Plaid Dad and others familiar with high school Latin texts,

[gandpsmommy]

In your opinion, which one is the best? I feel woefully ignorant in this area. I have had no Latin exposure, whatsoever. I don't know where to start selecting a text. I'm trying to find something for myself, so that I can be prepared to teach dd Latin next year (using a children's course for her, obviously.) I feel confident in my ability to learn the language. I was a Spanish major in college, with a minor in Linguistics. I just don't know where to begin when choosing materials. I am a fairly intelligent person, but I have large gaps in my education, so I've become an autodidact in my post-university years to try to give my children a better start than I had. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[gandpsmommy]

bump

[Mama Lynx]

I used Henle, and, later, Lingua Latina. I've only made it through about Unit 10 of Henle I, but that gave me an *excellent* foundation for teaching a few years' worth of Latin to my kids.

I love the Henle/LL combination. Henle will teach you the grammar very thoroughly and incrementally, while LL will help you to really *read* Latin.

[Beth in Central TX]

For my personal study I've worked through the 1st 6 chapters of Wheelock's Latin. I created a 3-week schedule that I will use for my boys when they work through the 1st 10 chapters of Wheelock's Latin next year in 6th & 7th grade. Here are the resources I use:

Wheelock's Latin Textbook
Workbook for Wheelock's Latin
A Comprehensive Guide to Wheelock's Latin (this gives a better description of the grammar used; Wheelock's was written when a better foundation of grammar was taught in schools)
38 Latin Stories (designed to accompany Wheelock's Latin)
Readings from Wheelock's Latin (audio CD for pronunciation)

I'm also using Lingua Latina and the College Companion for Lingua Latina.

[Amy in Orlando]

I'm using Henle with my 8th and 9th graders and like it for them. I use Wheelocks to help me exlain stuff or clarify things in my own head.

[Karenciavo]

I am really enjoying the new upper level Latin from Classical Academic Press. There should be samples posted any day now. Each chapter includes new vocabulary, syllabication practice, new grammar introduced, lots of translation practice including parsing and diagramming, a chapter reading based on Livy, cultural information, derivatives, and practice with conversational Latin. Originally it was going to be called Upper School Latin, but now I think it will be called Latin Alive!

As soon as I am able I will post the link to the sample.

Karen

[gandpsmommy]

I was considering Henle, but just because that was the only name I knew! I'll look into the others, and then decide.

[MIch elle]

are linked on my blog if needed.

[Nan in Mass]

I'd just use Lingua Latina. It's style suits me very well. However, it doesn't offer me enough help teaching the children the grammar, so we use Ecce Romani (which I love) and they use Cambridge for extra reading. All three are "fun" reading-based methods. Ecce is a little more traditional that the other two.
-Nan

[profmom]

Karen, can I ask -- with all the grammar included in Latin Alive, do you use a separate English grammar? (I was surprised to read that there is diagramming included!)

[profmom]

Terri, I'm certainly not an expert on Latin, but I needed outside accountability and a Latin course that went at a pace I could maintain. So, I'm currently taking an online class with Latin in the Christian Trivium. I'm not sure yet about using this with my dc -- I'll consider it. I'm thinking I'll be better able to evaluate Latin texts for them with more background myself.

With this class, I have to turn in assignments, show up for class (online), and take my turns at answering questions. These things (plus having to pay some $$) are helping me to keep my Latin studies going. I don't think a Yahoo group would have the same results for me, and I doubt I would be making as much time for Latin if I were trying to go through it on my own. The class is moving at a high school pace, which has been doable for me with my regular homeschooling mom responsibilities.

[Mamagistra]

I am really enjoying the new upper level Latin from Classical Academic Press.

As soon as I am able I will post the link to the sample.

Oh great...yet another likely temptation for this Latin junkie! ;)

:willy_nilly:

[Plaid Dad]

I love the Henle/LL combination. Henle will teach you the grammar very thoroughly and incrementally, while LL will help you to really *read* Latin.

This is the combination I would suggest, too. If you get a running start with Henle, you can pick up Lingua Latina and "just read." I'd also recommend getting Lingua Latina: A College Companion (http://www.amazon.com/Lingua-Latina-College-Companion-Vocabulary/dp/1585101915/) to help with the grammar part of LL. LL introduces grammar in a very different order from any other text I've seen, so it's worth having a guide book to help you along.

HTH!

[Alex]

I am slogging through Wheelock's myself. I am going at the rate of about one chapter per week, and I am on Chapter 12. It can be tough rowing. There is a benefit to Wheelock's, however, for those who need accountability in their self-study. There are many concurrent study groups at a variety of levels that you can join. The website is:

http://www.quasillum.com/study/latinstudy.php

There you can learn more about the available groups, formats and other information. As for Wheelock's, the website is:

www.wheelockslatin.com (http://www.wheelockslatin.com)

There you can find audio files and other helps. I cannot echo enough the advice of Beth in Central TX to use Dale Grote's Comprehensive Guide to Wheelock's Latin. It is a very good resource if you have no prior Latin experience.

[Karenciavo]

Karen, can I ask -- with all the grammar included in Latin Alive, do you use a separate English grammar? (I was surprised to read that there is diagramming included!)

Whoops, just saw this. We do laid back English Grammar using Stewarts in addition to Latin Alive.

[Karenciavo]

Oh great...yet another likely temptation for this Latin junkie! ;)

:willy_nilly:

http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/evilgrin/evilgrin0039.gif (http://www.ganja.co.uk)