ValkyrieMom Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Nothing against Catholics, but after mulling it over I have concluded not to stick with with Prima Latina that just came in the mail. I don't know how I missed it, but I didn't know there were prayers as part of the learning process in the program, and we are just not comfortable with that. We are new to homeschooling and I am already feeling overwhelmed, I just need a good strong program that I don't have to come up with extra methods for. It's one thing to *choose* not to do part of a program, but it's a waste of money and time if it's *necessary*. Know what I mean? Also, after reading previous posts about the twangy CD, I am not impressed with this company. "Caesar didn't have a microphone" is a poor excuse for lack of consistency, especially when I've paid money for something I can't/don't want to use. It would have been classier if they would have acknowledged this rather than shrugged it off with the excuse. Getting to the point: Which of the Latin programs doesn't have prayers involved in them? I'm looking at Lively Latin, but I' feel like I'm in a perfume store, it's all starting to smell the same now LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 We briefly tried PL and then switched to Lively Latin. I also considered Galore Park's Latin Prep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narrow Gate Academy Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 We really enjoy LfC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 How fast/seriously do you want to study? Latin Prep can be started at age 9, but 10+ is a better age range. It's a great programme and is secular (there are a couple of cultural references to Christianity and lots about the Roman myths as myth, that's all). I've heard that Lively Latin is very good for younger pupils, but I haven't seen it. There's a review I wrote previously of Latin Prep here. Best wishes Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Minimus is secular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 We used Prima. My kids enjoyed memorizing the prayers and reciting them at a family reunion. We love to give grandma a good scare occasionally! :lol: We did switch to Lively Latin for a couple of reasons. It is colorful with plenty of practice. Plus, I like that the history is included...not something I have to coordinate myself. The drawback? The price of printing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithie Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 I'm going to start my ds with Lively Latin next year, and the big reason is the lack of prayers. I actually think that Latin prayers are beautiful, and completely appropriate for nonCatholics to study and learn from and even memorize, but at age 6 I just don't want to introduce potential theological confusion. Plus, I can just picture him reeling off the Nicene Creed to our rabbi and saying "this is what Mommy teaches me at home!" :blushing: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cammie Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 We recently started with Lively Latin and I am very happy with it for my 8 year old dd. She was actually bugging me to "do latin" this weekend! The history is interesting, the web site accessible, the text appealing. So far I ddin't see any overly religious sentiments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC5 Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 I shied away from Prima Latina for the same reasons you mentioned. Though we're Christians (LDS), we don't use set prayers. I chose Lively Latin, and my 8yo is enjoying it. He especially loves the history. You can even choose between classical and ecclesiastical pronunciation. Both are included. If you choose Lively Latin and look into it more, you'll know what I mean here: We started the year printing pages to fit into the various sections of the notebook, which meant I couldn't print a lot of pages 2-sided. After 2 chapters, I saw no need for this division and decided to put everything in order without the notebook divisions. Now I can print everything 2-sided except the flashcards (and a game in ch. 3). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Some with younger students have used this: http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=12&zenid=44737eb717881d0766940bab7d2d4503 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latinteach Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 There are a considerably large number of Latin programs that are secular. Most, in fact. Grammar-based: Latin for Americans, Latin Prep, So You Really Want to Learn Latin, Wheelock's Latin, Great Latin Adventure, Lively Latin, Latin is Fun, Lingua Latina (Traupman) Reading Based: Minimus/Cambridge Latin, Ecce Romani, Oxford Latin Course Direct Method: Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata (Oerberg) Combination: Latin for the New Millennium Latin for Children is grammar-based and the supplementary readers do have some religious content. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 We're using "Getting Started with Latin." We're on lesson 34 and no one's prayed yet. LOL There is also commentary you can download from the author's website that goes along with each lesson. It's self-paced, so there's no pressure to finish it all by the end of the year. http://www.gettingstartedwithlatin.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdeveson Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 You can even choose between classical and ecclesiastical pronunciation. Both are included. That's right. In Academia, classical pronunciation is used. Unless you're sending the kids to seminary, it's probably best to teach them the classical pronunciation. I think Prima Latina teaches ecclesiastical pronunciation (am I correct in this?). Not so useful in academia, but great if you're going into seminary. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdeveson Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Has anyone used Rosetta Stone Latin? We've done so well with Spanish that I'm thinking of supplementing or even replacing our current curriculum with it. This might be an option for the OP, as well. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Check here for MANY reviews: http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/latincurricula and don't forget to click on the Latin comparison chart link. Good place to start a side by side check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verity Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 After trying Prima Latina (I'm southern and even I agree about the tangy cd!) we switched to Latin for Children Primer A for older son and Songschool Latin for younger son. So far both are big hits!! There may be more religious content to come (only on Ch 5) but I haven't seen anything that was overwhelming. I chose Prima Latina becuase I liked the idea of learning the prayers but didn't care for the format. We use the cd (both classical and ecclesiastical pronunciation is provided) and the DVD which also offers lessons in both styles of pronunciation. I find these to be very high quality and enjoy the activity book as well. Good luck with making your choice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.MacGyver Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 We just started Rosetta Stone (regular edition), and the kids really like it (they also do french and spanish on rosetta stone because we just lucked into getting them for free!!!). We did Prima Latina last year, and it was like pulling teeth... I feel like they already have a better grasp on things now, and we are at the very beginning. But my kids are absolutely visual learners...they have a very hard time with languages out of a book (as do I). I do not, however, have the years of experience with languages that other people do on this board. Have any of you "real" latin people compared Rosetta Stone to these other programs? Are they even comparable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 I'm using Lively Latin with my 7yo. No prayers and so far it's been easy to implement. He loves Latin lessons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plimsoll Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 I would recommend Lively Latin. It's secular, thorough, and it includes word roots, latin and english grammar, latin and english vocabulary, and Roman history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValkyrieMom Posted October 5, 2009 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 Thanks so much ladies! I cringed to say anything about the prayers--we are Christian so I don't mind the spiritual references, but we don't believe in scripted prayers for day-to-day things, and I wasn't comfortable with prayers that espouse a specific religion that's not my own. Whew! I'm so glad you guys understand where I was coming from (especially on the twangy cd!):lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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