The Classical Association of Scotland is proud to present Ancient Voices. This is an online learning initiative comprising short courses in ancient languages and cultures, visiting lectures and reading groups. The aim of Ancient Voices is to offer accessible entry points to the ancient world (broadly conceived) to as wide a global audience as possible.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR 2024 SUMMER SCHOOL
BACKGROUND
Ancient Voices began life as the CAS Greek & Latin Summer School in 2019. Originally, this was a bricks-and-mortar languages school in the style found in different places across the UK and further afield. We enjoyed working with a a relatively small but dedicated cohort in Edinburgh, with students undertaking Ancient Greek and Latin at all levels. As part of this summer school, we also offered taster classes in Hebrew and Egyptian Hieroglyphs, as well as other non-language sessions. The popularity of these additional sessions was self-evident, and so we committed to offering other, less commonly available options in future iterations. As with so many other initiatives, the coronavirus pandemic meant that we were forced to cancel our 2020 summer school and move all our outreach efforts online.
Over 2020 and into 2021, CAS offered a range of free online taster sessions in different topics: from Latin epigraphy to Hellenistic coins, from Ancient Greek language to Scottish Neo-Classicism and ancient reception. These sessions opened up Scottish-based Classics outreach to a global audience, with the consequence that we decided to switch our newly-dubbed Ancient Voices programme to an online footing permanently.
Our 2021 online Ancient Voices programme added Hebrew and Hieroglyphs for beginners as formal options for the first time. Our cohort was four times larger than our 2019 summer school, and included learners from all over the world. Not satisfied to rest on our laurels, however, we determined to add yet more options to the line-up. Our 2022 summer school therefore offered Greek and Latin at all levels; Hebrew; Hieroglyphs; Aramaic and Sumerian. This was our first summer school to reach over 100 participants. In 2023, we pushed the envelope further, adding Ugaritic to the mix, as well as offering a non-language course on the legacy of the Classical world. During 2023, we also piloted a range of language and non-language evening classes throughout the year, offering learners at different stages the chance to engage with us year-round.
There is clearly an appetite for ancient subjects out there and so, looking towards 2024, CAS remains committed to offering learners the chance to engage with subjects and languages that most simply do not have access to in their local areas, be this in Scotland or elsewhere.
ETHOS
As a component in CAS’ wider outreach and public engagement strategy, the guiding ethos for Ancient Voices has always been accessibility. We are aware that Classics is a discipline which bears the legacy of historical inequity, one result of which is an ongoing disparity in access to the subject matter for learners across varied communities. We want the global Classics community to be so much more than simply those attached to prestigious research centres: whether you are a professional in the discipline, a student or an interested amateur, we believe there is room for you to enjoy Classics and make your own meaningful contributions to the subject.
Founded on these values, our Ancient Voices programmes are designed to be a low-stakes and nurturing environment, timed to fit in with pre-existing work, family and other commitments, without monopolising our students’ week. We recognise that not everyone has the luxury of time to commit to ceaseless study of the ancient world!
The majority of our courses are accessible to absolute beginners, and those with no background in the subject. We do offer more advanced level courses in our summer programme, however, and our evening classes sometimes require a small amount of preparatory reading.
SCHEDULE
CAS Ancient Voices classes and courses are still currently in the planning phase, and will be announced/linked here in due course. Please do watch this space and the CAS ‘X’ (Twitter) account, @CAScotia, for more information.
TEAM
Ancient Voices is fortunate to work with a range of skilled educators at different stages in their academic careers: from experienced schoolteachers to recently minted doctoral students, tutors in Continuing Education and faculty members at universities in Scotland and beyond. Component in our desire to operate a programme founded on equity of opportunity, we particularly enjoy supporting and working with classicists who face employment precarity, offering a chance to display their professional skills with the promise of a fair reimbursement for their time and expertise.
Overseeing the programme as a whole are the following individuals, who are more than happy to receive questions and enquiries about Ancient Voices.
Dr Sam Newi
ngton
Ancient Voices Academic Director
Sam is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History at the University of Aberdeen. She a co-founder of the Ancient Voices programme, and has personally taken a leading role in teaching Greek and Latin classes as part of the summer school. Aside from her work in Classics, Sam is a very keen distance runner.
Dr Alex Imrie
Secretary of the Classical Association of Scotland
Alex is a Tutor in the School of History, Classics & Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh. He is a co-founder of the Ancient Voices programme, and has been at the front-line of all CAS activity to support and expand the subject within Scotland’s state schools, working simultaneously as the Scottish Network Co-Ordinator for the educational charity Classics for All. Outside academia, Alex is a keen board-gamer, ceilidh dancer and budding tartan designer.