The Teaching Classical Languages Symposium came about to address a pressing need for teachers to share and discuss ideas and strategies for teaching Latin and Greek in the 21st century. Each symposium features educators in the secondary, tertiary, and community teaching spaces from Australia and New Zealand.
TCLS 2026 will take place Friday14th August at the Vere Gordon Childe Centre (previously CCANESA).
We are now inviting contributions for the 2026 iteration of the Teaching Classical Languages Symposium. The one-day hybrid event will take place Friday 14th August at the Vere Gordon Childe Centre (formerly CCANESA) at the University of Sydney. We are delighted to announce that this year's keynote speaker is Carla Hurt. Carla is a high-school Latin teacher and You-Tuber who has converted to input-based approaches. She is based in Melbourne, Australia. More about Carla can be found here: https://foundinantiquity.com/
We invite proposals for 20 minute papers on any topic related to the pedagogy of Classical Languages. We are particularly interested in papers that speak to the following: Imagine the perfect textbook; under this theme we invite you to think broadly in terms of what you see as critical to Classical Languages pedagogy, the full range of formats available in an increasingly hybrid world, the integration of social themes and Classical content and best practice in raising student confidence.
Possible provocations include:
Should textbooks try to include “culture”?
Is there still a role for a physical book?
What kinds of exercises do students really need?
Should we be insisting on translation from English into the target language?
We also welcome panel presentations.
Please send abstracts of no more than 250 words to the convenors, Tamara Neal t.neal@sydney.edu.au and Sarah Lawrence slawren4@une.edu.au by 31st May 2026.
For further details, or if you would like to offer a paper at the next symposium, please contact Tamara Neal: t.neal@sydney.edu.au or Sarah Lawrence: slawren4@une.edu.au
TCLS 2024 contributed 6 hours of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Accredited PD in the priority area of Delivery and Assessment of NSW Curriculum/EYLF addressing standard descriptors 3.3.2 & 5.1.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.
In 2023, CANSW published a special edition of Classicum featuring papers from previous symposia.
Previous speakers include:
Christopher Bishop (Australian National University)
Caroline Brehaut (Redlands)
Elly Cowan (University of Sydney)
Dane Drivas (Cranbrook)
Phillip Dupesovski (University of Sydney; Newington)
Kate Edwards (University of New England)
Anthony Gibbons (Sydney Grammar School; Legonium)
Tegan Gleeson (Frensham)
K.O. Gossard-Chong (University of Melbourne)
Dexter Hoyos (University of Sydney)
Trevor Evans (Macquarie University)
Ed Jeremiah (University of Melbourne)
Drew Keller (Collegiate School NYC; Learn to read Latin; Learn to read Ancient Greek) KEYNOTE 2022
Michael Hanaghan (Australian Catholic University)
Yasmin Haskell (Australian Catholic University; The Ancient Today)
Sarah Lawrence (University of New England)
Maxine Lewis (Auckland University) KEYNOTE 2024
Seamus Macdonald (The Patrologist)
Caitlin McMenamin (Barker College)
Janette McWilliam (University of Queensland)
Emily Matters (North Sydney Girls High School; Eureka!)
Caitlin McMenamin (Barker)
Elizabeth Minchin (Australian National University)
Miles Pattenden (Australian Catholic University)
David Peddar (St Pauls Grammar School, Cranebrook)
Louella Perret (Riverview) KEYNOTE 2020
Ian Plant (Macquarie University)
Lauren Richardson (Canberra Girls Grammar School)
Paul Roche (University of Sydney)
Lance Shortus (Blacktown Girls High School)
Estelle Strazdins (Australian National University)
McComas Taylor (ANU)
Mary Triantafyllou (Newington College)
Jonathan Wallis (University of Tasmania)
Sam Wessells (Macquarie University & University of Sydney)
Chrysoula Zachariadou (University of New England)