Latin Grammar I and II
by Douglas Wilson and Karen Craig
Reviewed by Martha Robinson
Purchase details: Latin Grammar I (Second edition, 179 pages) by Douglas Wilson and Karen Craig, and Latin Grammar II (224 pages) by Karen Craig, spiral bound paperbacks. Published by Canon Press. Please support HomeschoolChristian.com by buying this program from our Christian Book Distributors link or Amazon affiliate link.
Latin Grammar is the program recommended for further Latin study after Canon Press introductory Latin programs. While two years of Matin Latin study or three years of Latin Primer study are the expected prerequisite, the authors suggest that Latin Grammar could be a starting point.
Latin Grammar I ($20): After a brief enumeration of why one should study Latin, Latin Grammar jumps right into lessons. The basics, such as classical pronunciation, grammar, and parts of speech, are covered at the beginning, and then the program moves systematically through a comprehensive study of grammar including declensions and conjugations, cases, adjectives, prepositions, and pronouns. A huge amount of vocabulary is covered, but this will be mostly review for students who have completed Latin Primer III. The authors offer encouragement to students who are new to the series by suggesting learning five to ten new words per day. The chants from Latin Primer are gradually re-introduced in this program. Four readings include a story, a fable, a Psalm, and a selection from Genesis. Additional readings appear in later lessons.
The format of Latin Grammar I lends itself to self-study. Detailed explanations for each lesson are provided in the student book. An answer key ($8) rather than a teachers manual is available.
Latin Grammar II ($23): After a review exam and several review chapters, Latin Grammar II moves on to advanced grammar concepts needed to read original Latin works. Verb forms (infinitives, subjunctive mood, participles, etc.) are a large part of the study during this year. Lessons eighteen through twenty-eight are readings from Caesar's Commentary on the Gallic Wars, while lessons twenty-nine through thirty-four are readings from The Aeneid.
Additional translation work appears in the appendix. Section thirty-five contains a large selection from The Aeneid and its translation. The book of Esther (Hester) from the Latin Vulgate is in section thirty-six; the King James Version translation is in section thirty-seven. The remaining sections of Latin Grammar II contain hymns, Psalms, a summary of Latin Grammar, a bibliography, and a glossary.
The Latin Grammar II teachers manual ($23) reproduces the student manual and has notations, answers, and translations in boxes in a similar format to Matin Latin. Activities to make the course more stimulating are suggested. No supplementary materials are available for Latin Grammar.
Mrs. Craig, the author, asserts that the successful completion of Latin Grammar II will be the equivalent of two years of rigorous high school Latin.
Recommendation: Latin Grammar offers a comprehensive study of Latin and an introduction to classical literature. It also has a positive biblical focus. The thorough explanations in Latin Grammar make it a good choice for those who are not Latin experts. Because it moves along at a rapid pace and introduces large amounts of vocabulary, Latin Grammar would be best suited to the student who has successfully completed the Latin Primer series; however, a diligent scholar could make up for the lack of prerequisite courses through increased study.
HomeschoolChristian.com resources related to this review:
Latin Curricula Comparison Chart to help select an introductory or intensive program.
Interview with Karen Craig
Interview with Douglas Wilson
Review of Matin Latin
Review of Latin Primer
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