Staff News
Steph Flynn
Classical Steph
16th January 2008
In addition to her responsibilities for administration of EMA in College and – on two days a week also – as PA to the Directors of Studies, Steph Flynn has added yet another string to her bow. She is now teaching Latin.
It is her love of classics that inspired her, early in the autumn term, to offer (through the College Bulletin) Latin classes to interested students, so that they too might share her love of these ancient languages.
An initial response of some 40 students was more than encouraging. The number dropped when it was recognised that at least one session would clash, unavoidably, with a number of other enrichment activities, and that one session was likely to be after College.
Around sixteen students have committed themselves to the course. Some studied Latin at their previous schools and some had no previous experience of the subject. All have a real desire to learn more of the language. One study session is held on Thursday evenings and the other runs at lunch-time on Fridays.
Steph has opted to follow a Cambridge Board course, as it offers a good introduction to the subject which also allows students to be examined on their progress at various stages, without having to commit to a GCSE or A level.
Steph’s initial hopes are that students will find it fun, will enjoy the additional study, and will find it broadens their knowledge of language in general and also ancient history.
“I feel it should be offered to everyone” she says, with the vehemence of someone really enthused by Latin and Ancient Greek.
Those were two subjects she studied at school on The Wirral, in Cheshire - Latin from the age of 11 and Ancient Greek from 13 – right the way through to A level, being totally fascinated and enjoying the subjects as languages, and delighting in the history which went with them.
Unsurprisingly, she opted to read these two languages at university – “I wanted to do a degree I really loved” – without, at that stage, having a clear idea of how, or whether, she might use them on completion of her degree at Birmingham University.
A year, post-university, working in the Library at Hereford Cathedral, translating 12th century priests’ diaries, was totally absorbing but, as with many similar projects, the external funding ran out.