Information signalée par Jacques Elfassi

Conversational Latin Seminar in Lexington for 2010

Conventiculum Latinum, Annual Workshop for Spoken Latin to be held in Lexington at the University of Kentucky from 21–28 July, 2010.

These summer workshops have become internationally known for providing a stimulating occasion in which participants can live for an extended period of time in an all-Latin environment, speaking and hearing no language but Latin. Our Latin workshops are exclusively designed for those who want to acclimatize themselves to the active use of Latin. Not surprisingly, many participants will find that that cultivating the active use of Latin in both speaking and writing helps their reading fluency.

Our conventicula are NOT designed for people who are still learning essential Latin grammar. All participants should be able to read Latin, and feel reasonably secure in their knowledge of basic morphology and syntax. However, previous experience in speaking Latin is not necessary. These seminars should be especially valuable for teachers in schools and universities, or any other cultivators of the Latin language, who want to gain some ability to express themselves ex-tempore in correct Latin on a wide range of subjects. Sessions will be aimed exclusively at developing ability in speaking, understanding others speaking, and writing. Participants will be involved in intensive activity each day from morning until early evening (with breaks for lunch, etc; of course). Themes for discussion will involve books and literature, but discussions will also be devoted to questions pertaining to every-day life.

We also invite participants who are already experienced in the active use of Latin. It is our intention that the conventiculum will provide such participants with a pleasant opportunity to practice their skills in spoken and written Latin, and meet like-minded others.

The entry fee for the event in 2010 is ninety dollars. Please note that registration fees, once paid, are non refundable. This, unfortunately, is an administrative necessity.

Participants who plan to come to the conventiculum in their own cars and want to part their cars on the University campus will need to pay eight dollars (in addition to the entry fee) in order to purchase a parking permit that will be valid for the entire week. Such participants will receive from us a card to be displayed in their cars, so they may park near the site of the sessions without any risk of a parking ticket.

The deadline for receipt of registration fees is 1 April, 2010, but we strongly urge those intending to take part to register much earlier than the deadline, since places in these events usually fill up well before April. In 2010 the maximum number of first-time participants will be 35. We want to limit the number of first-time participants for a practical reason. In every conventiculum we have special sessions for those who are very new to the active use of Latin. Such sessions are most effective when the number of those taking part in them is not excessively high.

The First Day of the Conventiculum:
On the first day (21 July) there will be no regular sessions, but there will be a general reception and dinner which will take place from 6:00 p.m. to about 9:00 or 10:00 p.m, which we strongly urge all participants to attend. In this initial reception not only Latin, but English or any other language may be used. After the reception, the use of vernacular languages will cease, and Latin will be the only language used in the conventiculum. Participants therefore should try to arrive in Lexington before 4:00 p.m. on the first day so they can get installed in their lodgings and find the site of the sessions before the reception actually begins.

Lodging:
Participants can choose various types of lodging. A private room in the student dorms, which is on campus, and within walking distance of the place where sessions will be held, costs 25 dollars per night. In the student dorm rooms, however, there are not private bathrooms, but large bathroom areas on each floor. The University Inn, a hotel near campus and also within walking distance to the sessions, offers rooms for about 67 dollars a night, including tax. For those who will have cars, the Red Roof Inn, situated beyond convenient walking distance from the site of the sessions, offers our participants a weekly rate of about 50 dollars a night. Please note that these prices were quoted in the summer of 2009, and these establishments might at any point change their prices without giving us notice. Of course a wide variety of other hotels and motels may be found in the city of Lexington.

Restaurants and cafes:
Restaurants and cafes are located both on campus and in the surrounding area. On campus there are several cafeterias where meals, generally speaking, cost considerably less than in off-campus restaurants. Whenever weather permits we try to organize group cookouts for dinner, which are not only fun, but cost less for each participant than food in cafes and restaurants.

Those interested in participating in this event should contact Prof. Terence Tunberg at the following e-mail address: terence.tunberg[at]gmail.com.P

our avoir plus de renseignements (et voir des vidéos du Conventiculum 2009), consulter le site du Conventiculum 2010.