July 7-11, 2025
Teaching Through Immersion Conference
Learn How to Teach Latin and Ancient Greek Through Total Immersion
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Why Teach Through Immersion?
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“Long is the road [of learning] through rules, short and effective through examples” - Seneca
For decades, teaching foreign languages using full immersion has proven to be one of the most effective and engaging methods.
This approach allows students to experience the language as a living medium of communication rather than as a static set of rules. Yet, for many educators, the transition to full immersion can feel intimidating.
How do you create a classroom environment where only the target language is spoken? What about ancient languages like Latin and Greek—can they be taught this way? Full immersion, when thoughtfully applied, transforms the learning process, making even classical languages come alive in a dynamic and rigorous way.
What to Expect
CEPS at the University of Austin, in collaboration with the world-renowned Polis Institute of Jerusalem is organizing a five-day conference for Latin and ancient Greek teachers to explore innovative teaching methods, develop practical classroom strategies, and gain the confidence to implement full-immersion approaches effectively.
This conference addresses the practical challenges and questions many teachers face when considering full immersion:
Participants will gain hands-on training from world-class instructors on how to teach Latin and ancient Greek through an immersive, spoken method. Whether you are an experienced educator or just starting your journey in classical languages, this conference will provide you with practical tools, innovative strategies, and a deeper understanding of why immersion is the key to successful language teaching.
About the Polis Method
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The Polis Method combines the science of second language acquisition with the historical pedagogy of classical languages, creating an immersive environment where learning happens naturally and effectively.
The core principles of the Polis Method include:
This proven method has empowered educators worldwide to transform their classrooms into vibrant, immersive learning spaces. By the end of the conference, you’ll not only understand the principles of the Polis Method but also have the tools to implement them confidently in your own teaching.
instructors
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Guillermo Dillon is the Senior Consultant for Polis Method Implementation in North America. He has taught Latin through the communicative method for over six years. Guillermo holds a B.A. in Classics from Trinity College Dublin and an M.A. in Classics from the University of Kentucky (where he studied spoken Latin at the Institutum Studiis Latinis Provehendis). He is currently cowriting the Teacher’s Guide for the latest Latin book published by the Polis Institute Press, Unus, Duo, Tres. Latine Loquamur Per Scaenas et Imagines.
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Christophe Rico is a French linguist. He holds a PhD in Greek linguistics (University of Sorbonne, 1992) and the official French accreditation to direct doctoral research (University of Strasbourg, 2011). He is a professor of Greek Philology at the Ecole Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem. Since 2011, he has been the dean of the Polis Institute. He has published several language methods and books on Greek and Hebrew philology as well as many articles on general linguistics, ancient Greek linguistics, semantics, translations studies, and second language acquisition.
register
The Center for Education and Public Service Incubator at UATX is pleased to partner with the Polis Institute by offering registration at the discounted rate of $980 $500 to teachers who apply by Monday March 31st.
For those who need additional financial assistance, a limited number of partial or full scholarships are available. To apply, please email guillermo.dillon@polisjerusalem.org with details about your circumstances. We will consider each request on a case-by-case basis.
To learn more about the conference, or for any specific questions, please contact Guillermo Dillon at guillermo.dillon@polisjerusalem.org.