I'd like to teach my children Latin. However, I've never taken a Latin class, so I'll need to learn it as well. It would probably work well if I stay one or two lessons ahead of the children, so I can answer their questions as they learn, etc.
Have any of you taken Latin? What books/software/whatever would you reccommend?
A lot of the time, a variety of different foreign language texts are published in the same style by the same publisher. If you've taken a different language, which text did you use? Was it effective? Did you enjoy it?
Thanks.
Posted by Lady Jane (Member # 7249) on :
Wheelock Latin - fabulous Latin textbook. I retaught Latin to myself after a year and a half break caused me to forget everything.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Yup. Wheelock's is the standard, and it is quite easy to follow.
Posted by Lady Jane (Member # 7249) on :
I have a old 1920-something Latin textbook that was my grandma's from when she was taught Latin in the old one-room schoolhouse on the prairie.
It looks like a cool thing to learn. Perhaps I should see if I could teach myself it from the book. (although I wouldn't know the pronounciations)
FG
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I loved Latin. I never got to use it, but check out Minimus! I hear it's a really successful way to get started with elementary school kids (not sure how old yours are). It can introduce the basics, and from there, you can go on to a more conventional Latin text and possibly workbook.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
OK, Boon, I have an idea. I will have to run it by my dad, though. He is retiring after 45 years of teaching this year. He has already started to worry about his next job. I am quite sure he will end up teaching somewhere else, either as a sub or tutor.
Anyway, I think he would think it was really fun to tutor you and your kids over the Internet. (free) He has taught Latin off and on over all those years, also English and US History.
Let me know what you think about this idea before ask him. I think it would be the cutest thing ever.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, and we used Wheelock's in my HS, but I hear Oxford is also very good.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I think it would be really good for kids to learn latin, I took it in high school and had issues that probably would have helped had we been explained teeny bits in elementary school (this is not to turn into a "well school funding" thing)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
The Minimus program is designed for non-specialist teachers and for kids 7-10. Minimus Secundus picks up after that from 10-13. I think I will look into it for my kids when they're that age.
[ March 28, 2005, 01:59 PM: Message edited by: ketchupqueen ]
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Free tutoring? I'd be an idiot not to take you up on that. If he doesn't want to do it, that's okay...but it sounds AWESOME!
Thanks all for your input so far...I guess I just need to shop for some books. I'm going to the book depository later this week to see what they have (for free!).
If I can't find anything there, I'll probably be looking at buying some textbooks, workbooks, and maybe some audiobooks or something in Latin.
Ooooh...I wonder if the library has anything...
*off to check*
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
I am really likign the Minimus site! I had pretty much decided I needed to find a Latin tutor becuas the idea of learning and teaching it is so intimidating...this looks easy and even fairly affordable!!
But, it looks like it has to be ordered from the UK.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
You can buy many of them cheaper than new through Amazon. Go to Amazon and search "Minimus", and you'll come up with several matches.
[ March 28, 2005, 02:09 PM: Message edited by: ketchupqueen ]
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
That's going on my "Honey, I need some money to buy curriculum" list.
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
Cool, thanks Boon!
Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
You can use this as an incentive. I got it for my cousin who is taking Latin (in high school).
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Hey! eBay has Minimus Pupil's Book and Minimus Secundus at "buy it now" for $11.97 each. Be sure to check on shipping & handling prices as well, though.
[ March 28, 2005, 02:17 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I was always a fan of Winnie Ille Pu. That's how I kept my Latin up over the summer each year. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Side note: who knew there were so many Latin freaks on Hatrack? Were any of you in the JCL? Those are my favorite HS memories-- in fact, some of the only really good ones I have.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Latin? Latin's boring - learn Greek!
But in the interest of being on-topic... I'm learning out of Wheelock right now. I'm not terribly fond of its organization, but it's far from the worst foreign language text I've ever used (and yes, there have been a lot). I think I've heard worse things about Oxford, though.
Ah, well. After this semester, I start reading "real" Latin. But Greek is still better.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Latin is more beneficial, especially if you're planning on a career in the science field.
-Trevor
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I always wanted to learn both, actually, but my HS only offered Latin.
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
Oh, Matthew would love Harrius Potter! As long as some one besides me gives it to him; he won't read books I suggest or give to him. I buy him cool books, give them to the neighbor boy, and have him hand them down to Matthew. Then he loves them.
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
quote:Latin is more beneficial, especially if you're planning on a career in the science field.
And Greek is more fulfilling, especially if you are planning to live a rich life.
That said, I'm taking an intensive Latin series this summer.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Yeah, well...I need to teach them Spanish too.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Ketchupqueesn, I was(am am, as it is a lifetime membership)a member of the Junior Classical League. I think I still have my card somewhere.
Gaudeamus igitur!
(We sang it, and carried Mr. Houle (Magister Houlicus) through the cafeteria on a litter.)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
We were all about the conventions. We went to SCRAM every year, as well as the Western conference (living in the LA area, we didn't have to do fundraisers or anything to attend, just get parents to drive and pay about $10 each. I made costumes for us each year for toga day, so we wouldn't be going around in sheets, and we had t-shirts made. (Other people made fun of our authentic Roman dress, but the organizers saw it and gave us a special recognition award. So there.) We were a small enough branch that we each had a customized t-shirt with our name on it, and one of the girls had a dad who was a graphic artist, and he designed the shirts for us. It so rocked. And my brother still has the "fresco" I made him with a "Roman-style" alien on it. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
And then there was the year that two of the boys did an English/Latin rap about being in Latin Club and the JCL for the "gong show". You should have seen the look on the teacher's face when she asked what they were arguing about, and found out it was what the best translation of "mofo" was... She was from Germany, and used to swear at the class in German when she got really mad. Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
kq!!
I think a good grounding in both Latin and Greek roots, if nothing else, is essential. I'm planning to do English from the Roots Up next year, and I have been told from teenagers who used that course that it makes the verbal portion of SAT much easier.
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
For Latin, I'd have to say Wheelock as well, mostly because it's the only one I've used. I found it easy to follow though. There's a good website from U of Victoria with quizzes etc. based on the Wheelock scheme that we used along with the book in my class. I found it really helpful for studying.
(However, I must add that I agree with Carrie in that Greek is most definitely where it's at. Nice to have company, Carrie! I believe I'm still the only person in my entire University that prefers Greek over Latin. It's so much more fun and interesting. And I also really dislike the sound of Classical Latin.)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Wow! I just took some of the quizzes, and I still remember some of my Latin!
(Not enough, though. I really ought to brush up.)
Posted by Kamui (Member # 7619) on :
Not to distract from latin, but I've been looking to learn Japanese, anybody know a good book or maybe some website I could learn from? everything i've found is just basic 2 page introductions for you to pay outrageous sums of money to buy some course.
(Figured I could save some space and throw this in here)
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
If it were me, I think I'd take six weeks to get myself ramped up on Latin before starting the kids. I took four years of Latin in High School. The thing is, adults are actually better at picking up language (apart from pronunciation) than children. Don't limit yourself to the same lesson pace they are going at.
Also, if you are determined to teach them Latin and Spanish, maybe you should do a year of Spanish first and then do the Latin. Depends, how well do you know Spanish?
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
Kamui, is your name supposed to be Japanese or the first person singular perfect tense of Kameo? Meaning: to Kama. I suck.
P.S. Which is to say I suck, not that Kama means to suck. Gah, nevermind.
[ March 28, 2005, 08:35 PM: Message edited by: mothertree ]
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
Without even asking what Kama means to suck, I'll just say that the only meaning for "Kamui" I know of is "god" or "gods" in the Ainu language.
Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
Regarding Latin:
The Cambridge Latin Course Book (I think that's the title, it's by Cambridge uni).
A fantastic book starting from the basics using a intresting and developing plot.
JH
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Kamare
Kamo Kamas Kamat Kamamus Kamatis Kamant
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
Non Kamabimus!
It's sort of a dream of mine to learn to speak Latin fluently, then marry a woman who can also speak it fluently, and raise our children to be bilingual so that English and Latin are both their native languages.
I wonder how you say "major dork" in Latin. . . .
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
There's a Living Latin program in Rome or somewhere thereabouts. It's taught by a monk. You have to pass entrance tests to get in, but once you do, it's free, you just pay for your airfare and such. It's every summer, I believe, very intensive, for several weeks. You have to have something like the equivalent of 2 years of college Latin or about 4 of HS to pass the tests, I've heard, but it's awesome, absolutely awesome.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
My dad went to that program last summer, Ketchupqueen. Father Reggie is his named. Reginald Foster.(not my dad's name)
It was, indeed, very intense. He loved it, but he was 68. Most of the students were younger, and had a blast.
[ March 29, 2005, 07:51 AM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
There's also a Classics department here that only speaks Latin. I think it's Kentucky, but I'm not positive on that.
Posted by Audeo (Member # 5130) on :
The University of Kentucky Classical Department holds a week-long summer convention where only Latin is spoken. As far as learning it, the Minimus series looks great for kids. I wish I had used it. You can also get Dr. Seuss in Latin, which is a little strange because he makes up half of his English words to begin with. I have Virent Ova Viret Perna (Green Eggs and Ham), which is fun even if I've never seen any of the words from it in my more classical Latin.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Boon, My dad is in! He loved the idea of online tutoring, and even wants to start a website. (keep in mind that he has only recently figured out how to generate his own email.) So, email me(edob63@yahoo.com) and I will hook you guys up.
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
Liz, let me know if he actually gets a website started. As soon as I get the money together, I am going to get the Minimus curriculum.
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
I love Latin. Ahh.. language of the Eternal City! My friend Joey and I got our college to open up a Latin course when we found out they didn't offer it. They said "just find 6 students who want it and we'll get a professor". I think 100 signed up in the end. Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
I used Wheelock's Latin. You can buy the workbook to go along with it, and it has a companion book of short Latin stories. Also, you can find oodles of drill and quiz sites out there.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
We used the workbook in my HS class. It's pretty well done for a standard workbook. It's about what dittoes would be if we'd used them instead, but in workbook form.
Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
Just had to chime in: another Wheelock's fan here. There were something like three years between when I took my first semester of Latin and the second semester, and I actually did better in the second semester. It also helped that I had a great teacher the second semester.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
As I mentioned to Boon, my father is the Ultimate School Scavenger. he works in a private school where supplies and personal items are discarded with abandon. I know he can get some Latin books, and is geeky enough to get a thrill out of sending some to people, or to me to send on. I am not sure what text he uses.
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
I like to buy Latin books. I have a few textbooks, and a few of those translated literature books, including "Winnie Ille Pu Semper Ludet".
What I don't have is a teacher or anyone to practice with. I can learn a lot of things out of books, but foreign languages have never been among them. Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
quote: Liz, let me know if he actually gets a website started
I'd also be interested...
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Keep in mind that my father only recently figured out how to generate his own email. I have called him Reply guy for years.
I really hope he does this. He says he has someone willing to help him, and he does not sound frightened of the prospect.
He is also looking into something that the Classical League(or some other group) has where he could be sort of a traveling substitute. It is not an easy thing to find a Latin sub, and when people get ill, or go on a leave, the position is often filled with videos.
Anyway, he will be thriled with the enthusiasm.
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Free tutoring? I'd be an idiot not to take you up on that. If he doesn't want to do it, that's okay...but it sounds AWESOME!![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Go to Amazon and search "Minimus", and you'll come up with several matches.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I got it for my cousin who is taking Latin (in high school).
![[Wall Bash]](graemlins/wallbash.gif)
I buy him cool books, give them to the neighbor boy, and have him hand them down to Matthew. Then he loves them.
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Party]](graemlins/party.gif)
![[Laugh]](graemlins/laugh.gif)
I suck.![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)