SJ. Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I would like to begin latin next year for my DS who will be in 6th grade. I honestly don't know where/how to begin looking into programs. I would like a full beginner program that has a comprehensive teacher's guide. It also needs to be secular or able to be used by a secular family. Thanks for the help! SJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Although it is not a "full beginner program that has a comprehensive teacher's guide," I strongly suggest Getting Started With Latin. It's an inexpensive paperback book that has free audio support on the website. It is a very gentle introduction to the idea of inflection and conjugation; you learn a fair amount of vocabulary, the five cases, and how to conjugate verbs in the first conjugation present active. After completing GSWL, my dd and I moved to Latin Book One by Scott and Horn (a book from the 1930s) and we were not intimidated at all even though I have never had any Latin and was learning with my dd. I would recommend that anyone go through GSWL before beginning a full program. Before GSWL, I looked at every Latin program available and was overwhelmed by what I saw; I didn't understand what the programs were talking about and couldn't see how it all fit together. After completing GSWL, I did not have that problem at all and was able to select a continuing program with confidence. Also, the author of GSWL has a follow-up program called Linney's Latin Class which uses a vintage text called The First Year of Latin. You could have a very good course, with lesson support, very inexpensively. I have no experience with any other Latin programs, but I have heard good things about Lively Latin. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinivanMom Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 We also started with GSWL. My oldest completed in during the last half of 5th grade and then jumped straight into Latin Alive in 6th grade. I'm really glad we started with GSWL. It is very gentle and really built confidence. Latin Alive is published by Classical Academic Press, but there has been no religious content at all. We've been very happy with it. There are extensive supports (including dvd's where the author teaches each lesson), and we have been very happy to have that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Another recommendation for GSWL. After that we did some Visual Latin, which was OK, but really liked Lingua Latina. It is story-based, so it's interesting (and funny in parts) and starts out gently. It does get challenging pretty quickly though. I bought mp3s of the lessons so we could listen to the proper pronunciation. I bought the books from Amazon; there are also various websites with supporting materials, such as this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 We have done GSWL in 6th grade, followed by Visual Latin 1 & 2 in 7th & 8th grades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJ. Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 Although it is not a "full beginner program that has a comprehensive teacher's guide," I strongly suggest Getting Started With Latin. It's an inexpensive paperback book that has free audio support on the website. It is a very gentle introduction to the idea of inflection and conjugation; you learn a fair amount of vocabulary, the five cases, and how to conjugate verbs in the first conjugation present active. After completing GSWL, my dd and I moved to Latin Book One by Scott and Horn (a book from the 1930s) and we were not intimidated at all even though I have never had any Latin and was learning with my dd. I would recommend that anyone go through GSWL before beginning a full program. Before GSWL, I looked at every Latin program available and was overwhelmed by what I saw; I didn't understand what the programs were talking about and couldn't see how it all fit together. After completing GSWL, I did not have that problem at all and was able to select a continuing program with confidence. Also, the author of GSWL has a follow-up program called Linney's Latin Class which uses a vintage text called The First Year of Latin. You could have a very good course, with lesson support, very inexpensively. I have no experience with any other Latin programs, but I have heard good things about Lively Latin. Good luck! We also started with GSWL. My oldest completed in during the last half of 5th grade and then jumped straight into Latin Alive in 6th grade. I'm really glad we started with GSWL. It is very gentle and really built confidence. Latin Alive is published by Classical Academic Press, but there has been no religious content at all. We've been very happy with it. There are extensive supports (including dvd's where the author teaches each lesson), and we have been very happy to have that. Another recommendation for GSWL. After that we did some Visual Latin, which was OK, but really liked Lingua Latina. It is story-based, so it's interesting (and funny in parts) and starts out gently. It does get challenging pretty quickly though. I bought mp3s of the lessons so we could listen to the proper pronunciation. I bought the books from Amazon; there are also various websites with supporting materials, such as this one. We have done GSWL in 6th grade, followed by Visual Latin 1 & 2 in 7th & 8th grades. I find it funny that all responses recommend GSWL. I happen to have a forgotten copy of the book on my shelf, paid for after checking it out from the library and getting it wet! How did you use the program? A lesson a day? SJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I have my DD do one GSWL lesson per day, then listen to the audio lecture for that lesson, available free from their website. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinivanMom Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I just gave the book to my daughter and let her pace herself. The lessons are rather short, so she usually completed 2-3 per day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto4inSoCal Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 (edited) We decided to start CAP's Latin for Children A. I actually am starting in another week and plan on going through summer so that we can be in Latin for children B next year for 6th. I want to get to VP's Wheelocks or Lukeions by 8th grade so we are going to do Latin in the summer to get us where we want to be. Most people do recommend GSWL but I felt it would just add on another year of Latin and it would delay us. My decision was based on two things - (1) I don't know Latin so while I can guide them through the early years at some point we will need to outsource and that limits our upper level latin choices to the online programs avaliable and (2) I want them to be able to read ancient text before they leave high school and are out of my sphere of influence. You have to decide what your goals are and where you are going IMO and work backwards. I went through and wrote out the progression of quite a few programs and the average seemed to be 6 years to pass AP Latin. Edited March 23, 2016 by Momto4inSoCal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JadeOrchidSong Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 You can use Lively Latin 1. It is very gentle and kid friendly. It is a worktext. We bought the online PDF download version and printed one copy each for my boys to do. There is online video for each lesson. The exercises have very good variety and are not boring at all! You can use this for multiple children. When they are ready to start Latin, you just print for them. I usually print one lesson at a time, which can last two or three weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StartingOver Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 I also strongly suggest staying with Getting Started with Latin. It is a very gentle and fantastic introduction. Our progression has been GSWL > Lively Latin 1&2 > Lain Prep. I am very Haley with our path so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 We, too, started with GSWL. We did roughly a lesson a day. The early ones are very easy, the latter ones we occasionally split over two days. After a few weeks, I started adding in diy English to Latin days, where I would flip back a few lessons and ask for the latÃn translation of the English sentence taken from the answer key. That was hard, and helpful in cementing the concepts. From GSWL we moved to Lively Latin, to which I've added the free flashcard program Anki. Anki has been super helpful and I'm thinking about going back into GSWL and adding some of that vocabulary and grammar. One thing that has been nice about Lively Latin for us has been the Latin history lessons. Interesting, enjoyable, and a nice break from the language lessons. I bought the .pdfs and print then as we go. We will start LL2 next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 GSWL followed by Latin Prep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 We also did GSWL then Lively Latin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 What about using Latin Alive I over 2 years for 6th-7th, then moving to the second book in 8th? They have dvds that will help you teach it. You could use Latin for Children and then switch to Latin Alive, but I think starting slowly would work better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 We did GSWL and now we're working through Latin Prep. My girl is still young, but halfway through LP1 and doing beautifully. No teacher's manual, but the text is fully explanatory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowergirl159 Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 My oldest began with GSWL, this year she is using Visual Latin. My DD9 has just begun GSWL and we usually do one or two lessons per day. It is a nice gentle introduction to Latin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StartingOver Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 I would not spend a ton of money on Latin, let's face it most people drop it like a hot potato. GSWL is a cheap way to see if you will even want to continue. The Kindle version is just about $10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verity Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 I'm a huge fan of Latin for Children and have used it with all three kids so far, however IMO LfC A would be realllllly easy for a 6th grader. I use it with third/fourth graders usually. I wasn't as happy with Latin Alive because it doesn't have the worksheet organization that I wanted for ease of use (also my boys all have fine motor issues and so having to copy everything would be a nightmare for them and take way too long). I would think the Big Book of Latin would be a great way to go! If I didn't already have the videos for LfC I would have considered trying to myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 I just gave the book to my daughter and let her pace herself. The lessons are rather short, so she usually completed 2-3 per day. I did this too and she finished in under a week! We're doing fabulae ceciliae now and I have Henle on my shelf for when we finish that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 (edited) Latina Christiana or First Form Latin from Memoria Press is a great beginner program for the teacher and for the student. Everything is neatly and clearly laid out, and you always have a video teacher to rely on if you get stuck. The reason I mention it, even though you are a secular family, is that a lot of the religiousness is easily left out (songs, prayers), and the remaining religiousness is somewhat superficial. It's a terrific enough program that I think it might be worth a look at, if you're not completely anti-religious. Edited March 27, 2016 by reefgazer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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