Latin question

[terrylee]

Any recommendations for an easy Latin curriculum? I have no experience and would like to see if there is something to get a basic knowledge of Latin. I would be learning with my children. They are 5, 9, 13 and 17. Thanks,

Terry

[Patricia in WA]

The older ones and yourself could use the Galore Park Latin books. The 9 year old could use the Latin Prep series S-L-O-W-L-Y and your older two can use the So You Really Want to Learn Series. It is easy, detailed, and witty.

 

You can order the books from Ray over at Horrible Books or Book Depository

HTHs,

[Deana FL]

"I love Lively Latin! It is sooooo cool!" -my dd 11 (5th grade)

 

I have no experience with Latin and am working through it with a 3rd grader and 5th grader and it is very self explanatory. We are all enjoying...it is kinda a challenge for my ds 3rd grade, just the writing part, though.

 

We like it...you may get differing opinions.

[Laura Corin]

The older ones and yourself could use the Galore Park Latin books. The 9 year old could use the Latin Prep series S-L-O-W-L-Y and your older two can use the So You Really Want to Learn Series. It is easy, detailed, and witty.

 

 

You could have all three use Latin Prep, just have the younger work much slower. Latin Prep and SY Latin cover most of the same ground anyway. The explanations are good, so you should be able to learn alongside.

 

FWIW, I started my younger children on a modern foreign language, in order to develop fluency when their brains were very receptive to it. We start Latin seriously from age 9/10.

 

Laura

[at the beach]

I have to agree about Latin Prep. We are absolutely loving it here. We're only in Chapter 2, but it's going so much better than last year when we used LC 1. I would hesitate to use it with very young kids, but my dd at age 11 is just right for it I think.

 

Anita

[latinteach]

Any recommendations for an easy Latin curriculum? I have no experience and would like to see if there is something to get a basic knowledge of Latin. I would be learning with my children. They are 5, 9, 13 and 17.

 

What do you hope that they gain from a study of Latin? That's the first question to ask and will help you decide upon a curriculum. Do you want lots of grammar? Do you prefer interesting reading? (Some, but not all, grammar-based courses defer reading material until much later in the course. Sometimes this can make a beginning curriculum seem dry.) Do you want a focus on Roman history and culture? Do you want religious content or not? There are other questions to ask, but these will get you started. There are a lot of good Latin curricula out there with different approaches.

[Beth in SW WA]

LC 1 & 2 are great for non-Latin moms. We loved the dvd's w/ Cheryl Lowe. Great intro to Latin. All your kids could do it together.

[terrylee]

What do you hope that they gain from a study of Latin? That's the first question to ask and will help you decide upon a curriculum. Do you want lots of grammar? Do you prefer interesting reading? (Some, but not all, grammar-based courses defer reading material until much later in the course. Sometimes this can make a beginning curriculum seem dry.) Do you want a focus on Roman history and culture? Do you want religious content or not? There are other questions to ask, but these will get you started. There are a lot of good Latin curricula out there with different approaches.

 

I hope all of us to gain a general knowledge of Latin. I'm not interested in the grammar. I would like it to be from a Biblical aspect. Most of all I would love for it to be fun. We are doing English fromt he roots up and are loving it and will continue to do so. This shows Latin and Greek in the words we use today. I would like to explore one of those languages as we do this.

 

Terry

[latinteach]

I hope all of us to gain a general knowledge of Latin. I'm not interested in the grammar. I would like it to be from a Biblical aspect. Most of all I would love for it to be fun. We are doing English fromt he roots up and are loving it and will continue to do so. This shows Latin and Greek in the words we use today. I would like to explore one of those languages as we do this.

 

Most of the Christian courses generally tend to focus on the grammar. Latina Christiana and Henle Latin have a definite focus on grammar, while centering the curriculum around a Christian theme.

 

Galore Park, which many have suggested, is a secular program and also highly focused on grammar.

 

It sounds like you are more interested in a course on English vocabulary centering around Latin and Greek roots while having a Christian basis. Is this correct?

[terrylee]

Well perhaps. I'm really very undecided. We love using English from the Roots up. I was thinking on perhaps a Rosetta Stone program with either Greek or Latin.

[latinteach]

Well perhaps. I'm really very undecided. We love using English from the Roots up. I was thinking on perhaps a Rosetta Stone program with either Greek or Latin.

 

I've heard that Rosetta Stone is reworking it's Latin offerings, so you might want to wait on that one.

[herbalgirl]

We really enjoy the Prima Latina with the DVDs. The DVDs really help, IMO. I can't imagine trying to teach it otherwise!

[terrylee]

We really enjoy the Prima Latina with the DVDs. The DVDs really help, IMO. I can't imagine trying to teach it otherwise!

I just looked up some reviews and was pleased by what I read. I think we may give Prima Latina a try! It seems somewhat affordable as well. Thanks so much for everyone's help!