Latin Recitation

[KIN]

Hi,

I have a quick question re: Latin recitation. We are to the point in PL where we are learning amo, amas, amat, etc. Do we just change the Latin words or should we say "amo, I love, amas, you love" etc.? When chanting "bo, bis, bit, bimus, bitis, bunt" we are just saying the Latin words and pointing to ourselves, each other (for you), off to the side (he, she, it), and then all again with our entire hand for the plurals. But, I worry we aren't remembering the English translations. What should we be doing? Thanks!

[cajun.classical]

Hi,

I have a quick question re: Latin recitation. We are to the point in PL where we are learning amo, amas, amat, etc. Do we just change the Latin words or should we say "amo, I love, amas, you love" etc.? When chanting "bo, bis, bit, bimus, bitis, bunt" we are just saying the Latin words and pointing to ourselves, each other (for you), off to the side (he, she, it), and then all again with our entire hand for the plurals. But, I worry we aren't remembering the English translations. What should we be doing? Thanks!

There are different ways to do it. With my younger students (I taught in a classroom before homeschooling), we recited the Latin first "Amo, Amas, Amat" then did the translation with handmotions like you describe. "I love, you love, he, she or it loves" then we did the plural side the same way. For future and imperfect endings, we chanted the whole set of endings first and then translated them.

With my older students (when they've got the chant down and definitely by LC2) we chant only the Latin and don't translate. Then I have a time after the recitation where I drill the endings. I say something in Latin and they translate or I give the English and they translate. So we end up covering all the endings and translations but by drilling them individually and out of order. For example, I say "We will love" The student replies, "Amabimus."

Hope that helps.