Daniël Bartelds is a researcher at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society.

More information about Daniël Bartelds

Fields of interest

• Lexicography
• Dictionary use
• Secondary school teaching
• Classical Greek linguistics
• Ancient Greek philosophy

Description of my research

In teaching Greek and Latin to secondary school pupils,00 the biggest challenge is perhaps the current gap between, on the one hand, translating, and on the other hand, understanding authentic Classical texts. Pupils tend to translate mechanically, without understanding the content of the text. Numerous didactic initiatives have attempted to close this gap, but have mostly overlooked pupils’ most prominent ‘strategy’ in translating: the use of a dictionary. The rather destructive and excessive way in which pupils use their dictionary plays a crucial role in their mechanical approach to a Classical text. Surprisingly, Greek and Latin textbooks hardly pay attention to dictionary use. This is a missed opportunity: if pupils use a dictionary effectively, the gap between translating and understanding could be considerably reduced. 

My research project consists of a number of empirical studies aimed at analysing how pupils (mis)use dictionaries while translating Greek and Latin. By selecting a series of activities that contribute to successful dictionary use, I will design a didactic module. This module will be further tested experimentally and will form the basis of a more extensive didactic approach to dictionary use in Classical education.

CV

2017-present

PhD Candidate (funded by the DUDOC-ALFA project for teachers) in dictionary use by secondary school pupils while translating Greek and Latin texts (Leiden University)

2010-2011

MA teaching qualification in Greek and Latin (cum laude, Leiden University/ICLON)

2006-2009

MPhil (ReMa) in Classics (Leiden University, Cambridge University)

2001-2006

BA Classics (Leiden University) 

PhD Supervision

• Prof. dr. I. Sluiter
• Dr. S.M. Adema