Step into the language of the Anglo-Saxons and learn Old English as a living, structured language.
This course is a long-term, mastery-driven program designed for students who want real competence: the ability to read, write, analyze, and ultimately think in Old English.
The Structure
The course is divided into six levels:
- A1 and A2 — 5 months to 1 year
- B1, B2, C1, and C2 — 5 months to 1 year each
This pacing allows deep assimilation rather than superficial exposure. You are not rushed; you build solid foundations and then expand them systematically.
What you gain at each stage
A1 – Foundations of the language
At this level, you enter the world of Old English step by step. You will:
- Write in runes and recognize medieval calligraphy
- Form correct sentences in past, present, and future
- Learn 30+ Old English personal names and the etymology of 15+ place names
- Use an Old English dictionary independently
- Decipher real runic inscriptions found on historical monuments
- Understand Anglo-Saxon social hierarchy
- Explore Christianity and Germanic paganism in the Middle Ages
- Make meaningful connections between Old English and Modern English
- Compare Old English with other languages
This level gives you cultural depth and linguistic control from the start.
A2 – Immersion
At A2, the course undergoes a major shift:
- Classes are taught almost entirely in Old English (optional)
- You stop translating from Modern English and begin thinking directly in Old English (optional)
- You read simple prose without a dictionary
- You read Anglo-Saxon poetry (including Beowulf) with dictionary support
This is where Old English stops being a subject and starts becoming a language you inhabit.
B1 – Independent reading and expression
By the end of B1, you:
- Read most prose and poetry without a dictionary
- Understand and analyze legal texts
- Have full control of the subjunctive mood
- Use indirect speech confidently
- You deepen your knowledge of scribal calligraphy
- You memorize and actively use all runes
- You expand comparative work with other languages
You now read Old English as medieval readers did—not word by word, but as coherent discourse.
B2 – Total linguistic command
At B2, students reach a rare level of competence:
- Read any Old English text without a dictionary
- Use advanced word order and inversion
- Master indirect speech at a high level
- Reconstruct Old English phonology from Proto-Germanic
- Trace words from Old English to Modern English, step by step
This level connects language, history, and sound change into a single coherent system.
C1 – Comparative linguistics
At C1, scholarly work begins:
- Systematic comparison with Gothic, Latin, Old Norse, Old High German, Ancient Greek, Hittite, and Old Irish
- Deep understanding of historical linguistics
- Creation and evaluation of neologisms in Old English
You are no longer just a learner—you are working as if you were a historical linguist.
C2 – Academic mastery
At the final level, students are able to:
- Handle the language with full academic rigor
- Engage critically with primary sources and research traditions
This level prepares you for publication-level scholarship or advanced academic work.
The Method
The method is immersive, active, and deliberately demanding.
- A1 uses a question-and-answer approach, dialogue, and a role-playing game set in medieval scenarios. Progress in the story depends on your ability to use Old English.
- A2 drastically reduces Modern English and shifts toward full immersion
- From B2 onward, the course is conducted entirely in Old English
Evaluation, Certification, and Progression
Each level of the course (starting at A2) concludes with a comprehensive final exam designed to mirror the structure of international language proficiency tests used for modern languages.
Exam format
Students are evaluated in all four core competencies:
- Reading – comprehension and analysis of prose, poetry, and other texts appropriate to the level
- Writing – controlled and free production in Old English
- Listening – understanding spoken Old English in dialogue and narrative contexts
- Speaking – active use of the language in structured and spontaneous interaction
This ensures that progress is measured not only through theoretical knowledge, but through real communicative ability.
Certification
- Upon successfully passing the exam, students receive a certificate of completion corresponding to their level.
- Certificates attest to the student’s proficiency and reflect the same skill-based evaluation standards used in internationally recognized language exams.
Why this matters
This system guarantees:
- Clear, objective benchmarks for progress
- Consistency across levels
- Recognition of Old English as a language that can be learned, used, and assessed with the same rigor as any modern language
Payment & Enrollment
To keep the course accessible and transparent, payment is handled in a simple and flexible way.
Trial class
- The first class is paid after it is taken.
This allows you to experience the method and decide calmly whether the course matches what you are looking for before committing.
Monthly payment structure
- After the first class, classes are paid in advance on a monthly basis.
- Monthly fees depend on how many classes you choose to take.
You can choose between two options:
- 4 grammar classes per month
- 4 grammar classes + 4 vocabulary classes per month
Each class costs $40 USD.
We do not charge for teaching materials (unless the student specifically requests a printed book).
Class types
- Grammar classes are conducted as dialogues, focusing on active use of Old English in structured interaction.
- Vocabulary classes are game-based, designed to reinforce lexical knowledge in a dynamic and memorable way.
Payment method
- All payments are made via PayPal (or other payment method).
- Payment and receipt issuance take place after registration, not before. Once you register, you will receive instructions and confirmation.
Flexibility and support
- If you cannot attend a class, you may cancel and retake it as long as you notify me at least 24 hours before the class begins.
- Every student has the right to two remedial classes per month at no additional cost if extra support is needed.
Community access
- If you wish, you can be added to:
- A WhatsApp group
- A Discord server
These spaces allow you to interact with other students, practice the language, ask questions, and stay connected outside class time.
Registration is required before any payment is made.
Once registered, you will receive payment details and your receipt, and you can choose whether to join the student groups.
This structure ensures fairness, flexibility, and steady progress—while giving you full control over your learning pace.
Scholarship Program – Universal Access to Old English
We believe that education should be driven by talent, dedication, and curiosity—not only by financial circumstance. For this reason, the Old English course offers a scholarship program aimed at students who would otherwise be unable to participate.
How the scholarship works
- Each semester, one student may be selected to attend the course free of charge.
- Applicants must provide official proof that they are under the poverty line in their country.
- Eligible candidates will:
- Take an entrance test
- Participate in an interview
Both stages are designed to assess motivation, aptitude, and commitment rather than prior academic privilege.
Duration and renewal
- The scholarship covers one full semester.
- If the student achieves scores above 90% during that semester, they may reapply for a scholarship in the following semester.
- Renewal is not automatic and depends on both academic performance and continued eligibility.
Our commitment
This program exists because we believe in:
- Universal access to education
- The promotion of talent over financial condition
- Supporting students who show exceptional dedication and ability, regardless of background
Old English belongs to everyone who is willing to engage deeply with it. This scholarship is one way we ensure that financial barriers do not silence promising voices.
Applications are open each semester.
If you believe this opportunity is meant for you, we encourage you to apply.