The 2009 Summer Seminar on Latin Classics and Medieval Culture comes to a Fruitful End

The 2009 Summer Seminar on Latin Classics and Medieval Culture comes to a Fruitful End

Aug. 18, 2009

On the afternoon of Aug. 13, 2009, 10 students who have taken part in the 2009 Summer Seminar
on Latin Classics and Medieval Culture received their certificates of academic study cheerfully,
suggesting a great success of the summer seminar.

As the first try in mainland China, the 2009 summer seminar was jointly organized by School
of International Studies, Zhejiang University, College of Foreign Languages, Fu Jen Catholic University
and Department of Classics, New York University. It aimed at providing an international education
platform for the benefits of the public. To senior students, graduate students and young teachers in
domestic universities and colleges, and some research institutes or social institutes as well as those
who had made up their minds to learn about Latin, Classics and Medieval Literature, the summer
seminar has offered an opportunity for study, research and communication.

There were altogether three courses in the 2009 summer seminar. The Wheelock’s Latin was
taught jointly by Brett L. Wisniewski from New York University and Professor Shen Hong from Zhejiang
University. The Homer’s Odysses and Selected Readings in Medieval English Literature were taught
by Brett and Professor Shen respectively. Among them, The Wheelock’s Latin was the core course
of the summer seminar. The complex rules of declension and conjugation made a big challenge for the
students who were just beginners in Latin. Especially with the intensifying study, every Latin sentence
combined all the grammar learnt ahead, which added to the difficulty in learning this language. Under
the strict and patient directions from the teacher, students helped each other to overcome the difficult
points in language one after another. They gradually got close to the yearning world of western classic
thoughts and culture, and appreciated its spiritual satisfaction which has lasted for centuries but still
attractive. Brett has had a deep impression of the students’ hard work. He pointed that their achievements
during the six weeks were equal to what foreign students could do in a semester.

Besides study, teachers and students got along with each other very well. Students actively
introduced the cultures of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province and China. They enjoyed being a tour guide
for Brett and showed him to the West Lake, Hefang Street and Hu Xueyan’s Former Residence.
Brett said that if he could have a second chance, he would like to teach in China again next year.

                                                                                    (Translated by HE Chen)