Forum Novum Foundation
Language
Latin and Ancient Greek are the main languages used in Exedra Bulgarica. They are used for communication in and outside of class. However, one of the objectives of this project is to contribute to the expansion of the horizons of classics by introducing new classical languages to students. So, this year we are adding four other languages – Akkadian, Biblical Hebrew, Hungarian, and Arabic, of which the students can choose to study the rudiments.
The Active Method
The Latin and Ancient Greek classes (and those in some of the other languages on offer) in Exedra Bulgarica use the so-called active method. As opposed to the so-called grammar-translation method, it relies on active communication in the target language and development of all four language skills – reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It aims at improving the student’s knowledge of grammar and vocabulary by letting him put them to active use when communicating in and out of class.
Structure of the Day
In the mornings, starting at 9:00, we will have one Latin class and one Ancient Greek class, followed by a lecture, all of which will focus on the topic of ‘Fontes et Interpretamenta’. After lunch there will be a session where we will explain and sing ancient poetry – admittedly the best way to experience ancient metres! The rest of the afternoons will be devoted to the study of the two languages of choice, whereby we will finish at around 18:00. On one of the days we will travel to the site of Heraclea Sintica located near the Rupite village in south-western Bulgaria.
Location
Our partners at Sofia Seminary “St. John of Rila” will let us use for a second year their historic building to conduct our classes. There, during the school year, pupils receive theological education alongside standard school subjects. The Seminary was built so that the Samokov theological school could be moved to the capital. Its main building was finished in 1902 and the first classes were held in 1903. Due to the mass political shunning of the church during most of the communist regime in Bulgaria (1944–1989) the buildings of the Seminary were used as Palace of Pioneers for children, but in 1990 they were restored to their pristine functions. The Seminary is equipped with modern classrooms and its library possesses a variety of antique books in Latin, Ancient Greek, Hungarian and other languages. It is endowed with beautiful spacious gardens that are perfect for a walk in the afternoons.
You can see the location on the map below:
Borisova gradina,
1164 Sofia
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