Conventiculum Buffaloniense
Buffalo Spoken Latin Workshop
June 27-29, 2008
University at Buffalo, SUNY
The University at Buffalo, SUNY (UB) Department of Classics will host a weekend spoken Latin workshop for area Latin instructors and others interested in conversational Latin on the UB campus from June 27-29, 2008.
The workshop has two goals: it will introduce participants to spoken Latin and allow them to begin practicing it, and also provide a forum for learning and discussion of spoken Latin pedagogy. The workshop represents an ideal starting point for those intending to participate in other active Latin seminars and informal discussion groups.
The workshop moderators are:
- Neil Coffee, Assistant Professor of Classics at UB
- Scott Ettinger, a teacher at the Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, NY, winner of the 2003 APA Award for Excellence in the Pre-collegiate Teaching, and
- Matthew McGowan, Assistant Professor of Classics at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY.
Dr. Coffee, Mr. Ettinger, and Dr. McGowan have several years of experience in speaking Latin and leading spoken Latin groups (particularly at the Kentucky Conversational Latin Seminars of Terence Tunberg) and are beginning to introduce spoken Latin exercises into their classrooms. Two Buffalo-area Latin instructors, Kathryn Kohout and Aileen Pawloski, will help plan and conduct the conference. The organizers are be interested in any suggestions from potential participants.
After a reception Friday evening, sessions will take place through the day on Saturday and Sunday (for proposed schedule, see link below). There will be a participation fee of under $75 to defray the cost of meals and materials (coffee and pastry, lunch, and snacks will be provided both days), but will be reduced for student participants and subventions are available for instructors whose institutions do not provide funding. Arrangements will be made for teachers to receive professional development credit.
Sessions will take place on the UB North Campus in 120 Clemens Hall. One lodging option is the Ramada, which is nearly on campus, and should be able to provide a shuttle to Clemens Hall. If planning to stay at the Ramada, ask for the UB discount, which should get a room rate of around $65. For other lodging options, directions, and maps, see the UB Visitor Guide. A color map of the North Campus is available here.
To attend, please complete and mail the registration form (.pdf document) by May 16. Registrants will receive a pass allowing them to park on campus during the workshop.
Questions should be directed to Neil Coffee at ncoffee(at)buffalo.edu.