First Latin, A Language Discovery Program
by Marion Polsky
Reviewed by Martha Robinson
Purchase details: First Latin, A Language Discovery Program, 2nd edition, by Marion Polsky. Published by Scott Foresman Addison Wesley. Student books 1 and 2 ($12.47 each), Teacher's Guide 1 and 2 ($39.47 each), cassette ($19.47), and cue cards ($49.47.) To order call, 1-800-848-9500. Homeschoolers must fill out a form stating that they are homeschool teachers in order to order tests and teacher materials. Support HomeschoolChristian.com by buying First Latin from our Amazon affiliate link.
First Latin offers 22 lessons in Roman culture and basic Latin for elementary and middle school aged students. The program consists of two "student activity books" and their associated teacher's guides, a cassette of all Latin words and phrases using classical pronunciation, and a set of "cue cards" which were not reviewed.
In addition to basic Latin, First Latin focuses on Roman "social studies." Family life, mythology, slavery, and gladiatorial contests are some of the topics covered. The teacher's manual suggests that the students' cultural interests were kept in mind with a discussion of the underwear worn by Romans. A family is introduced and followed through the marriage of the thirteen-year-old daughter in the last lesson. Different types of families are introduced in lesson 7 and divorce is presented as a common occurrence among upper class families. The program has many "questions to think about" to help the child draw parallels between Roman times and now.
The two 72-page workbooks are illustrated with black and white line drawings. Fill-in-the-blank and matching are the primary techniques, but there are occasional word search, crossword puzzle, or multiple choice options. The majority of the first workbook introduces vocabulary through very basic translations and line drawings with all objects labeled in Latin. Derivatives are emphasized throughout the program in the "word play" and other sections.
The "language discovery" section, which begins with lesson 10, contrasts Latin grammar with what the student already knows in English. Subjects (noun gender and number), verbs (first conjugation present and imperfect), direct objects, prepositional phrases, and adverbs are introduced in an elementary way as building blocks for Latin study. The emphasis is on recognizing basic Latin words and translating them. Latin terms such as cases and conjugations are never mentioned.
The teacher's manuals for this program are essential. Written for teachers who know nothing of Latin, the manual offers detailed plans for a classroom environment including games and competitions for the students, homework, songs and expressions in Latin, and projects. The emphasis on speaking Latin in the classroom is revealed and explained in these 260 page books. The student book is completely reproduced within the teacher's manual with answers and detailed notes explaining many items that the student could ask about. Answers to discussion questions are included as well as more detailed information on the cultural sections. A complete vocabulary listing and reproducible quizzes and tests are in the appendix.
The audio tape includes a male and a female voice. The items are read very rapidly so repetition would be necessary to get everything. The cue cards, which were not reviewed, are used for classroom activities and games.
Recommendation: First Latin focuses on Roman culture and derivatives with only the most basic Latin being introduced. This is a secular program used in public schools, so a certain amount of political correctness is present, as noted in the above summary. At over $100 for the year, some families might not be able to fit First Latin into the budget. If you are not sure you would like to study Latin or have a reluctant student, this could be an interesting introduction.
HomeschoolChristian.com resources related to this review:
Latin Curricula Comparison Chart to help select an introductory or intensive program.
HomeschoolChristian.com's Classic Languages Resource Section
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