I received this letter:
First, I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have been homeschooling my 13 yr old daughter her whole life and she has never been enthusiastic about any of it. She has no interest in learning any subject. When I first mentioned learning Latin, well, let’s just say it wasn’t well received. Until we saw your youtube videos. She immediately said “Mom, we have to order this! I want to learn Latin!!” So, thank you for what you do and for sparking some interest in my daughter.
My question is this… We have not started any of the programs yet. We are at the very beginning stage of learning Latin (we’ll also be doing your Root Word course) and I don’t know how to start with her. Do I do the Visual Latin or the Lingua Latina first? Or are they supposed to be done at the same time? I don’t want to overwhelm her, but I want to use the best method for her to learn by. Please help!
Here is my reply:
Good morning!
Happy to hear from you. I was homeschooled as a kid (illegally in Germany), and didn’t particularly care for it either. Looking back, I would do it again. Perhaps your daughter will feel that way someday as well.
The one skill that I picked up homeschooling was the ability to teach myself. There is almost no subject I am afraid to tackle. I know I can learn it. I am convinced that is a skill that comes easy to those educated at home.
I have been in the classroom (as a teacher) for almost 20 years. Children in the classroom become dependent upon a teacher. This is a negative. Children should learn independence. They should learn to educate themselves.
In the words of Sir Walter Scott, “All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.”
Hang in there. You are doing a good thing.
You said you did not want to overwhelm. Start with Visual Latin. The Lingua Latina classes that I teach online are “next level” classes. They are tough, aggressive classes. They are guaranteed to overwhelm. Visual Latin prepares students for these classes. I always recommend Visual Latin first.
Let me know if you need more help!
Have a happy Wednesday!
