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Friday, June 27, 2014

Beginning Biblical Greek for Middle and High School

“I now entered the first class of what today would be called the gymnasium for classical languages [Greek and Latin] ... In retrospect it seems to me that an education in Greek and Latin antiquity created a mental attitude that resisted seduction by a totalitarian ideology.” 
~ Pope Benedict XVI, Memoirs

HSC is very excited to announce the addition of Biblical Greek for the upcoming school year. Students as young as thirteen and as old as eighteen are welcomed to join us.

Why Learn Biblical Greek?
Why not? To understand the New Testament and the classics firsthand, in the language they were written, is a great gift. It helps to establish a strong foundation for Catholic education.

Top Ten benefits to learning a new language, specifically Biblical Greek:
  1. Knowledge is always increased in learning completely new things.
  2. Learning a new language, with a new alphabet, improves analytical and logic skills.
  3. The ability to read the New Testament in it's original language.
  4. To gain a new cultural perspective.
  5. A greater appreciation of language and its structure, including English.
  6. A greater knowledge of English vocabulary, as many English words contain Greek roots.
  7. Higher SAT and ACT scores.
  8. Biblical Greek followed by, or proceeded by, Latin benefits students in a unique way as both are the main root languages of our Western culture.
  9. The Greek language has a long and rich history stretching all the way from the thirteenth century BC to the present.
  10. Because the pope says it's a good idea!

“Hardly any lawful price would seem to me too high for what I have gained by being made to learn Latin and Greek.” 
~C.S. Lewis

(click on course title to register)

Note: This is a 2-part course. Part Two will take plane in the spring semester.
Registration is limited to 15 students.
Class dates: Mondays, September 8 to December 15, 2014. No class Dec. 8 for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Total classes: 14
Starting time: 5:30 pm Eastern (4:30 Central; 3:30 Mountain; 2:30 Pacific)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: Basic English grammar.
Suggested grade level: 7th grade and up.
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Biblical Greek or foreign language.
Fee: $185 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2014. $205 after August 1st for all 14 classes.
Instructor: Dan Egan (biography below).
Course description: In this course, we begin with the alphabet, which is not as frightening as might be thought. Then we will progress slowly into Nouns and adjectives. A part of the class will be given to Christian Greek symbols and their meanings. We will also focus on Greek roots found in English words to build our English vocabulary – an excellent boost for the SAT vocabulary section. There will be 10-15 minutes of homework every night and progress will be seen in a few short weeks. By the 3rd week we will be reading short passages from the Greek New Testament.
Course materials: Basics of Biblical Greek, Deluxe Edition (2nd Edition) by William Mounce, ISBN # 0310250870. Click on text title for text details and ordering information.
Homework: There will be homework every day from 10 to 15 minutes in duration.


“To read Latin and Greek authors in their original, is a sublime luxury. I thank on my knees him who directed my early education for having put into my possession this rich source of delight; and I would not exchange it for anything which I could then have acquired, and have not since acquired.” 
     ~ Thomas Jefferson


About the instructor: Daniel Egan received his B.S. in Geography from Northern Kentucky University, but his true love has been teaching Biblical Greek in Cincinnati since 2001 to high school and grade school children. He occasionally can be heard on EWTN's Sunrise Morning Show on their Bible Tidbit segment. Dan loves to study the Bible and to evangelize. He is happily married to Arica Egan and they have 5 children so far. He has been a student of Gary Michuta's since 2003.


(click on course title to register)