I received this question:
My tenth grader is about to finish Roma Aeterna this year, and I was wondering your recommendation for what should come next? I’d love to find an AP Latin prep course, but they all look prohibitively expensive. Do you have other recommendations? Thank you!
Here is my reply:
Hi, Kimberly!
Well… I almost never get this question. 🙂
Impressed that this student has read Roma Aeterna. That’s a tough one.
It is my understanding that the AP Latin exam requires students to know two authors, Caesar and Vergil. After Roma Aeterna, she should be ready to read both of those guys.
There is a somewhat inexpensive way to find out. He, or she, could practice taking the exam.
For example, here is a $25 AP Latin exam preparation book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cOXubh
There are more. Take a look at this page: https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=ap+latin+exam&crid=1JPCS2K7EY3XH&sprefix=ap+latin+exam%2Caps%2C192&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_13
Years ago, this is what I did to prepare for the LSAT. (Law School Admission Test). I bought a test prep book like this and took all the exams. I then bought another and did it again. I think I went through three of them in a summer. Spent most of that summer studying. Then, I took the test, passed, and was accepted to Law school. And… then, I met a girl, got distracted, and got married. Heh. Never made it to law school.
Still, this is what I would recommend for the AP Latin exam. Just order a book, or two, push through… and, then, when the student feels ready, take the test. As for the test itself, I think you would have to find a testing center that offers it.
That’s for Latin.
As for what should come next…. After, Latin? I always recommend Spanish, French, or Italian. They are much easier than Latin and are usable. She could probably learn one of those languages in six months and then fly to a country and practice. That’s always a pretty cool feeling.
Since she has been through much of Hans Ørberg’s books, I’d recommend the Italian, or French books by his friends:
French: https://dwanethomas.com/french-resources/
Italian: https://dwanethomas.com/italian-resources/
Unfortunately, there isn’t a book like Lingua Latina for Spanish. Not yet, anyway. I am writing one, but it could take years.
Let me know if you need more help.
Hope you are having a great day!
