LANGUAGES
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Ancient Greek
We have polished off the rust from our brains, the dust from our grammar books , and we are now into the literature, currently translating Euripides’ tragicomedy Alcestis, with plans to move on to Aristophanes’ comedy, The Frogs, highlighting an amusing literary contest between Aeschylus and Euripides. This group is suitable for ex A level and university students with a nostalgic desire to refresh their Greek for enjoyment, having pursued non classical careers. Passages are selected for preparation in advance, but those who have not done their homework can just listen in. This is not school so cribs are encouraged! We are all learning as we go, and difficult passages are freely discussed. If there is time, relevant background articles are read out in English. Newcomers are welcome to attend actively or listen passively for as long as it takes to refresh their memories. Group Leader - Martin Ben-Nathan French Conversation This group meets every 2 weeks on Wednesday afternoons in Pinner or Northwood. Group Leader - Rosemary Shepheard French Conversation (Advanced) This is a very informal group which meets fortnightly in Harrow on the Hill and has been described by a member as "coffee mornings, but in French". Members chat for just over an hour about anything and everything - the news, holidays, books, films, TV, etc and then take turns to read a French book. Group Leader - Marion Bloom French Advanced Grammar This course is for those who studied French at school up to GCE or A-Level standard but have not used it since. Grammar is revisited and conversations are held in easy French to gain confidence in speaking the language when visiting France. Group Leader - Marilyn Kozack. German Conversation This convivial group meets over lunch monthly, mid-day for an hour or two, on the third Thusday of each month. The venue is the Preston Pub, close by Preston Road tube station (the pub has its own car park). The more fluent linguists guide those of us who wish to improve our abilities. Group Leader - Godfrey Manning German Conversation Advanced This Group meets fortnightly on a Tuesday Morning in North Wembley and is for those who can speak fluent German but have become a little “rusty”. Text books are not used and the general conversation is on subjects or themes suggested by our students. New members are welcome. Group Leader – Rosemary Lowenberg Advanced Latin Latin literature is fascinating and can be quite raunchy!. We have just translated selected passages from Suetonius. Lives of the Emperors, including Caligula and Nero, with a brief interlude for a charming little poem attributed to Vergil entitled Copa or the Syrian Dancing Girl. We will be moving on to more serious extracts from Lucretius On the Nature of Things, addressing the structure of the universe, in which he propounds the Atomic Theory taken from Epicurus. This group is suitable for ex A level and university students who have earned their living outside the classics and, however rusty, have a nostalgic desire to return to their Latin for enjoyment. Passages are selected for preparation in advance, but those who have not had time for their homework can listen in for continuity and pick up the theme next time, or whenever. This is not school, so cribs are encouraged! Difficult passages are freely discussed. If there is time, relevant background articles are read out in English. Newcomers are welcome to attend actively or passively, just listening in to the echoes of their student days for as long as it takes to refresh their memories. Group Leader- Martin Ben-Nathan. Latin for Beginners This is a small group which meets every other Tuesday morning in the Gobey Room at the Harrow Arts Centre. We have successfully completed Book 1 of the Cambridge Latin Course and have made a start on Book 2 continuing with stories of life in ancient Rome. The course covers translation, grammar and group discussions conducted in a friendly atmosphere. A basic knowledge of Latin is recommended. New students are encouraged to participate and will find the class very welcoming. Course Leader – Christine Wierda-Visser Portuguese Beginners/Intermediate This group meets fortnightly on Tuesdays at 10am in the Group Leader's home in Pinner. They read and translate books and revise items of grammar that appear in the text. Role playing is used when dealing with topics such as "shopping for food", "ordering in a restaurant" and “city travelling”. Group Leader - Maria Landau Portuguese Advanced The group meets on alternate Tuesdays at 10am in the Group Leader's home in Pinner. Currently they are reading and understanding Portuguese literature within an historical context. Current affairs are discussed using newspapers and magazines and matters of grammar are addressed in the form of exercises. In addition, a Portuguese film will be watched and discussed. Group Leader - Maria Landau Beginners Spanish Members are using the BBC Talk Spanish course as a springboard. The classes are held at HAC Gobey Room every 2 weeks on a Thursday afternoon. Group Leader - Alison Whitehead Spanish Basic Stage 3 & 4 The group meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month in North Harrow. The approach is mostly oral but members do a little learning or written homework. The aim is to encourage confidence in talking about oneself and dealing with situations on a visit to a Spanish speaking country. Group Leader - Anne-Marie Dennis Intermediate Spanish Grammar We do a Crucigrama (crossword puzzle), and then translate sentences containing the vocabulary in the crossword, we study all aspects of grammar, and all members are encouraged to speak Spanish throughout the whole lesson - as do I! - Marilyn Kozack Spanish Advanced This group is suitable for Spanish speakers who wish to maintain/expand their existing knowledge of the language and develop greater fluency in a friendly environment. Meetings usually fall into two halves. The first half consists of conversation; the second half comprises unprepared translation of instalments from Spanish short stories and current journalistic articles from Spanish newspapers. The group meets fortnightly, virtually via Zoom. Group Leader - Martin Ben-Nathan Spanish/English Film Club The group meets once a month on a Tuesday afternoon at a home in Kenton. Group Leader - Helen West TK/04.08.21 |