Diane asked me about studying Latin online. Are you interested, Diane? We could email each other in Latin. Of course, we can only discuss God and slaughtering the Gauls, but it's a start.
I am teaching myself Latin, using Henle Latin. This is an overwhelmingly Catholic text. There are several secular Latin textbooks available, and at first I thought about switching. The reason I haven't is that I'm having fun with Henle. Henle Latin moves in small steps, giving you plenty of practice to master each step before you move on to the next. He presents translation and short readings almost immediately, to let you feel that you are really reading/writing Latin. There are some straight grammar exercises, but most of the work is English to Latin or Latin to English translation. The vocabulary in the first book is restricted, to enable the student to master the grammar without the hindrance of trying to learn thousands of vocabulary words at the same time. This makes the process a bit easier, but it also means that every exercise is either about Christianity or war. I figure in another year I'll be able to read Caesar's Gallic Wars and understand a Latin mass. Come to think of it, those skills should also enable me to write a Latin review of the Dark Materials trilogy.
I'm up to lesson 115 and so far the work has gotten a little tricky, requiring some concentration, but it has not been hard. I'm working along with an answer key, and the Henle Latin Yahoo groups. The Yahoo groups are small groups of students working on the same section of Henle Latin, and a knowledgable moderator who can answer practically any question you can throw at her. The text and answer key are set up so well, however, that I've only needed to use her help a couple of times.
It's fun. I always wanted to learn Latin, and Greek, but thought I'd have to go to school to do it. Who else is learning?
Posted by Steph at November 11, 2004 10:33 PMI've officially entered "the fog" - that section of Henle where all the verb forms start to run together into a shapeless, gray mass. Is that a 4th conjugation future passive? What was the perfect stem for that 3rd conjugation verb again? But it's all worth it: I just read how the Romans finally defeated Hannibal and his elephanti (elephantos?), complete with diagrams. So if your boys ever want to play Romans and Carthaginians, you'll know what to do!
Posted by: Mungo on November 12, 2004 06:49 AMKeep talking. I almost signed up, but had this nifty 1940's Latin text book from one of my siblings... and that, um, didn't last long. So keep talking. I want to know more!
Dy
very cool. thank you for the write up. Rachel's been asking me about people that can speak 2 languages - LOTS of hispanic population in my city. So of course, Spanish would be the most sensible language to teach her; including that I've got 7 yrs of school Spanish and Mike's got some, plus lots of kitchen Spanish and not to mention he works/supports the systems at "El Tiempo Latino".
But I've always wanted to learn Latin and thought it might be a good place to start with her and Zachary cause he won't let Rachel learn alone anymore!
I'm not thrilled at the idea of the Christianity side of it - Rachel is pretty well set for now in her ideas of God and religion, Zachary is not.
Is this more of an adult thing? Or could I use it with the children?
Posted by: diane on November 13, 2004 12:40 AMDiane,
Henle is more for adults or older children. For Rachel, you'd probably want to look into Prima Latina. It's also a Catholic publication, but it's easy to leave out the Christian parts. There is some religious vocabulary (words for God, Jesus, Heaven) and some prayers to memorize. So just skip those, if you like. We're learning all the vocab and about half the prayers. Aidan is doing Prima Latina orally. It's a very easy intro to Latin for kids.
Connor is doing the next step up, Latina Christiana I. Go to Memoria Press' website for info on these programs.
You do have other options. You might want to look at English From the Roots Up, which just teaches Greek and Latin roots. There are also several other beginning Latin programs available for kids: Matin Latin, Latin for Children, Latin Primer. And Minimus, which is in a cartoon format. If you go to the Well Trained Mind message boards and search the boards for Latin programs, you will find tons of opinions and reviews on every program.
Spanish will certainly be more useful to the kids in everyday life. Mine are learning Spanish too, in a very casual way. We'll study it more formally later. We are learning Latin not to converse with others, since no country speaks Latin, but to 1) train their minds in a certain way, and 2) to better understand our own language. Plus, it's fun. Well, I think so.
So my kids are in Prima and LCI, and I am using Henle to learn Latin for myself. Connor will finish LC I and then go on to LC II, and then start Henle himself. We'll start formal Spanish ... I don't know. Later. Maybe in 5th grade. I expect it to be easy to pick up after learning Latin.
Posted by: Stephanie on November 13, 2004 11:32 AMMungo, I can see that fog approaching, but I'm heading into it fearlessly ;-) We'll see how it goes.
Dy ... every other Latin book I've looked at has either lost me or bored me silly in very short order. Henle's set up just really works for me. What more do you want to know? Want to see a sample lesson?
Posted by: Stephanie on November 13, 2004 11:39 AMI would LOVE to! Please. :-)
I need to work on my own self-discipline in studies. As the boys get older and in more need of actual, *ahem* study time... I don't want to be bouncing around them, whispering, "Are ya done yet? Huh? Huh? Are ya? Wanna go for a walk? Wanna bake cookies?" That will be easier to avoid if I have developed good study habits, and a long-term investment of my own learning.
I've already begun by taking notes on the meatier books I'm reading. *whine* It... hurts... it's taking... energy... AIIGH!
OK, all better now. :-)
Dy