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Not liking Latin Alive. WWYD?


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We are on Week 12 of LA1. Dd keeps complaining. I thought it was her, but in searching the boards, I'm seeing others with the same complaints. She's done BBLL1, part of BBLL2, and a year of First Form. First Form had way too much repetition.

 

I've got Second Form and Wheelocks on the shelf. I'm eyeing Henle because she could slide into an MP core next year pretty easily if she is ready for Henle 2.

 

Dd is also doing French. At the moment I'm a little unclear what our long term goal for Latin is, but I need something hard-but-doable on her schedule.

Edited by MamaSprout
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We're in the same boat. I was so hoping that Latin Alive was the ticket. I really like the teaching DVDs better than First Form, but we find the translation exercises exhausting.

 

I think we are going to stick with the Form series because I know it works. However, I need to figure out a way to move more quickly through the repetition. It bogs us down.

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Of your options, we've liked Henle best. There are worksheets made up for all of Henle 1 that make it more visually friendly here:

 

http://www.magistrajoneslatin.com/bonus-materials/

 

We slogged through LA2 in an online class and by the end those translations became unbearable. LA just throws too much vocabulary at you to hope to absorb it. Henle takes a very different approach by concentrating on preparing for Caesar and the Latin prayers. It's much more manageable even if it is a little boring.

 

We've used Wheelock on our own to review and solidify the disastrous LA2 year. I like it but I think Henle is easier to use for a teacher who doesn't know Latin any better than their student. Once you get over the horrible visual layout, Henle is a really well designed textbook.

Edited by chiguirre
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Thanks. I really picked some duds this year. I think our vocabulary workbook is the only thing that has stuck.ETA- no, I'm wrong. We're doing well with the GC French. We did add in Tex's Grammar. Oh, and I guess our Lit hasn't changed... much, lol.

Edited by MamaSprout
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I do not Latin Alive at all, either, even though my dd is using it for WHA.  I agree...way too much vocabulary with little opportunity to learn via translation exercises or enough workbook pages to really internalize it all.

 

I agree that the layout for Henle leaves something to be desired, but the translation exercises and homework assignments give you PLENTY of practice, and they do not put in any words that you have not already learned.  Honestly, if you want to cement the grammar part in your mind, MP's Form Series is the way to go, or you could even just look at the student textbook's 2-page spread of a new grammar concept, and then go back to the Henle to actually do the homework!

 

I think that the LA is useful for learning vocabulary and culture that prepares you well for the National Latin Exam (better than what Henle does).  Thus, it depends what your goals are!

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