BIBLE CAMP

Come read the Bible. In Greek.

For the first time, the Ancient Language Institute is moving from the internet to the physical world. Come join us in August 2023, for a 10-day Ancient Greek immersion camp, led by some of the best Ancient Greek teachers from around the world.

We will be reading, speaking, laughing, praying, singing, and writing in Greek on the beautiful Eugene campus of the University of Oregon from Aug. 14 – Aug. 25.

Bible Camp is designed for late beginner – early advanced Greek students who want to improve their Greek proficiency and read the Septuagint and the Greek New Testament with ease and enjoyment. [If you take G101 during Summer 2023 term at ALI, you will be eligible to join us for Bible Camp this year.]

No matter what form of Ancient Greek you are primarily interested in, the immersive learning experience of Bible Camp will aid you in your path towards proficiency. Bible Camp presents a life-changing opportunity to study Greek immersively under the Direct Method, which the Ancient Language Institute uses with hundreds of students online every year.

While we will be primarily focusing on Biblical texts, we will also be learning how the study of other Ancient Greek texts can enrich your reading of the Bible. But most of all, we’ll be reading and speaking – a ton – in Ancient Greek!

The ideal Bible Camp participant already has some experience with Koine or Ancient Greek, so that he or she is at least familiar with some basic concepts and vocabulary. If you are interested in attending but do not have prior Greek experience, we will ask you to complete the Ancient Language Institute’s Ancient Greek 101 course beforehand, as a minimum requirement (or equivalent). There is still enough time to take G101 over the summer in preparation for Bible Camp – registration closes April 15th.

What You Need to Know

We can accept a maximum of 30 students. Applications are already rolling in, and will be evaluated in the order they are received. We will close applications when all seats have been filled.

Cost: $1,500 ($1,800 for single occupancy room)
- Covers tuition for Bible Camp, lodging for eleven nights, three meals/day while you’re here, and pickup and drop-off at the Eugene Airport (EUG)
Location: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403
Dates: August 14th, 2023 – August 25th, 2023
- Check-in: Beginning Aug. 14th (time TBA)
- Check-out: Must be completed Aug. 25th (time TBA)
Requirements (what we’re looking for in applicants):
- Late beginner – early advanced student of Greek
- Minimum age of 18
- Positive, enthusiastic attitude excited for an immersive, spoken Greek experience

Teachers

Michael Kopf, our Greek & Latin Fellow, was born and raised in Upper Austria. He has studied and lived in Munich, Vienna, and Jerusalem. Since receiving his MA in Ancient Philology from the Polis Institute in 2015, he has taught Latin and Greek to middle-schoolers, high-schoolers, graduate students, as well as independent learners in immersion and in more conventional settings. His special interests include ancient grammatical texts as well as the use of poetry in language teaching. In 2020, he and his wife decided to resettle in rural Austria from where they both teach classical languages in different capacities.

Joanna Thornhill, our Ancient Greek & Latin Fellow, was born and raised in sunny Los Angeles, California. She studies Liberal Arts at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has a great passion for ancient languages and has taken part in Latin and Greek courses at a variety of institutions, including spending several summers at the Accademia Vivarium Novum. She has taught a variety of students Greek and Latin both in individual and group settings. Outside of her studies, she can be found snowboarding down the slopes in the Santa Fe mountains.

You can find her on Twitter here: @JThornhill51

MORE BIBLE CAMP TEACHERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

Timeline and Application Process

Apply (Dec. 1 – July 1): Use the application form on the Bible Camp page (below) to apply to join us. We will require a refundable $100 deposit at the time of application. If you are accepted, this deposit will be applied to your tuition balance. If you are not accepted, the deposit will be fully refunded to you.

Video Interview (Jan. 1 – July 6): If we move you on to the next stage of the application process, we will schedule a video interview with you, so we can learn more about you and your Greek interest and experience, and so you can ask some questions about Bible Camp.

Acceptance (Jan. 1 – July 6): Shortly after the video interview, we will let you know via email whether you’ve been accepted. If you are accepted, we will also send you an invoice for 50% of the cost (minus the $100 already paid). To secure your spot at Bible Camp, you will need to pay that invoice. Once you do, your spot is secure.

Balance due (July 14): Your entire balance is due July 14. Additionally, if at any point you need to withdraw from Bible Camp, you may do that for a full refund before July 14. Beginning July 14, we will no longer be able to issue refunds.

Travel notification due (Aug. 1): We will send out an “orientation” email in July to provide some more helpful logistical info, which will include a questionnaire about your travel arrangements, so that we can make sure we know when you’re due to arrive in Eugene. Please fill this out and return it to us by August 1.

Arrival (Aug. 14): You are welcome to check into your room at the University of Oregon on August 14th beginning at [Time TBA]. We will be there to welcome you on campus at that time. The first session of Bible Camp will begin at [Time TBA] that day, so please arrive before then.

Bible Camp (Aug. 14 – Aug. 25): Greek! The Bible! Greek! The Bible!

Departure (Aug. 25): The last session of Bible Camp will be at [Time TBA] on Aug. 25th. You are welcome to depart immediately after that; we will provide shuttle service to the Eugene Airport. You will need to check out of your room by [Time TBA] that day – you don’t have to go home then, but you can’t stay here.

FAQs

I've never studied Greek before. Can I use Bible Camp as an introduction to Greek?

Bible Camp is meant to help late beginner – early advanced students improve their Greek. If you’ve never studied Greek before, you’re welcome to apply, but we will also require you to sign-up and complete Greek 101 at the Ancient Language Institute in advance of Bible Camp (or an equivalent class elsewhere), so that when you arrive in Eugene, you’re not starting from scratch.

We run Ancient Greek 101 every term, so you’ll need to (at least) have completed either the Spring 2023 (Jan. – Apr.) course, or the Summer 2023 (May – Aug.) course. Read more about ALI’s Greek classes here.

I've studied Greek before, but never spoken it. Do I need to learn how to speak Greek before I come to Bible Camp?

Not at all! We’re assuming students will come with all sorts of different backgrounds in Greek. If you’ve studied Greek grammar before but never used the language actively, that’s fine! Students in this situation often make rapid progress once they’re exposed to an immersive approach to learning the language.

I am a Biblical Greek/Ancient Greek expert. Can I come?

Bible Camp probably isn’t for you. We have a limited number of spots, and we want to reserve them for late beginner – early advanced students who want to able to read the Septuagint and the Greek New Testament with ease and enjoyment.

Is this camp religious?

Well, it depends what you mean! Bible Camp is not run by a church and we’re not trying to make converts to Christianity. However, we will spend a lot of time reading the Bible. We’ll also be reciting Greek prayers and singing Greek songs with religious content. If doing that would make you feel uncomfortable, then Bible Camp is not for you. However, we don’t require teachers or students to believe in or practice any particular religion.

Which Greek pronunciation do you use?

We are very ecumenical when it comes to pronunciation. Our teachers use a variety of different pronunciations, and we don’t require students to pick a particular one. Some of our teachers use a modified Erasmian, some use Lucian, and some use other historical reconstructions. If there is a pronunciation you are particularly interested in practicing, our teachers will be happy to help you do so. For the most part, we just want to make sure all of our students and teachers can understand each other when they’re speaking in Greek.

What's the best way to get to Eugene, OR?

Eugene has a small international airport (EUG). Flying into EUG is ideal, and if you do, we will pick you up and shuttle you to the camp location (University of Oregon). There is also an Amtrak train station in Eugene where we can pick you up and shuttle you to the university.

Portland, OR is 100 miles (160 km) from Eugene, and has a much bigger airport (PDX). It may be easier for you to arrange a flight into PDX. If you do that, getting to Eugene is your responsibility – we cannot come pick you up in Portland or in any other city.

Can I get college credit for attending Bible Camp?

That’s up to your college. We aren’t accredited and do not offer degrees. However, many undergraduate and graduate institutions have honored our classes for course credit. If this is something you’re interested in, we suggest reaching out to a professor or administrator at your home institution to see if they would be receptive. If they are, let us know and we’d be happy to help and provide anything you need to arrange for this.

Do I already need to be an Ancient Language Institute student in order to attend Bible Camp?

Nope – if you’ve studied Greek elsewhere, we’d love to have you.

Is Bible Camp open to current ALI Greek students?

Of course!

Where will we be staying? What will we be eating?

We will be staying in a very comfortable, up-to-date residence hall on the beautiful University of Oregon campus. You have the option of sharing a room with another camp participant, or paying extra for a single room. Three meals per day will also be covered, which will be served in a very nice dining facility on campus. Everything you need will be within walking distance.

How much progress will I have made by the end of Bible Camp?

That’s really hard to say. Everybody comes in at a different level, with different experiences, and with different aptitudes. We can’t guarantee a particular outcome for you, but we can guarantee that over the course of the 10 days we’re together, that we’ll do everything we can to help you grow in your Greek proficiency.

Is this camp open to high schoolers?

The minimum age for Bible Camp participants is 18 years old. This is due to our agreement with our host, the University of Oregon.

Bible Camp Application

Step 1 of 3

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone

Billing Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Refundable Deposit(Required)

Price:

We require a $100 deposit upon application. If you are accepted, we will credit this deposit for your overall balance for Bible Camp. If you are not accepted, we will refund the deposit in its entirety.

Total

Credit Card(Required)

American Express

Discover

MasterCard

Visa

Card Number

Expiration Date

Security Code Cardholder Name

Housing Preference(Required)

During Bible Camp, you will share a room on campus at the University of Oregon with a fellow Bible Camp participant of the same sex, or you can pay extra to have your own room.

Shared room ($1,500 total cost)

Single room ($1,800 total cost)

Previous Ancient Greek Experience(Required)

Studied Greek at ALI

Studied Greek elsewhere

Never studied Greek before

Which ALI class(es) have you taken?

Where did you study Greek, and how many classes did you take?

Where do you plan to take a Greek class in preparation for Bible Camp?

Bible Camp is geared towards late beginner - early advanced Greek students. We require all participants who have not yet studied Greek to take Greek 101 at ALI (or a similar class elsewhere) before Bible Camp begins in August 2023.

Sex(Required)

Male

Female

Goals(Required)

In a couple paragraphs, please describe your current Greek proficiency, your long-term goals for your Greek study, and how you think Bible Camp will help you progress toward meeting those goals.

Previous Study(Required)

Please describe the methods used in your previous instruction and study of Greek. Which books did you use? Which main concepts did you cover? Was the classroom grammar-focused or communicative-based (or something else)? If you haven't studied Greek yet, just write "n/a".

Reading the Bible(Required)

When reading the Greek New Testament, the Septuagint, or other Greek texts, what tools, dictionaries, or software do you use? If you haven't read the Greek Bible or other Greek texts yet, just write "n/a".

What works for you(Required)

What has been the most enjoyable part of your Greek study so far? What has worked really well? What has been the most challenging or disappointing? If you haven't studied Greek before, answer this question for any other language you've studied in the past.