Preparing for Reading Exams

[bucketsofrain]

I was just wondering how you prepared/are planning to prepare for the Greek and Latin reading exams. My PhD program is a bit unusual in that the reading list is shorter than it is at other schools, but I start taking the reading exams at the end of my first year and have to pass by the end of my second. Therefore, I really want to start preparing this summer and make the most of my time. I know how to manage smaller amounts of text for courses, but I've never had any experience with having to know so much text. Should I print out all the text and write on that? Actually write out all my translations? Thanks for any help; I want to be as prepared as possible going into my first year.

[non humilis mulier]

I don't think it's particularly unusual to take both your exams by the end of your second year. I'm going to try to read everything in the Loeb over the summer, and hit the major areas of literature that I haven't had exposure to yet -- for example, I have only read Euripides in translation, so I'm going to read one of his plays. Instead of reading one or two authors in depth, I'm going to try to get to the authors I'm unfamiliar with. I'm keeping two notebooks -- one to take notes on literary and historical aspects of the text, and another to write down strange vocabulary and tough grammatical constructions. I wouldn't recommend writing out translations and printing out text.

[Frostfire]

Definitely make sure you've read everything in translation, at the least. Depending on your skill level, you may or may not feel a need to work through in the original as well. But one thing I can't recommend enough is this. As soon as you get to your institution, sit down with the department chair and/or grad advisor and discuss what the expectations are for the exam! The only thing worse than not passing is realizing that you didn't pass because you approached the exam "wrong."

As an example, at the department where I'm doing my master's, the very same approach that has served me splendidly for six years worth of language classes (5+ at the "translation" level), set me up for failure at the MA language exam. So see if you can try a practice run, or see examples of work at the various "grades" possible on the exam, or perhaps a detailed explaination of how they're graded. And make sure you know how many shots you get at taking an exam before you run into administrative issues! Hopefully you shouldn't need to worry about that, but knowing before is always better than finding out after.

Beyond that issue, focus on vocab and grammar, rather than on having a "canned" translation.