Welcome to SPACE, our adult continuing education program which offers interactive monthly courses for personal enrichment! Learn more here.

April 2023June 2023

May 2023 Modules

Advanced Old English: Tolkien's Old English Poetry

Meeting Mondays & Wednesdays at 7:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 1, 3, 8, (skip 10, 15), 17, 22, 24, 29, 31
Most people know that J. R. R. Tolkien was a scholar as well as a writer of speculative fiction. His scholarship was extensive and one of his primary areas was Old English language and literature. But fewer fans know that he also composed poetry in Old English, especially in the early stages of his career. This module will attempt to gather and translate Tolkien's Old English poetry from the various sources in HoME and other sources where they are printed.
Precepted by Larry Swain

A Journey Through The History of Middle-earth: The Lost Road and Other Writings (HoMe 5)
(Section 1)
Continuing Series  Hybrid

Four 1-hour Webinars with James Tauber & John Garth, meeting on May 1 at 10:00 PM Eastern, May 8 at 3:00 PM Eastern; May 15 at 10:00 PM Eastern; May 22 at 10:00 PM Eastern.
Section 1: Meeting with Patrick Lyon on Thursdays at 10:00 PM (Eastern Time) on May 4, 11, 18, 25.
Christopher Tolkien’s twelve volumes on the History of Middle-earth give unparalleled insight into the development of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. They contain early drafts of familiar texts, different conceptualizations of well-known stories, and in some cases completely new material.

This module is part of a series of modules covering all twelve volumes of The History of Middle-earth. This particular module will provide an overview of Volume Five, The Lost Road and Other Writings, as well as readings from and discussion of highlights in that volume. It will include a guest appearance from Tolkien scholar John Garth.

Whether you’ve read the History of Middle-earth before or not, the hope is that these modules will make the volumes more accessible and will enhance your appreciation of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. There is no requirement that you do every single module in the series as each will be largely standalone, although in later modules, references will be made to earlier volumes.
Precepted by Patrick Lyon (Section 1) and James Tauber (Lecturer)

A Journey Through The History of Middle-earth: The Lost Road and Other Writings (HoMe 5)
(Section 2)
Continuing Series  Hybrid

Four 1-hour Webinars with James Tauber & John Garth, meeting on May 1 at 10:00 PM Eastern, May 8 at 3:00 PM Eastern; May 15 at 10:00 PM Eastern; May 22 at 10:00 PM Eastern.
Section 2: Meeting with Sara Brown on Thursdays at 11:00 AM (Eastern Time) on May 4, 11, 18, 25.
Christopher Tolkien’s twelve volumes on the History of Middle-earth give unparalleled insight into the development of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. They contain early drafts of familiar texts, different conceptualizations of well-known stories, and in some cases completely new material.

This module is part of a series of modules covering all twelve volumes of The History of Middle-earth. This particular module will provide an overview of Volume Five, The Lost Road and Other Writings, as well as readings from and discussion of highlights in that volume. It will include a guest appearance from Tolkien scholar John Garth.

Whether you’ve read the History of Middle-earth before or not, the hope is that these modules will make the volumes more accessible and will enhance your appreciation of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. There is no requirement that you do every single module in the series as each will be largely standalone, although in later modules, references will be made to earlier volumes.
Precepted by Sara Brown (Section 2) and James Tauber (Lecturer)

A Journey Through The History of Middle-earth: The Lost Road and Other Writings (HoMe 5)
(Section 3)
Continuing Series  Hybrid

Four 1-hour Webinars with James Tauber & John Garth, meeting on May 1 at 10:00 PM Eastern, May 8 at 3:00 PM Eastern; May 15 at 10:00 PM Eastern; May 22 at 10:00 PM Eastern.
Section 3: Meeting with Sara Brown on Thursdays at 3:00 PM (Eastern Time) on May 4, 11, 18, 25.
Christopher Tolkien’s twelve volumes on the History of Middle-earth give unparalleled insight into the development of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. They contain early drafts of familiar texts, different conceptualizations of well-known stories, and in some cases completely new material.

This module is part of a series of modules covering all twelve volumes of The History of Middle-earth. This particular module will provide an overview of Volume Five, The Lost Road and Other Writings, as well as readings from and discussion of highlights in that volume. It will include a guest appearance from Tolkien scholar John Garth.

Whether you’ve read the History of Middle-earth before or not, the hope is that these modules will make the volumes more accessible and will enhance your appreciation of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. There is no requirement that you do every single module in the series as each will be largely standalone, although in later modules, references will be made to earlier volumes.
Precepted by Sara Brown (Section 3) and James Tauber (Lecturer)

Beginning Greek 8
Continuing Series

Meeting Tuesdays & Thursdays at 9:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 2, 4, 9, (skip 11), 16, 18, 23, 25, 30
Want to read the NT in the original Greek? The Greek translation of the Old Testament? This module’s for you! We continue our study introducing learners to the basics of ancient Greek: the alphabet, introduction to the verb system (tenses and moods) and the noun system (the very helpful article, first and second declension). Over several modules, the students will learn the foundations of the language and then students will be able to read texts.
Precepted by Larry Swain

Book Club: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Ha! Ha! You’re Mine!

Meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 PM for eight 1-hour sessions meeting May 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25
Considered the first sci-fi novel, Frankenstein is much more than the famous monster who has entered pop culture. From philosophy to science, this novel deals with many issues, confuses the reader, and makes us wonder who the real hero is. We will discuss the themes, imagery, character development, and the many different allusions to other texts mentioned in the book in a relaxed and interactive way.
Precepted by Pilar Barrera

Book Club: J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring (Part One)
First in the Series Spotlight 

Meeting Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:00 AM Eastern for either 1-hour sessions on May 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24.
Join Ms. Elise for a cozy, relaxed Book Club series, where participants come to our Club meetings with their own reflections and discussion questions about the text. YOU get to guide the magic! In this module, our readings will specifically focus on Book I of The Lord of the Rings. Bring a cozy blanket, a cup of tea, and enjoy!
Precepted by Elise Trudel Cedeño

Creative Writing: Story Revision Workshop
Spotlight 

Meeting Mondays and Thursdays at 8:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25
We will meet to discuss strategies for revising a piece of writing, including finding your own vision for your story, big-picture developmental editing, and crafting scenes. Writers are encouraged to apply revision strategies between sessions and discuss their work during class if they want to share. Writers will also have the opportunity to explore different editing strategies to help them shape their story into their own vision.

Note: For more information about the Collaborative Feedback Method in SPACE, please check out our video here.
Precepted by Catherine Conners

Creative Writing: World-Building in Action

Meeting Mondays and Thursdays at 10:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25.


How do you world-build without losing your reader? In this module, we will consider techniques on the scene level to embed world-building seamlessly into your narrative without bogging the reader down in exposition. Considering examples from J.R.R. Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin and Frank Herbert, we will learn from the masters to bring your world to vivid life. Focusing on viewpoint, characterization, word choice, and narrative conflict, we will workshop how to draw your reader in and make your universe feel like a real place. No matter your genre, this module will enrich your commercial fiction and help make your vision a reality.


Note: For more information about the Collaborative Feedback Method in SPACE, please check out our video here.
Precepted by Julian Barr

Egyptian Hieroglyphs 2
Continuing Series

Meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25
The Hieroglyphics series will present students with a basic understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs, grammar, and knowledge about how to proceed with further study. In this sequence of courses we will discuss how to translate steles that you are likely to encounter in museums, as well as their cultural significance. As student progress, the class will tackle more complex translation. Each one-month module builds on the previous one, so students ready to learn Hieroglyphics will communicate with our Director and Professor Gaffney to make the right placement for everyone.
Precepted by Shawn Gaffney

Babylon 5: Who Are You?

Meeting Tuesdays & Fridays at 8:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26
The first of the two essential questions raised in Babylon 5, “Who are you” demands that listeners and respondents consider the nature of their own mortality and personhood, delving deeply into their multifaceted identities. This four-week seminar explores the responses to this question as given by six core members of the Babylon 5 universe and considers its presentation as a core Vorlon question, examining the world of Babylon 5 as a space of introspection and self-discovery.
Precepted by Faith Acker

Le Morte Darthur: Seeking the Holy Grail in Malory and Monty Python

The Holy Grail: Malory and Monty Python with Liam Daley Meeting Wednesdays and Fridays at 2:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 26, 31 (with a double session on 5, OR 12, OR 26 at the class' choice)
To achieve the Holy Grail, Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad and others must face formidable Black Knights, alluring temptresses, inscrutable hermits, and untold supernatural perils—in two works created five-hundred-and-five years apart.

“The Tale of the Sankgreal,” disseminated as part of Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur (1470) and the incontestable masterpiece of modern Arthurian cinema, Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) are arguably the most popular and influential versions of this story from a twenty-first century standpoint. These contrasting visions of the Grail Quest also share striking and unexpected similarities in terms of plot, form, and tone. This course looks closely at Malory’s text and the Pythons’ oddly-faithful film reinterpretation, side by side. In so doing, we explore what Arthur, the Grail, and the Middle Ages mean to modern audiences, and how changes in form and context radically shape how stories are told and understood.
Precepted by Liam Daley

Intermediate Latin Reading: Catullus

Meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 2, 4, 9, (skip 11), 16, 18, 23, 25, 30.
This course is for those who have had beginning Latin and are ready to move on into reading and translating classical Latin authors.
Precepted by Larry Swain

Japanese for Beginners 5
Continuing Series

Meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25
In this series of modules, you will get familiarized with basic Japanese vocabulary and structures. Using a communicative approach, you’ll learn basic expressions, start to learn the hiragana script, and recognize katakana and kanji in a fun and interactive way. We will also explore Japanese culture in general. いっしょに日本語を学びましょう!
Precepted by Pilar Barrera

Korean for Beginners 2
Continuing Series

Meeting Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions, with classes on May 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24
Having completed our study of Hangeul and introduced formal speech (하십시오체), we will continue working primarily with formal speech and the "casually polite" (해요체) as we move into more everyday subjects. Following the Yonsei Korean 1-1 textbook, we will focus on the "Family and Friends" and "Food" units, respectively. Though reading, writing, listening, and speaking will all be covered, this module will have a slight emphasis on conversation.
Precepted by Sam Roche

Latin in a Year 5
Continuing Series

Meeting Tuesdays & Fridays at 6:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26
This fifth unit of Signum SPACE’s Latin in a Year sequence expects students to be familiar with active verb conjugations in all six tenses; nouns and adjectives in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd declensions; and personal, reflexive, and demonstrative pronouns. During this fifth month, students will work through five chapters of Wheelock’s Latin, completing the grammar and material in the first half of the textbook (through Chapter 20) in the process. This segment covers relative pronouns, all passive indicative verb forms, and fourth declension noun endings. This unit also provides a sound review and a good starting point for students who completed the Latin I MA class at Signum University and wish to continue the study of Latin at a comparatively gentler pace.
Precepted by Faith Acker

Old English 1
First in the Series Spotlight 

Meeting Mondays and Thursdays at 10:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25
Ready to begin learning Old English? This series of modules introduces students to the vocabulary and structure of the earliest recorded form of the English language. One year of modules prepares the student to read texts from over a thousand years ago! Each one-month module builds on the previous one, so students ready to learn Old English will communicate with our Director and Professor Swain to make the right placement for everyone.
Precepted by Isaac Schendel

Old English 5
Continuing Series

Meeting Tuesdays and Fridays at 7:00 PM Eastern for eight one-hour sessions on May 2, 5, 9, (skip 12), 16, 19, 23, 26, 30
Ready to begin learning Old English? This series of modules introduces students to the vocabulary and structure of the earliest recorded form of the English language. One year of modules prepares the student to read texts from over a thousand years ago! Each one-month module builds on the previous one, so students ready to learn Old English will communicate with our Director and Professor Swain to make the right placement for everyone.
Precepted by Larry Swain

Old Norse Sagas in Translation: Sagas of Heroic Legend

Meeting Mondays and Thursdays at 6:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25
(Note: This module explores these texts in English, so no experience in Old Norse is necessary.)

Somewhere between the historical and the fantastic are the traditions of heroic legend, telling of extraordinary men and women whose triumphs and tragedies are writ larger than those of everyday life. In medieval Scandinavia, sagas of heroic legend such as The Saga of the Volsungs, The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok, The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki, and The Saga of Hervor and King Heidrek retold already ancient stories in the new prose styles of the Middle Ages. Bravery and knavery; loyalty and treachery; magic and the mundane, horror and hope; these tales’ themes have enthralled audiences for more than a thousand years and played an outsized role in the birth of modern fantasy literature.
Precepted by Carl Anderson

Plant-based Entheogens, Shapers of History and Consciousness

Meeting Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:00 PM for eight 1-hour sessions on May 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24
In this module we will explore the roles that various plant-based entheogens have played, actively and passively, in shaping human consciousness and history. Tea, coffee, chocolate, nutmeg, cannabis, coca, alcohol, opium, pipe-weed (tobacco), and ayahuasca will all be discussed, both in their historical contexts and for their entheogenic properties. Time permitting, we can cover more.
Precepted by Robert Steed

Readings in Middle High German: Orendel

Meeting Mondays and Fridays at 8:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, and 26.
This module, which builds on the skills taught in previous Middle High German Modules, looks at a representative of the Medieval German so-called Spielmannsdichtung genre of short epics: Orendel. The titular hero of the epic, distantly related to the Old Norse Aurvandill, is a King with a fairy-tale mission to woo the beautiful Bride. He undergoes a number of adventures, including the discovery of Christ’s Tunic, in a paradigmatic example of a medieval Bridal Quest.

This module will both look at the poem as literature and as a chance for interested students to continue perfecting their Middle High German reading skills. We will devote ourselves to a close, philological reading of the most important passages in the text.

This module is intended both for veterans of Middle High German and for beginners. If any beginners enroll, the discussion of MHG verse will focus a bit more on foundational grammatical concepts, but there will still be enough to interest and challenge advanced MHG readers.

Discussions of the text will also look at it from a variety of perspectives, including: What is the Spielmannsdichtung genre? How do the Christian Faith and Bridal Quest narratives, which spring from two different cultural traditions, mesh? Does Orendel actually resemble in any way Aurvandill, or should questions of “Germanic origin” be put to bed? And are there any intertextual connections between this poem and other monuments of Medieval Literature?
Precepted by Isaac Schendel

Such an Odyssey 1
First in the Series Spotlight 

Meeting Tuesdays & Thursdays at 7:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on May 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25
This 6-module series will work slowly through the 24 books of Homer’s Odyssey. Each week we will read one book of the Odyssey aloud together, comparing editions and language and then discussing translation choices, plot development, character and setting descriptions, and overall themes. With two hours to spend on each book, students can enjoy a slow reading pace, little to no homework, and lots of class discussion.
Precepted by Faith Acker
If you have any questions about the SPACE program, please reach out to [email protected].