Under normal circumstances, all students who have passed their general examinations are required to teach as assistants in instruction sometime in their last five semesters, normally in the fourth year of enrollment. Most students act as AIs in two courses in that period, some in three, but rarely in more, since at the same time they are encouraged to continue attending seminars and they must choose and pursue a dissertation subject, and prepare for the job market.

Teaching is normally of two kinds. Most students will act as section leaders (preceptors) in large undergraduate lecture courses in translation, particularly in the survey courses in Greek and Roman history; in the introductory literary courses titled Homer and the Tragic Vision, The Ancient Comic Tradition, or Classical Mythology; and often in slightly smaller courses such as Sex and Gender in the Ancient World, Ancient Philosophy, Roman Law, or Greek Drama. Such teaching typically might involve two one-hour precepts (discussion groups) per week with 10 to 15 undergraduates in each, reading of student papers and conferences with their authors, and working with the faculty member in setting and grading assignments and examinations.  Each year some students are also asked to teach beginning-level Latin and Greek courses, under the general supervision of a faculty member with whom they work closely.

Teaching is assigned by the Chair in consultation with the DGS and the Departmental Representative. Every effort will be made to give students varied and profitable experience, including as far as possible the opportunity to teach the ancient languages. Teaching is normally scheduled after candidates have passed their general examinations. However, students are encouraged to precept for one of the four undergraduate history courses in preparation for their general examination in history.