Twelve Latin Grammars?
I received this email.
Salve, Dwane!
My children enjoy your videos for Visual Latin and Word Up!
I’m having my daughter read ‘Via’ and she came across the recommendation to read a Latin Grammar every month. I’m guessing that a Latin Grammar is a Latin Textbook.
My older kids studied Henley through Classical Conversations and they had a book called a Latin Grammar. A look at Amazon showed several books called Latin Grammars. If she were to follow this recommendation, could you get us started on a list of recommended Latin Grammars?
For context, my daughter is 13, she finished both levels of Song School Latin in early elementary, and we started Visual Latin a few years ago but didn’t follow through. We are restarting at her request, and I asked her to start by reading your book. Thank you for your help.
Vale, Jennifer
Here is my reply:
Hi, Jennifer! I’d only recommend that course of action for someone interested in becoming a Latin teacher, or for someone creating some sort of Latin program.
For anyone just studying Latin for school, I’d recommend Visual Latin, and after that, Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg.
If a student were going to go all in, with the goal of becoming a Latin teacher, I’d recommend reading a Latin textbook a month… or so. It would be tough to do at first. Toward the end, it would get easier.
Here is what I would recommend:
First, Visual Latin, naturally. I’d recommend watching the course while reading the grammars recommended below.
Second, Wheelock’s Latin by Frederic Wheelock
Third, English Grammar for Students of Latin by Norma Goldman
Fourth, Latin for People by Paul Humez. This is a lighter, different approach to Latin.
Fifth, Latin for Dummies by Clifford Hull
Sixth, Getting Started with Latin by William Linney.
Seventh, A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin by John Collins. Most schools focus on Classical Latin (ancient Rome). This book focuses on the Latin used by the Catholic Church and Medieval Europe.
Eighth, Latin by the Natural Method. Another book aimed at Catholics. Not as grammar heavy. More reading.
Ninth, Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg. By this point, students are more than ready for this book. This one is the best of them all. Nothing like it. This is more of a graded reader than a grammar. But, grammar does appear at the end of every chapter.
Tenth, First Year Latin by Robert Henle. If you are just mastering grammar, I’d recommend skipping the exercises. This will speed the process dramatically.
Eleventh, Latin Made Simple by Rhoda Hendricks
Twelfth, Carry on Mr. Bowditch. Not a grammar at all. But, by now, you are likely tired of reading Latin grammars. This book is not only an interesting novel, but pay close attention to the characters actions when it comes to language learning. This book inspired me to tackle Spanish and French after Latin.
Remember, this list is only for those who want to become Latin teachers.
For students learning Latin, I’d recommend Visual Latin and Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg.
I’ve taken students through all of Lingua Latina and those classes are available to members of this site. To find out more, click here: https://dwanethomas.com/join/
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If you want a more professionally filmed Latin learning experience, check out the best-selling DVD series: Visual Latin.
Or, if you want to skip Latin, and just jump right into learning English words from Latin and Greek roots, you may enjoy the series Word Up! Warning. Word Up! is a bit wacky. You will learn a lot… but, you may find yourself rolling your eyes, too.
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