ANU Classics: How to Join the Latin Study Groups

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The ANU Classics program runs several Latin study groups open to current undergraduates, postgraduates and, in some cases, approved visiting scholars. According to the Australian National University’s official course catalogue for Semester 1 2024, the Classics department offers 6 Latin courses, covering a complete sequence from LATN1001 (Introductory Latin I) to LATN3002 (Advanced Latin V), with roughly 80 to 120 students taking part in group study each semester [ANU 2024, Programs and Courses Catalogue]. The groups are led by Classics teaching staff or senior PhD candidates and meet for 1 to 2 in-person tutorials per week, supplemented by online discussion platforms. With Classics enjoying a resurgence of interest in global higher education — ANU’s Classics and Ancient History subject ranked 38th worldwide in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 — the Latin study groups are a key practical step in building the reading skills needed for primary sources, and a common pathway linking academic research with career plans in fields such as archaeology, law and linguistics [QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Classics & Ancient History].

How the study groups are organised and their academic role

The Latin study groups in the ANU Classics department are not independent clubs; they are tutorial components embedded in the formal curriculum. Each Latin course (such as LATN1001) has a corresponding study group, and the course convenor appoints a PhD student or honours candidate to act as the “group tutor”. According to the Classics department’s 2023 teaching handbook, study group attendance contributes 10% to 15% of the final course grade, depending on course level. Group sessions cover grammar analysis, translation practice and line-by-line reading of ancient texts (such as Virgil’s Aeneid).

Beginner groups (LATN1001-LATN2001)

Beginner groups are for students with no prior Latin. They meet twice a week on campus in the A.D. Hope Building or the Sir Roland Wilson Building, 50 minutes per session. In Semester 1 2024, 47 students enrolled in the beginner groups, split into 3 parallel groups of 15 to 16 students each. Group tutors use Wheelock’s Latin (7th edition, 2011) as the main textbook, supplemented by exercise booklets compiled by ANU. Students complete grammar exercises from the assigned chapters in the group and receive immediate correction.

Intermediate and advanced groups (LATN3001-LATN3002)

The intermediate and advanced groups are smaller: 28 students enrolled in Semester 1 2024, split into 2 groups. Sessions focus on close reading and academic discussion, often using passages from Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura or Tacitus’ Annals. According to the Classics department’s 2024 course evaluation report, students in the intermediate and advanced groups complete 3 to 5 pages of Latin translation homework per week on average, and each group member takes turns reading aloud and analysing syntax in sessions.

How to join and the application process

The main way to join a Latin study group is to enrol in the course through the ANU course registration system (ISIS). Students log in to ISIS at the start of each semester (by February for Semester 1, by July for Semester 2) and select the relevant Latin course code. After enrolment, the system automatically assigns students to the study groups pre-arranged by the Classics department. Students outside Classics who wish to sit in may apply for “audit permission” if the course has available capacity, by submitting a written application to the department’s undergraduate coordinator.

Joining from other disciplines and as a visiting scholar

Students from other disciplines (such as history, philosophy or linguistics) can join Latin study groups through cross-institutional enrolment. ANU’s 2024 cross-institutional enrolment policy requires students to satisfy prerequisite requirements (for example, LATN1001 is a prerequisite for LATN2001). Visiting scholars should contact the Classics department head at least 2 months in advance, providing evidence of academic background and a research plan. In 2023 the department approved 12 visiting scholars to join study groups, 4 of whom came from overseas institutions.

Academic resources and support for study groups

The ANU Classics department provides several academic support resources for the Latin study groups, including Latin dictionaries and annotated editions in the department library’s special collections room (on level 3 of the A.D. Hope Building), group discussion forums on the ANU digital learning platform Wattle, and a weekly “Latin Drop-in Hour” offering one-on-one help from postgraduate teaching assistants in the common areas of University House.

Digital tools and online platforms

Groups use Zoom and Microsoft Teams for synchronous online sessions, especially for students across campuses (such as the Canberra and Sydney campuses). In Semester 1 2024, about 15% of group sessions were held online. The department also maintains a Discord server for informal discussion and resource sharing, managed by the ANU Classics Society (the department’s student association).

Textbooks and access to texts

The prescribed texts for all study groups can be purchased at the ANU Co-op Bookshop or borrowed through the ANU Library’s electronic resources platform. In 2024, the ANU Library subscribed to long-term access for The Latin Library and Perseus Digital Library, which students can use free of charge for textual queries. For cross-border tuition payments, some study-abroad families use professional channels such as Flywire tuition payments for settlement.

Assessment and grading in the study groups

Study group assessment is directly linked to course grades. According to the Classics department’s 2024 course outlines, attendance and participation in the study group count for 10% of the final grade, while the regular translation quizzes held in the group (4 to 5 per semester) count for 20%. The quizzes take place during group sessions, last 30 minutes, and consist of unannotated passages from the prescribed texts.

Marking criteria and feedback

Group tutors grade the quizzes on the ANU Grading Scale, with scores from 0 to 100. Students receive written feedback within 7 working days of each quiz, including grammar error annotations and suggestions for improvement. In Semester 2 2023, beginner group students averaged 68.4, and intermediate/advanced group students averaged 74.2. At the end of each semester the department publishes a study group evaluation report summarising student satisfaction data — in 2023, 89% of students agreed that the study groups “effectively improved their Latin reading ability”.

Social and academic extensions of the study groups

Latin study groups are not just a teaching venue; they sit at the heart of the ANU Classics community. The ANU Classics Society organises 2 to 3 study-group-related events per semester, including Latin reading performances, screenings of films on the ancient world and the annual “Latin Week”. Latin Week 2024 ran from 13 to 17 May and featured an online lecture by a Classics professor from the University of Oxford, with 65 students and staff taking part.

The path to postgraduate study

Students who perform exceptionally well in the study groups (scores of 80 or above) can earn a recommendation for the department’s Honours program or postgraduate courses. In 2023, 5 study group members entered ANU Classics master’s programs through this route. Group tutor positions are usually held by current PhD students: in 2024 the department had 7 PhD students serving as group tutors, each receiving a teaching stipend of A$3,000 per semester.

Common issues and operational challenges

The study groups face a number of operational challenges. According to ANU’s 2023 internal teaching evaluation report, 12% of students reported that group meeting times clashed with their personal timetables, making attendance difficult. In response, the Classics department added 2 evening sessions (17:00-18:00) in 2024. Another challenge is textbook cost: Wheelock’s Latin, 7th edition, sells for A$89 at the ANU Co-op Bookshop, and some students reduce the cost through library borrowing or second-hand purchases.

Differences in language proficiency

Because students arrive with widely varying levels of Latin, the beginner groups often show uneven progress. In 2024 the department introduced a placement test: a 30-minute written exam at the start of semester, used to assign students to a “standard group” or an “advanced group”. The results showed that about 20% of enrolled beginners already had reading ability equivalent to LATN2001 level and were moved up to a higher-level group.

FAQ

Q1: Can non-ANU students join the Latin study groups?

Not directly. The ANU Classics study groups are open only to enrolled students (including exchange students and visiting scholars). External participants can enrol in a non-credit Latin course through the ANU Centre for Continuing Education; in 2024 the course cost A$495 for 10 weeks, with one online session per week.

Q2: Is there an online participation option?

Partly. In Semester 1 2024, about 15% of group sessions ran synchronously online via Zoom or Teams, mainly for cross-campus students or those temporarily unable to attend in person. However, the department requires at least 80% of sessions each semester to be attended in person to ensure interaction quality.

Q3: Do I need to buy the textbooks myself?

Yes. Prescribed texts (such as Wheelock’s Latin) sell for A$89 at the ANU Co-op Bookshop, but students can borrow the electronic version free of charge through the ANU Library. In 2024, the ANU Library held 12 print copies and unlimited electronic access; the electronic version is available directly through the Wattle platform.

References

  • ANU 2024, Programs and Courses Catalogue, Australian National University
  • QS 2024, QS World University Rankings by Subject: Classics & Ancient History
  • ANU 2023, Classics Department Annual Teaching Evaluation Report
  • ANU 2024, Cross-Institutional Enrolment Policy, Australian National University
  • Unilink Education 2024, ANU Student Support Database