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help/advice prepping for Lukeion 2; and: is Lukeion Greek workshop a good value for a classical kid?


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After careful consideration, and contacting Lukeion to take placement tests & get their advice, and praying too, we are moving my older son from the MP Form Series to Lukeion.  I'd be very grateful for any advice about how to prep. for a successful entrance to their Latin. 

 

Also, he'll be taking Greek 1, and I'm not sure whether or not the Meet the Greeks workshop would be money well spent.  We can afford it (it would be a gift from my husband's incredibly generous mother), but I really want to be a good steward of our resources (and especially hers).  This child, A., will be 13 years old.  He's had a generous exposure to Greek culture: mythology with d'Aulaire's plus some AO readings; Famous Men of Greeks this year (augmented with some other resources); and next year he's up for Dorothy Mills' Book of the Ancient Greeks, the Iliad and the Odyssey (Lombardo translation + Great Courses videos), and OUP's Ancient Greek history book, which will include exposure to Greek art and original source readings. 

 

Is "Meet the Greeks" a good value, given this background? 

 

Regarding Latin: he has been working through Memoria Press' Third Form Latin, in an online class, which has been a really excellent experience for him and I highly recommend Memoria Press Online Academy (esp. his Latin teachers, Susan Francino and Meredith Cutrer).  If I had had more perfect knowledge, I probably would have moved him to Lukeion's Latin 1 after he finished Second Form Latin; I'll probably plan on something like that with my younger child.  We are switching because:

* the worldview for Lukeion is a better fit: I am Christian (of essentially Anabaptist theological leanings) and my husband is agnostic; the children are agnostic at this point.  Memoria Press' instructor assumes a more orthodox Christianity as well as a new-earth view of history & life, which is gently presented but my son's comments in class are ignored when they do not fit this view.  It kind of bugs him, though he adores his teachers.

* I think Lukeion may offer a better preparation for the Latin AP, particularly the writing element. 

* I prefer the range of classical authors offered in the Lukeion classes, esp. Latin 3. 

* I want the child to continue in classical languages post-AP, and Lukeion does this seamlessly.

* WTMers, by and large, have had great experiences with Lukeion.

* Lukeion also offers a highly-regarded Classical Greek program, and this is an important educational goal of mine.  Having our courses from one provider simplifies life & scheduling a great deal. 

 

After taking the Lukeion placement tests, Amy Barr suggested he begin Latin 2 in the fall and approved my plan of setting our Third Form Latin aside and working with him to master the Wheelock's material he hasn't had.  Basically, he is good on grammar and forms but doesn't have the Wheelock vocabulary nor the experience in learning 20 words/week (the Form Series is 10 words/week, with every 5th or 6th week dedicated to review).  He is a bit young for the class, but not crazily so and he is probably gifted in language learning. 

 

I figure that if we

1. maintain our knowledge base of the grammar forms,

2. master the Wheelock's vocabulary, and

3. maintain skill in analyzing words

then we'll be fine.  Does that seem right? 

 

Any suggestions?  It will be a busy year, with the Latin and the Greek; but he loves the accomplishment of mastering Latin, and I think he'll find Greek as fun as any school subject can be once he gets going. 

 

ETA: I'm thinking that the WTMA summer study skills course might be a good investment. 

 

ETA #2: am also considering having him do Lukeion's Latin 1 instead: he's totally intimidated by the Wheelock's we've begun ...

Edited by serendipitous journey
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Sent you a PM.

My daughter is currently in Lukeion Latin II. She enjoys Dr. Fisher a lot. In fact, that is probably the only reason she is continuing in Latin. She isn't particularly interested in it, and it doesn't come particularly easy for her. I think your son will be fine. If you google Wheelock's Latin games, there are some fun ones that will help with vocabulary study.

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Sent you a PM.

 

My daughter is currently in Lukeion Latin II. She enjoys Dr. Fisher a lot. In fact, that is probably the only reason she is continuing in Latin. She isn't particularly interested in it, and it doesn't come particularly easy for her. I think your son will be fine. If you google Wheelock's Latin games, there are some fun ones that will help with vocabulary study.

 

oh, I replied before I saw your post!  so glad that Lukeion's been a good experience.  My son will be almost-13 at the start of the year ... Amy Barr thought that Latin I would be less stressful, but we could go either way.  Still considering this; he would rather start with Latin I next year, to begin at the beginning with Wheelock's in the class environment, and I can't think of a good reason NOT to let him. 

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My son is in Latin II this year and it’s a big step up from Latin I, I think. He’s been doing fine but it feels harder. He had finished Lively Latin before starting so I think Latin I was somewhat of a review which made it easier but I was glad he had that review to get used to the pace and intensity of Lukeion. And it wasn’t by any means all review. 

 

He loves the class (he has Amy Barr) and is signed up for Latin III next year. 

 

I think if he’s young there isn’t a lot of downside to letting him have a year that might be easier. 

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