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View Full Version : I've got a revolt on my hands re:Henle Latin


gardenschooler
02-05-2008, 01:19 AM
Well, not a full-fledged revolt - this is my very agreeable, never caused me one minute of stress, dd13. She's been doing Henle Latin I with me this year, and not complaining too much (probably because she just isn't a complainer).

Problem is......we can't stand doing the translations anymore. I'm sick of the Gauls, I'm sick of the army, all of it. She can do the translations quickly, so it's more aggravating than excruciating. It has served us well, and it's obviously a solid text due to the fact that she can do the exercises without a lot of effort. But we're a little burned out on it. Okay, more than a little.

And she saw a catalogue on my desk from Bolchazy-Carducci, and got all excited looking at some of their Latin materials. She especially liked the 'Looking at Latin', which I see is just a grammar reference book. However, it's very visually appealing to her, and I think would be nice for her to have. It doesn't have any exercises, though. It's pricey, but she's worth it.

http://www.bolchazy.com/prod.php?cat=latin&id=6153

She's such a sweet kid, doing Latin when she really could care less, and doing it well. But I think she's really lost interest in it due to the boredom of the translations in Henle.

We went to the library tonight, and looked around at some things. We brought home several different Latin texts (Jenney's, Ecce Romani, Wheelock's, Latin for Americans, and Cambridge), and started reading. When she picked up the Cambridge, she didn't put it down for 45 minutes.

How about this (submitted for your approval)

1-Continue only the grammar from Henle: using the MODG, so doing only the first page of the quizzes. Doing a few of the exercises that use the grammar, but not a whole lot. Drill, do charts and chants, quizzes, etc.

2-Get her the 'Looking at Latin' for her back-up grammar reference. We'll still have Henle, do the drills in Henle, but this would be just for her.

3-Start Cambridge, and use that for the translations, vocabulary, history, etc. instead of Henle. Use the online activities for reinforcements, make my own tests, etc.

http://www.cambridgescp.com/page.php?p=clc^oa_book1^intro


I'll probably just use the copy from the library instead of buying it. It has 12 'stages', or chapters, and I figure we can do roughly one a week. I'll renew it and check it out one more time, and that will give me 12 weeks. (We can keep books for 3 weeks and renew for 3 weeks). The library has plenty of copies, so I'm not worried about that. And I don't think I'll need a teacher's guide for this first book in the series - if we like it and continue, I'll get all of that for next year. If it gets difficult this year, I can just buy it from Amazon.

We do Latin together, so I don't think it will be terribly difficult for me to tweak/merge the Henle/MODG grammar with the Cambridge. We'd use all parts of the Cambridge.

I feel pretty familiar with the Cambridge, because I spent ALL YEAR last year researching Latin curriculums. I ruled it out only because of the grammar, since it's more of a reading-based text. But now I think we're deep enough into the grammar that we can handle it (plus, we'll continue the grammar).

So can I have the best of both worlds? Or am I insane?

Michelle in MO
02-05-2008, 07:07 AM
but when we were almost done, I looked at Cambridge Latin. It actually looked pretty good! More of an inductive approach, I guess, but my girls might have responded better to Latin had we done Cambridge. We also had a Latin revolt, of sorts, at our house. They actually liked Henle fine until we got to the middle of the book (when it started to get difficult) and it took us three years to get through the book instead of two. That just dragged it on too long. But, we finished Henle I---not with flying colors---but I was determined to finish the book.

I would say, though, if you're not too terribly far along (or don't mind switching, however far along you are) to go ahead and make the switch for whichever text works the best for you and your dd. Latin is tough, and if a different text makes it more palatable for her and she's more willing to stick with it, go for it! :D

LisaNY
02-05-2008, 08:47 AM
No, you're not insane at all. I think that blending a traditional grammar/translation text with a reading-based text is an excellent idea. :)

Grammar/translation texts have their place, IMO, when it comes to learning & practicing the grammar, but to really get a feel for Latin, you need to read, read, read it. I started out w/Henle and then got bogged down with all of the grammar/translation without contextual application. I jumped into Oerberg's Lingua Latina and got a much better feel for the Latin. It made much more sense to see the grammar within the context of a running storyline. It fit my learning style much better. My younger dd, however, has decided that Henle is a better fit for her, so I have gone back to Henle with her. I am blasting through it ahead of her, and I am having a *much* easier time with it.

I think Henle is the best grammar/translation text out there for self-learners & hs'ers who are using it w/no Latin background. He gives you small doses of vocabulary that don't overwhelm as you tackle the Latin grammar. Your plan to stick w/Henle as your base is a good one. I know it can get boring with all of that war stuff, so using Cambridge is a great plan for rounding things out and adding interesting readings. It will also give you the cultural aspect of Rome that you really don't get with Henle. I am currently using Cambridge with my dd, just for the readings and vocabulary. I will also make use of LL, once she gets further along in Henle.

I would suggest that you continue to do the English to Latin exercises in Henle, and just do the Latin to English orally. I think Henle was wise to have all of those E to L exercises. L to E exercises are not enough - you really need to be forced to apply what you have learned via E to L exercises. I think you will find E to L exercises will become easier as you take advantage of reading-based texts. That is where I feel g/t texts fall down. They really don't give you enough in the way of true, contextual Latin readings.

I think your plan is a good one - I'd definitely go for it! :)

Kelli in TN
02-05-2008, 08:55 AM
Your library has Cambridge? And Wheelock's?

I wish our library had things like that!

You know I have no advice on Latin, being a dismal failure an all, but I just wish our library had cool stuff like Latin texts.

Hey, when you come get the snake out of my flowerbed and landscape my property, can you teach Sarah Latin before you leave?:cool:

Plaid Dad
02-05-2008, 10:56 AM
Just a note on Looking at Latin. It's a great reference grammar for high school, but it's not going to make your dd's Latin studies any more exciting.

It's true that Henle is "conquer the Gauls and then convert them" (as a friend from these boards has said). Henle is preparing students to read Caesar, and the vocabulary is geared toward that. Relentlessly.

Cambridge could make a good reading supplement, but have you looked at Lingua Latina? Depending on how far along your dd is in Henle, she could probably work through at least the first half or three-quarters of Familia Romana with little trouble. The storyline is engaging and she does not need to translate - just read for understanding.

HTH and good luck!

gardenschooler
02-06-2008, 01:57 AM
Just a note on Looking at Latin. It's a great reference grammar for high school, but it's not going to make your dd's Latin studies any more exciting.

Cambridge could make a good reading supplement, but have you looked at Lingua Latina? Depending on how far along your dd is in Henle, she could probably work through at least the first half or three-quarters of Familia Romana with little trouble. The storyline is engaging and she does not need to translate - just read for understanding.

HTH and good luck!

I will check out Lingua Latina - I saw that on the shelf at the library, but my arms were full. I'll go back tomorrow and get it. As 'reading deprived' as she feels, she probably would love that, too.

I think the appeal to 'Looking at Latin' is just the graphics, really, but that's okay with me.

Thanks for replying!

gardenschooler
02-06-2008, 02:34 AM
Your library has Cambridge? And Wheelock's?

I wish our library had things like that!

You know I have no advice on Latin, being a dismal failure an all, but I just wish our library had cool stuff like Latin texts.

Hey, when you come get the snake out of my flowerbed and landscape my property, can you teach Sarah Latin before you leave?:cool:

Cambridge, Wheelock's, and more, so much more. My library is heaven. I'm also using library books to pre-screen geometry texts!

I don't think you're a dismal failure in Latin! You're so much braver than I am. Has Sarah been listening to the audios on Wheelocks? I love his voice, and I could just listen to that all day. I was kinda hoping she'd teach me. :D

Oh, and Kelli - serpens in horto timeo (I'm sure that's botched, but I'm going to get PlaidDad to teach me how to say it.):p

gardenschooler
02-06-2008, 02:46 AM
No, you're not insane at all. I think that blending a traditional grammar/translation text with a reading-based text is an excellent idea. :)
I think your plan is a good one - I'd definitely go for it! :)

Thanks for giving me an idea on how to implement it all. And for telling me I'm not crazy!

gardenschooler
02-06-2008, 02:49 AM
Latin is tough, and if a different text makes it more palatable for her and she's more willing to stick with it, go for it! :D

Thanks for sharing your experience, Michelle. I do think 'palatable' is the key word here!