00pm daily with a short break. In class, participants will read and discuss Latin texts related to this year’s theme. Classes also include opportunities for students to practice speaking Latin, to review grammatical concepts as necessary, and to discuss philosophical, historical, and literary questions raised by the texts they read.
- The program includes one site-visit in Paris during which participants will read Latin texts that are directly connected to the site or this year’s theme. Additional optional site visits will also be offered.
- There will be daily optional opportunities for practicing to speak in Latin outside of class.
- On Monday, December 29th, the program will take a day trip to the medieval sites of Troyes.
BOOKS AND RESOURCES
The course organizers will provide you with a packet with the required readings and assignments. In order to encourage classroom discussion, we request that all participants also have access to the same dictionary and grammar books.
In preparation for the program, we highly recommend that you do some reading as well as listening. Here are some books and podcasts we think could be useful for you so that your experience in Paris is all the more immersive and beneficial to you.
- You will benefit from reading Dylan Schrader’s The Shortcut to Scholastic Latin.
If you are not familiar with the Middle Ages, we also recommend that you read one of these two books:
- William Chester Jordan’s Europe in the High Middle Ages
- The lively Penguin Illustrated Atlas of Medieval History.
PODCASTS
Below are some podcast episodes on topics related to our course theme:
- Sanitation in medieval Paris – link here.
- Medieval university – link here.
- Doing laundry in the middle ages – link here.
- Myths about the middle ages – link here.
- Medieval sexuality – link here.
- Bastards and priests – link here.
- Medieval marriage – link here.
LATIN PREPARATION
You will get more out of Living Latin in Paris 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.
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- 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.
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 bring a good Latin dictionary.
- 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 The Bantam New College Latin & English Dictionary is a handy, pocket-sized dictionary with a good English-to-Latin section. Perfect for throwing in your bag and bringing on-site.
- John Traupman’s Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency is an excellent resource for learning to speak authentic, idiomatically correct Latin, organized by theme. It will prove helpful in our informal conversational Latin sessions.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR STAY IN PARIS
CLOTHING: WHAT TO PACK
Paris is cold in the winter. It may rain or snow while we are there. Clothes that will keep you warm, dry and comfortable while outside for long periods of time are essential. Please also bring good, strong walking shoes. Since our course takes place over New Year’s Eve, you might also decide to bring one formal outfit for going out.
STAYING IN TOUCH
Cell Phones: If your regular cell phone service doesn’t work in France, the easiest way to stay in touch while in Paris is to buy a French 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.
The classrooms where daily program sessions are held are wifi-equipped. The Hotel Marignan, the Paideia-recommended hotel where participants may choose to stay (see below, under “Housing,” for details) is equipped with wireless Internet.
In case of emergency, a Paideia staff member can be reached 24 hours a day at +39 351 399 1291. For anything else, please email [email protected], and we will respond within 24 hours. The cell phone numbers of Paideia staff will be made available to participants closer to the start of the trip.
We invite all admitted students to log in to their Paideia Institute accounts to access the Living Latin in Paris 2025-26 enrolled students page, where students can view the student roster and access important forms and information.
If you're interested in reaching out to course participants before or during the program, please join the program’s WhatsApp group, linked here.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Medical care in France is first rate. All participants must have their own health insurance covering them internationally during the full duration of their time in France.
If you are taking medication, be sure to bring enough for your entire stay. There are well-stocked pharmacies in Paris, but not all drugs are readily accessible without a prescription, and it is better to bring your 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 so that, in the event of a medical issue, we can most quickly and efficiently arrange for your care. All such information will be held in the strictest confidence.
CLASSROOM
Living Latin in Paris classroom sessions take place at the Abbey of Saint Germain de Près, located at 3 Pl. Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris, France. For a Google Maps link, click here.
Classrooms are equipped with wireless internet for student use.
HOUSING
Students must arrange their own housing. We have reserved a block of rooms at a special rate for this program at the Hotel Marignan in the Latin Quarter, although you are welcome to book another option convenient to the area. If you wish to room with other participants, please log in to your Paideia Institute account and navigate to the enrolled students page (where you will be directed upon paying the deposit) for information about getting in touch before the program starts.
Prices for the Hotel Marignan are below. When you book, please write to [email protected] and mention the Paideia Institute. We recommend booking accommodations early, as there are a limited number of rooms reserved and the hotel books up quickly.
Private Rooms
- 1 person, single bed, 99 euros per night - private bathroom (shower on the landing to be shared with another room)
- 1 person, single bed, 75 euros per night - bathroom and shower to be shared with another room on the same floor
- 1 person, double bed, 115 euros per night - private bathroom and shower
Shared rooms
- Double at 145 euros per night - private bathroom and shower (1 double bed)
- Quad for three people at 190 euros per night - private bathroom and shower (1 double bed and 2 single beds)
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. Please write to [email protected] with any requests.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Living Latin in Paris begins with a walking tour of the Latin Quarter at 3pm on December 27th. The final day of academic programming is January 2nd, so participants may depart at any time on January 3rd.
IMPORTANT: Please do not book non-refundable travel before the deposit deadline of October 15, 2025. We will confirm on October 16th whether enough students have enrolled to run the program.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
U.S. Citizens do not need to apply for a visa to participate in this program, though you 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 French 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 (November 15th) will be given a credit for the amount of the balance (but not the deposit). The credit for the amount of the balance can be applied to any future Paideia program of their choice, without expiration. There are no refunds.
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.
There are no refunds in the event that a traveler is unable to travel due to insufficient documentation, such as lack of passport, including lack of passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip, and lack of visa, or due to last minute health issues. For these issues, Paideia recommends travel insurance.
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.
FORMS
To enroll in Living Latin in Paris, please click the “Enroll” button below and sign all the attached waivers by October 15, 2025.
Please fill out this travel form with your arrival and departure information by November 15, 2025. A week before the trip begins, we will send you more information about our arrival day procedure.
PAYMENT DEADLINES
- Deposit ($500) and enrollment form: October 15, 2025
- Remaining Balance ($1,300): November 15, 2025
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.