This module allows students in their second year to take up the study of a scriptural language. The module offers a selection of languages, of which you will select one. Typically, these will include Greek, Hebrew, Sanskrit and Arabic (though the range of offerings may be subject to change from year to year). In a user-friendly and exercise-led fashion, you will take up the grammar of your chosen language. Step by step, your competency in your chosen language will grow until, by the end of the module, you should be able to identify key terms in the original language of religious texts, as well as read simple sentences and passages. Being able to read religious texts is an important and satisfying skill, both for the study of religion and wider life.

• Read and write the appropriate script

• Parse sentences and express a grammatical interpretation

• Demonstrate familiarity with their chosen language’s vocabulary

• Use grammars and dictionaries

• Be able to understand and apply rules of grammar to exercises and simple texts in their chosen language

This module will comprise 40 hours of lecturer-lead contact time (made up of language classes).

Students will be assigned a teacher on the basis of the language that they select. You will have four hours of classroom instruction per week.

Skills that will be practised and developed

• Develop a facility with foreign language dictionaries/lexicographical sources
• Recognising personal strengths and weaknesses and working to enhance and utilise the former, and to overcome the latter
• Develop the ability to manage workloads and time-management
• Develop memorisation skills

• Make individual presentations, and contribute effectively and creatively to group work activities.
• Actively respond to peer and teacher feedback.
• Solve problems.
• Demonstrate a willingness to seek, and accept, help and guidance.
• Accept responsibility for the student’s own activities and their outcomes.
• Display self-reliance.
• Adopt a demanding work-schedule.
• Use computers as a research and writing aid.

• Portfolio of Exercises and Translation 1.  2000 words, 50% contribution semester 1.
• Grammar and Translation Examination.  1.5 hours.  50% contribution  January Exam Period.

Formative assessment will include whole class, group and individual translation activities, as well as informal memory tests. These will be subject to informal feedback as the module proceeds. Exercise work will be marked and returned to the student as appropriate.

The potential for reassessment in this module

Re-assessment will be by the resubmission of coursework and resit examination in the August resit period.

Classes will cover the basics of the grammar of the chosen language and will move from pedagogically adapted sentences and passages to simple, unmodified, material from religious texts.

NOT ALL LANGUAGES ARE AVAILABLE EVERY YEAR.

A full and up to date reading list will be provided in the course handbook, which will be made available to all students on Learning Central.

For Hebrew

Pratico, G.. D., and Van Pelt, M. V., Basics of Biblical Hebrew (Grand Rapids, Mich: Sondervan, 2007)

For Greek

F. Beetham, An Introduction to New Testament Greek (Bristol: Bristol Classical Press, 1993)

For Arabic

Smart, J. R., Arabic. A Complete Course for Beginners (London, 1986)

For Sanskrit

Coulson, Michael., Teach Yourself Sanskrit (London: Hodder Education, 2010)