Comprehensible Input in Ancient Languages Teaching

Building upon last year's successful ancient languages teaching conference here in Cambridge, this year’s conference will focus on increasingly popular pedagogical approaches which use comprehensible input. 

Designed for teachers of ancient languages across both universities and schools, the event aims to deepen our collective understanding of how methods which use comprehensible input can be applied in the ancient languages classroom.

Participants will discuss diverse pedagogical strategies, share practical tips for integrating comprehensible input into existing schemes of work, and collaborate on new ways to enhance language acquisition and advance ancient languages education.

As the popularity of comprehensible input continues to grow in modern language teaching, this event offers a crucial opportunity to learn how to adapt these practices for ancient languages teaching, promoting more engaging and accessible learning experiences for students of all ages.

Provisional Timetable of the Day 

10.00: Tea/Coffee and Welcome

10:45: Introduction: Steven Hunt (Cambridge) 

11:00: Keynote:  Professor Christian Laes (Manchester) 

11:40: Ana Martin (ARLT), Polly Philp (Cambridge), Jude Hedges-Robinson (Cambridge)

12:20: Dr Mair Lloyd (Cambridge, CSCP, and The Open University) and Professor James Robson (The Open University)

13:00: Lunch 

14:00: Teacher Panel Session: The Haileybury experience

14:20 Cressida Ryan (Oxford)

14:40: Eugenia Manolidou (Elliniki Agogi)

15:20: Academic Panel Session (inc. Dr Rosanna Omitowoju (Cambridge))

16:00: Concluding Remarks

Further information about sessions and speakers

Practicalities

Where is the event taking place?

The event is taking place at the Faculty of Classics in Cambridge.

There is also an option to attend online (please simply select online ticket when booking) 

If you are coming in-person, please aim to arrive around 10:00 am to register.

Getting Here 

Cambridge is a small city, which is less than an hour from London and easily accessed by road or train from other parts of the country.

Cambridge County Council travel information

Please note there is NO parking available onsite. 

There is on-street Pay & Display parking on West Road and Sidgwick Avenue. There is also unregulated on-street parking nearby including on Herschel, Adams and Cranmer Roads, and we can recommend use of the Madingly Road Park and Ride. 

Cost 

Tickets to attend this event will be free of charge. 

If you teach in a UK state school and would like to apply for a bursary to help with travel costs you can apply to Classics for All -please complete this form: https://forms.gle/1b2iqoF8pWxdJoCK6

Once CfA have the completed form they will confirm whether or not you have a bursary.

Please note you must still register for the event separately via this Ticket Tailor page

If approved, Classics for All will cover the cost of 2^nd class train travel or coach/bus, (or mileage @ 45p per mile) up to a maximum of £100 per person, subject to a few conditions:

• Recipients must be teaching in the state sector.
• Recipients should be currently teaching or looking to introduce classics at their school
• Classics for All will require completion of a short feedback form after the event (separate to any feedback requested by the event organisers)
• Costs will only be paid for those who attend on the day.
• All expenses claims must be submitted by Monday 3^rd November 2025
• Expenses will not be paid until after the event.

Expense forms will be sent nearer the date.

Any problems, or questions about the travel bursaries, please contact: cfaschoolsupport@classicsforall.org.uk  

We also kindly ask that you only sign up for an In-person space if you are confident that you can and will attend. 

We look forward to welcoming you to Cambridge!