(Re)Active Latin: Computational Chat as Future Colloquia

Authors

Patrick J. Burns, Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York UniversityFollow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.52284/NECJ.51.1.article.burns

Publication Date

5-29-2024

Abstract

What do chatbots have to do with the teaching of Latin? In taking up such a question, this article has two goals: 1. to situate computational chat, and ChatGPT specifically, as a technological next step in a tradition—from the colloquia scholastica to active Latin—of dialogue as a primary mode of teaching the language; and 2. to argue that large language models can bolster Latin pedagogy by providing ubiquitous, on-demand, contextually responsive interlocutors for language practice. I discuss conversation-based classroom activities drawn from recent Latin pedagogical literature and demonstrate how they can be adapted to chat. A conclusion argues for deeper interdisciplinary collaboration between classics and computer science as a way to leverage recent innovations while ensuring that technologies are “fine-tuned” to teaching expectations within the field.

First Page

1

Last Page

18

Recommended Citation

Burns, Patrick J. (2024) "(Re)Active Latin: Computational Chat as Future Colloquia," New England Classical Journal: Vol. 51 : Iss. 1 , 1-18.

https://doi.org/10.52284/NECJ.51.1.article.burns

Keywords

Latin pedagogy, active Latin, ChatGPT, large language models, colloquia scholastica, Digital Humanities