Ancient Language Institute

About Ancient Language Institute

Jonathan Roberts and Ryan Hammill founded the Ancient Language Institute in 2019. Ryan built the website and Jonathan taught a Latin class to 12 students. Now, ALI employs over 30 teachers and reaches over 800 students per year in its Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Old English classes as well as thousands of people every month through its podcast, articles, and publications. The Ancient Language Institute exists to aid students in their path to proficiency in ancient languages, to improve the way ancient languages are taught, and to foster a rebirth of the humanistic tradition. We believe that what makes languages distinct is their unique history and literature – not the methods and principles required to learn them. Through interactive approaches to vocabulary and grammar, graded and extensive exposure to comprehensible input, and accompanied by active use of the target language, students can acquire proficiency in ancient languages as successfully as they do modern ones. Thus, we aim to expose students to the best materials available in order to equip them to read great literature and to reach their linguistic and academic goals. We are also committed to developing tools in order to help meet the great need there is for effective pedagogical materials for ancient languages. We do all of this because, like Cicero, we believe that the ancient authors have left us "images of the bravest of men—not merely for contemplating, but also for imitating." Reading the ancient authors in their own words is the best way to gaze upon these images, and in turn to inspire contemplation and imitation of them. This is the essence of the humanistic tradition. We invite you to come join us.

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