I wanted to thank everybody for taking the time to look at the experimental Latin lessons and leave feedback. I haven’t done an exact count, but the split seems roughly even between those who like format #1 and those who like format #2, with perhaps a modest majority for format #1 (though that’s just an impression).
Several have asked whether I’m working on a book or web site teaching Latin by this method, and the answer is “maybe.” I initially did the lessons as an experiment–just to see how this teaching technique would work and whether people would find it useful. The response has been quite positive (though that may be because those who didn’t like the lessons didn’t bother to write in).
As a result of the positive feedback, I’m continuing to develop new lessons using this technique. I’m not sure whether I’ll put them together as a book or a website or first-a-website-and-then-a-book. I’ll need to get a few more lessons done before I make that decision.
As far as formatting, I’ll probably continue to write in format #1, which is the easier format to write in. Then, afterwards, I can rearrange the information into format #2 if that turns out to be the way to go.
I’ll let y’all know how it goes, and will share some more lessons soon to get more feedback.
Much obliged, folks!
P.S. To touch on a few things folks raised in the comments boxes:
1) I *don’t* think that Latin needs to be learned before Greek. In fact, I find Greek grammar easier than Latin (the noun system in Greek is *half* the complexity of the noun system in Latin, e.g.), and there are much better Greek textbooks out there. For example, William Mounce’s Basics of Biblical Greek is the best there is (at least until the one I’ve worked on off-and-on over the years gets published maybe someday).
2) I *loathe* John Collins’ Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin. It is the book I learned from, and its pedagogy is horrendous and seems to be designed to make things as difficult on the student as possible. You really need a good teacher if you’re going to get through this one, but it can be done. Unfortunatley, I don’t know of a better text on ecclesiastical Latin to recommend. I know there are some; I just don’t have them and so haven’t looked at them and am thus unable to recommend any. There is one that’s half-classical/half-ecclesiastical Latin that I like, but the author’s name and its exact title escape me at the moment (language textbooks tend to have such similar titles).
3) One person suggested using ecclesiastical texts in addition to Scripture in the course I’m designing, and I had been semi-planning to do that. After working through Mark a logical switch would be to the text of the Mass. Anyway, we’ll see.
I have actually been using John Collins’ Primer to teach myself, and I have to say that I really like it 🙂 I haven’t had any major problems, and I supplement it easily with other ecclesiastical texts.
Could you do both formats? I found the 1st way great for learning, and the 2nd format great for reviewing. Could the 2nd format be reduced to a one page summary of the lesson (for a book perhaps)?
Jimmy,
What do you think of these materials (if you’ve ever encountered them):
1) Wheelock’s Latin
2) Wenham’s Elements of NT Greek
3) Van Pelt’s Basics of Biblical Hebrew
I plan on teaching myself these three languages. I already have the books. Just need to stop being lazy!
All three are good resources, though for Greek I recommend Mounce’s Basics of Biblical Greek (it really is the best) and Pimsleur Hebrew as a way of getting into Hebrew without being totally intimidated.
I personally recommend Latin Grammar and it’s sequel Second Latin by Cora Carroll Scanlon A.M. and Charles L. Scanlon A.M. These two books were originally written in the 1940s to provide an effective and quick (designed for a two year curriculum) means to be able, in the case of Latin Grammar, to read and understand the Mass and Brevery and Second Latin teaches the necessary grammar and vocabulary for theology and philosophy. Both of these books can be found on Amazon.com for less than 20$ each.
I personally recommend Latin Grammar and it’s sequel Second Latin by Cora Carroll Scanlon A.M. and Charles L. Scanlon A.M. These two books were originally written in the 1940s to provide an effective and quick (designed for a two year curriculum) means to be able, in the case of Latin Grammar, to read and understand the Mass and Brevery and Second Latin teaches the necessary grammar and vocabulary for theology and philosophy. Both of these books can be found on Amazon.com for less than 20$ each.
I personally recommend Latin Grammar and it’s sequel Second Latin by Cora Carroll Scanlon A.M. and Charles L. Scanlon A.M. These two books were originally written in the 1940s to provide an effective and quick (designed for a two year curriculum) means to be able, in the case of Latin Grammar, to read and understand the Mass and Brevery and Second Latin teaches the necessary grammar and vocabulary for theology and philosophy. Both of these books can be found on Amazon.com for less than 20$ each.
I personally recommend Latin Grammar and it’s sequel Second Latin by Cora Carroll Scanlon A.M. and Charles L. Scanlon A.M. These two books were originally written in the 1940s to provide an effective and quick (designed for a two year curriculum) means to be able, in the case of Latin Grammar, to read and understand the Mass and Brevery and Second Latin teaches the necessary grammar and vocabulary for theology and philosophy. Both of these books can be found on Amazon.com for less than 20$ each.