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Discover our online Latin courses

Latin classes online tailored to our students' needs

Deepen your understanding of Latin with Oxford Latinitas. Our online Latin courses are designed for those eager to explore the intricacies of the language, whether reigniting a passion for Latin or taking on an intellectual challenge.

Our Latin courses online are designed for all proficiency levels, from complete beginners to advanced scholars. With two separate but related learning pathways to choose from, our students can study and progress year-round. Our 11-week academic terms offer twice-weekly one-hour Latin classes, with small group sizes ensuring personalised instruction. Our online intensives, taking place between terms, are ideal for those seeking accelerated learning, with 20 hours of immersive instruction over two weeks and daily Latin classes online from Monday to Friday. The two can be combined for a full year-round experience.

What is the Active Method?

Our teaching method, using Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata by Hans Ørberg focuses on immersive, progressive learning that enables students to understand and use Latin as a living language. Starting with Familia Romana, students build foundational vocabulary and grammatical skills through context-based readings and exercises that encourage active comprehension and response in Latin. For those enrolling in our online Latin courses, the programme provides a structured pathway from beginner to advanced proficiency. For advanced students, the course naturally progresses to Roma Aeterna, where learners engage directly with Latin literature. This second volume includes adapted passages from classical authors such as Livy, Virgil, and Cicero, guiding students through Roman history and culture in the authors' own words, while reinforcing advanced grammar and vocabulary. By the end of the programme, students will be equipped to read original Latin texts with confidence, enjoying a seamless transition to authentic classical sources.

Latin courses online for every level

Beginner I (Familia Romana Chapters 1–9)

You will begin this level with the phrase Roma in Italia est (“Rome is in Italy”), continue with a description of a Roman villa, and finish it by reading about the adventures of a black sheep in a dark forest. You will learn the first two noun declensions in full and begin exploring the third. The level also covers the active and passive voices of the present tense and introduces the basics of pronouns.

Beginner II (Familia Romana Chapters 10–16)

You will continue following the adventures of the Roman family while learning new vocabulary and grammar along the way. Animals, the human body, the seasons, the Roman army, and the Roman school are just some of the topics covered at this level. By the end of it, you will know all five declensions of Latin nouns, the personal forms of the verb, and the present participle.

Intermediate I (Familia Romana Chapters 17–22)

At this level, you will explore Latin numerals in greater depth and discover why asking “How much is 30 plus 8?” in Latin is not quite as straightforward as it might seem. You will also get a chance to explore the methods of ancient education, learn the romantic story of how the book's main characters first met, and follow the latest antics of their quarrelsome son, Marcus.

You will learn to use the imperfect and perfect tenses, and the future tense, as well as ways of expressing purpose and making promises. Several new pronouns will also help you understand texts and express your thoughts with greater precision.

Intermediate II (Familia Romana Chapters 23–28)

At this level, alongside a description of rural life, partly drawn from Cato's De Agri Cultura, an account of a sea voyage, and an exploration of how wages and debts were handled in ancient Rome, you will encounter adapted versions of mythological stories. These texts will help you take the next step from textbook Latin towards the language and style of ancient authors. At the end of this level, you will read your first unadapted Latin text: excerpts from the Gospel of Matthew.

The grammatical focus of this level is an introduction to the subjunctive, including the present and imperfect subjunctive, and the syntax of complex sentences. You will also learn the pluperfect and the gerund, and deepen your understanding of deponent verbs.

Intermediate III (Familia Romana Chapters 29–33)

At this level, you will immerse yourself in Roman mythology, history, and everyday life. You will read the story of Arion, discover how Pompey the Great fought the pirates and why such a large ransom was paid for Caesar when he was captured by them, and experience a Roman banquet and a military camp in Germany. You will complete your study of the basics of Latin grammar and deepen your understanding of Latin syntax.

Upper Intermediate I (Familia Romana Chapter 34; Roma Aeterna Chapters 36–37)

This level is the first step in the transition from reading adapted textbook texts to reading original Latin texts.

You will finish Familia Romana by exploring the main metres of Latin poetry and reading poems by Catullus and Martial, as well as excerpts from Tibullus and Ovid.

In the first part of Roma Aeterna, the second part of Lingua Latina per se Illustrata, you will explore the history of Rome, its religious and public buildings, the city's development, and dramatic events such as the Great Fire under Nero. You will also encounter the story of Aeneas and begin reading longer and more challenging Latin texts.

At this level, you will encounter a wide range of Latin syntax, including various types of subordinate clauses introduced by ut, cum, and dum, as well as the historical present. You will also significantly expand your Latin vocabulary and develop the skills needed to approach Roman prose with confidence.

Upper Intermediate II (Roma Aeterna Chapters 38–43)

The story at the heart of this level is Aeneas' journey and his tragic love for Dido. Fragments of an adapted version of the poem, which retains many of Virgil's original expressions, alternate with original poetic passages, allowing you to experience the language and spirit of the Aeneid itself.

These chapters will introduce you to a wider range of vocabulary, including poetic language, while further developing your understanding of complex sentence syntax and the functions of the cases. All this will prepare you to encounter the original works of Roman authors at the Advanced level.

Latin Advanced Reading Course

This part of the Advanced Reading course will be devoted to the first century BCE. This was the flourishing period of Republican literature in Ancient Rome, when Cicero, Catullus, Caesar, Lucretius, and many others were writing. We will explore the literary context of the era, trace the influence of earlier traditions, and examine the experiments and innovations of Roman authors who shaped our understanding of what Latinitas Aurea — the Golden Age of Latin — truly is.

Why our online Latin courses stand out among Latin classes online

Oxford Latinitas redefines the way students approach Latin, combining classical methods with immersive, progressive teaching to foster true fluency. Our online Latin courses equip learners to actively engage with the language, developing confidence in reading, interpreting, and using Latin in meaningful contexts.

Our approach is built on three pillars:

  • Immersive learning: Engage with Latin as a living language through structured readings, exercises, and dialogues designed to mirror traditional teaching methods, creating an experience similar to studying in a classical academy.
  • Engagement with classical texts: Delve into masterpieces by authors such as Cicero, Livy, and Virgil, building linguistic fluency while exploring the depth of Roman thought and culture.
  • Tailored instruction: Our courses adapt to the unique needs of each student, with expert tutors providing personalised guidance, making our Latin courses online ideal for both beginners and advanced learners.

Oxford Latinitas offers a variety of Latin courses online, thoughtfully structured to guide learners of all levels toward fluency and a deeper appreciation of the language’s timeless legacy.