Kelli in TN Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 We have no foreign language teacher in this house. My one semester of high school French is of no use. Dh never had a foreign language. I thought we could muddle through with Latin because nobody in our part of Tennessee speaks Latin, so if we made some pronunciation errors, whose gonna know?:p We are using Wheelock's because I bought way back when my oldest was in high school (he never completed it either) and the curriculum budget is small and so I thought "surely we can do this" Now it is the second semester of her junior year. She is in despair of earning her required foreign language credits, I am in despair of her earning her foreign language credits. I really want Cambridge, but I cannot afford it. I looked at Galore Park's So You Really Want to Learn Latin and I think I could swing that in the very near future. With a serious commitment of time to the program, could we complete levels 1 and 2 by graduation? As much as it irks me to have to say this, we are looking for mastery here. I want to be looking for mastery, but we have run smack-dab out of time for worrying about things like mastery of Latin. We need to know it well enough to call it two foreign language credits and be done with it. She will not be doing foreign language at the college that she is most likely going to attend, they do not require it for her major. I also need to know where everyone orders their Galore Park stuff. I know it is someone named Ray. I wasn't paying attention during the conversations. I am now.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Now it is the second semester of her junior year. She is in despair of earning her required foreign language credits, I am in despair of her earning her foreign language credits. I really want Cambridge, but I cannot afford it. I looked at Galore Park's So You Really Want to Learn Latin and I think I could swing that in the very near future. With a serious commitment of time to the program, could we complete levels 1 and 2 by graduation? Each of the first two books is designed to be studied for a year, probably at about age 13 - 15. I haven't used them (we use Latin Prep, which is for younger students) but I don't see a reason not to accelerate. The only problem comes with what a US college sees as two years of foreign language. I'm afraid I just don't know the US system well enough to say if this fits. I hope others will chime in. The books are available in the US from http://www.horriblebooks.com (Ray may have some on hand - otherwise he orders periodically in batches) or direct from the UK with free shipping from http://www.bookdepository.co.uk. I've used BD several times; service has always been excellent and very swift. Best wishes Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli in TN Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 Each of the first two books is designed to be studied for a year, probably at about age 13 - 15. I haven't used them (we use Latin Prep, which is for younger students) but I don't see a reason not to accelerate. The only problem comes with what a US college sees as two years of foreign language. I'm afraid I just don't know the US system well enough to say if this fits. I hope others will chime in. Bleh. That sounds like they might be geared more for middle school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Bleh. That sounds like they might be geared more for middle school. Because it's a three-year course and prepares students for exams in the UK (roughly SAT II level. I think) at age 16. So the first book might be 13-14, book 2 14-15 and book 3 15-16. The other GP course is for age 9ish to 13ish, so crossover elementary/middle school. The arrangement of UK private schools is very different from the US model. Best wishes Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli in TN Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 I think I might order them anyway. If we can muddle through them, they would have to be better than the Wheelock's that is not really happening even though we spend a LOT of time on it.:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I think I might order them anyway. If we can muddle through them, they would have to be better than the Wheelock's that is not really happening even though we spend a LOT of time on it.:( If you could get through all three books that would a more solid high school level. The exam that UK pupils take at 16 (the GCSE) is roughly equivalent to the SAT II. If you are interested in joining the Galore Park Yahoo group (the author of the Latin books is a very helpful member of the group), click on the link in my siggy. Best wishes Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli in TN Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 Thank you so much Laura. When I put Galore Park in the header I did so in hopes that you were on this morning and that you would respond!!:) I think I will order book one and see what we can do here. And I very well may join the yahoo group as well. Thanks for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 You caught me just before I switched off my computer for the night. Best wishes Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie in AR Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 The books are available in the US from http://www.horriblebooks.com (Ray may have some on hand - otherwise he orders periodically in batches) or direct from the UK with free shipping from http://www.bookdepository.co.uk. I've used BD several times; service has always been excellent and very swift. Kelli, perhaps you can benefit from my stupidity. :D I ordered the Latin Prep 1 books from Book Depository in December. I mistakenly thought that the monetary unit used by Book Depository was Euros; however, I found out (the hard way) that the unit used is Pounds Sterling. BIG difference in American dollars. Shipping is free (as Laura said) and I think the books all arrived in less than a week. Just so you know. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbeaser Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Kelli, I just wanted to tell you not to get discouraged because of Wheelocks Latin, you will have a much easier time with just about any other program. I took a year of Latin my sophomore year and then went away to a special school for "gifted and talented" students for my Junior year. They put all of us "2nd year Latin students" into the second semester of college latin. We used Wheelocks and started from the beginning, just going through it faster. I COULD NOT DO IT. Seriously. I was a National Merit Finalist. I COULD NOT DO WHEELOCKS LATIN. From what I could tell, most colleges want you to have devoted 2 years to a language. They aren't going to be testing you on it. Yes, try to have her spend a little more time on the new program, but don't kill her with it and don't stress too much over it. Just make sure she's got good study skills before she goes to college, it is not fun to try to learn how to study in college. HTH, Missy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli in TN Posted February 13, 2008 Author Share Posted February 13, 2008 Kelli, I just wanted to tell you not to get discouraged because of Wheelocks Latin, you will have a much easier time with just about any other program. I took a year of Latin my sophomore year and then went away to a special school for "gifted and talented" students for my Junior year. They put all of us "2nd year Latin students" into the second semester of college latin. We used Wheelocks and started from the beginning, just going through it faster. I COULD NOT DO IT. Seriously. I was a National Merit Finalist. I COULD NOT DO WHEELOCKS LATIN. From what I could tell, most colleges want you to have devoted 2 years to a language. They aren't going to be testing you on it. Yes, try to have her spend a little more time on the new program, but don't kill her with it and don't stress too much over it. Just make sure she's got good study skills before she goes to college, it is not fun to try to learn how to study in college. HTH,Missy I could hug you for saying this. This is what is in my head already. Her big sister is in college on a full scholarship. She graduated from a local public high school and took through Latin 3 and she does NOT know Latin. Period. They used Cambridge, but I don't think they were terribly rigorous about it. And once the students completed Latin 2, the Latin 3 and 4 students were just placed in Latin 1 and Latin 2 classes and given advanced work to work on pretty much on their own. The teacher was there to help, but she was pretty much teaching the lower levels. This Latin experience has not held this girl back in any way shape or form!! If we can do at least that much we will be okay, yes? Please say yes. Because I think it is much more important that this child get her precalc done, and done well (using big sister as an example again, she did NOT take beyond alg 2 and math may end up costing her that big scholarship). I also need to devote a great deal of time to beefing up her writing skills, her big sister is a natural writer, but this girl is writing phobic! It seems like Latin might need to be in the backseat of the academic car for now. Not on the curb or in the trunk, but not in the front seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabelen Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 right now, the Euro is only about 1.50, so that makes quite a bit of a difference. I can't help with the Latin part. I did Latin at school in Spain for 4 years in High School and then for 2 years in College. I obviously used textbooks geared towards the Spanish school market. My oldest (11 yo) is not doing Latin and has no plans yet, we want to focus on Spanish. I just wanted to say that I ordered some Horrible Books from Book Depository and again the service was fast and excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I mistakenly thought that the monetary unit used by Book Depository was Euros; however, I found out (the hard way) that the unit used is Pounds Sterling. BIG difference in American dollars. I think the UK will adopt the Euro at about the same time the US goes metric:D Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli in TN Posted February 13, 2008 Author Share Posted February 13, 2008 I think the UK will adopt the Euro at about the same time the US goes metric:D Laura And yet I continue to torture my kids by making them learn the metric system. When they ask why I tell them because my teachers made me learn it and I turned out okay!:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stirsmommy Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I think the UK will adopt the Euro at about the same time the US goes metric:D Laura Ok that one should have come with a warning label! I nearly shot water out my nose. I guess I shouldn't drink and read. I had a teacher in Scotland who use to harp on the fact that the US would never go metric. That was BRILLIANT! Melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Each of the first two books [So You Really Want to Learn Latin] is designed to be studied for a year, probably at about age 13 - 15. I haven't used them (we use Latin Prep, which is for younger students) I asked about Galore Park Latin last week, and someone responded, "From my understanding, So You Want to Learn Latin is an earlier version of Latin Prep. The LP books have "So you really want to learn" in smaller type on the covers." Can someone please explain??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia in WA Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 They are not an earlier version. One set is for middler schoolers (Latin Prep) and the other is for high schoolers (SYRWTLL). They were written by different people. The middle schooler one is funnier and moves slightly slower. The high schooler one is more straight forward and moves faster to fit a certain amount of info. It has been recommended by the publisher that a middle schooler could do Latin Prep Books 1-3 and then SYRWTLL Book 3 only to be prepared to read original Latin books. That is my plan. FYI, I have not seen the older series. This is just what I have gathered from emails from the publisher, the yahoo group and from conversations with Laura who is also in contact with the publisher. They are very friendly and timely in their responses. If you want it from the horses mouth I encourage you to email them. Very nice folks! HTHs, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 The LP books have "So you really want to learn" in smaller type on the covers."That's an issue of branding. The SYRWTL title is used in most of GP's materials. Latin is exceptional in their line because there are two ab initio series, one for (approx. US grade) 4/5-6/7 and one for Gr. 8 and up. The GP website would greatly benefit from having a brief introductory paragraph explaining the relationship between their offerings in each subject area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmkclscroggins Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I ordered our Cambridge Latin from Amazon and got a great price! Check out that. Also, Barnes and Noble.com has some used stuff. hth, melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 The SYRWTL title is used in most of GP's materials. Latin is exceptional in their line because there are two ab initio series, one for (approx. US grade) 4/5-6/7 and one for Gr. 8 and up. Just wanted to be sure I have it right: SYRWTL is for grade 8 & up? And Latin Prep is for youngers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 SYRWTL is for grade 8 & up? And Latin Prep is for youngers?Yup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 They are not an earlier version. One set is for middler schoolers (Latin Prep) and the other is for high schoolers (SYRWTLL). They were written by different people. The middle schooler one is funnier and moves slightly slower. The high schooler one is more straight forward and moves faster to fit a certain amount of info. I wanted it on hand if we needed extra material to add into Latin Prep 3, as there's a lot of overlap between the two books. I leafed through it last night in bed (just how exciting is my life?) and - apart from an unfortunately strong ink smell - the differences between the two series are as you described. I'm very glad to have used Latin Prep - even as an adult, I find the pages of SY Latin dense and there are fewer exercises for each grammar point. On the other hand, I think the grammar explanations are a little longer, so it will be good to have it on hand for reference before we work through it next year. Oh, and it has a grammar summary at the back - something that would be very useful in Latin Prep. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Just wanted to be sure I have it right:SYRWTL is for grade 8 & up? And Latin Prep is for youngers? Now that I have SYRWTLL 3 in my hand, I'm glad I used Latin Prep - it seems much more user-friendly to me. Even with an older child you might want to consider doing Latin Prep 1, 2, 3 followed by SYRWTLL 3 (about 3 1/2 years in total at around two hours' study a week; faster if you double up). Then you'll be set for reading original texts. Best wishes Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea in TN Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 We have been using the So you really Want to Learn latin book 1 - it has gone okay... but I really wish I had used the prep books 1-3 at an excellerated rate and then book 3 of SYRWTLL. I think my 9th grade son would have enjoyed Latin a lot more. We will be switching to Spanish next year. I am thinking on calling this year of Latin - intro to Latin instead of Latin book 1. I think he has grasped a basic understanding of Latin this year but in no way do I feel he is comfortable witht he material. It moved very fast - I think longer explanations as in the prep book would have been better. For number 2 son in 6th this year I think we will be using the prep books in 7-8th grade followed by book 3 in 9th grade. For 9th grade son I am thinking of switing to the Galore park spanish series and using Rosetta stone as well. HTH Chelsea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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