Curricula and Learning Links - Classical and Charlotte Mason Methods
Studying Greek
Heather: I'm seriously considering starting Greek with my five year old. Maybe "Hey Andrew Teach Me Some Greek", as it seems very young child friendly. She has been doing Spanish for about a year already. Is 4/Kindergarten too young? Is there anything special I should take into consideration for her age?
Karen Mohs, author of Hey Andrew: It is likely that your four-year-old daughter will enjoy four-year-old Andrew teaching the Greek alphabet in our Hey, Andrew! series. The Level One workbook, a companion volume to The Reader, will give her practice learning and reviewing the alphabet. If Mary is not ready for the "pencil" work of the Level One workbook, she can learn and review the Greek letters using the flashcards (provided at the back of the workbook or available for individual purchase). We also have audio pronunciation available on cassette tapes or CDs. In both formats, an alphabet song helps reinforce learning the names and order of the letters. [Editor's note: See HomeschoolChristian.com's review of Hey Andrew! and reviews of other Greek programs on our Reviews Page.]
Martha Robinson: The Bluedorns recommend having little ones learn the Greek and Hebrew alphabets. Check out the interviews of their books for young ones: Little Bitty Baby Learns Hebrew and Little Bitty Baby Learns Greek
Can you recommend some Greek resources?
Briva: Greek in Thirty Minutes a Day
Kathy in MA:
- NT Greek Complete New Testament Greek course on-line, free.
- Luzius Schneider freeware We type the words from the Greek program into the "Quiz" program and then use the files to play "Flip Flop".
- The Lord's Prayer in Greek
- Why Study Greek?
- New Testament Greek for Beginners by J. Gresham Machen
Monica C: I am wondering if I have too high expectations, or if we started too young. My daughter is 6 and our progression through Hey Andrew and the Alphabetarion have been very slow and even I am get frustrated in learning it with her. My daughter is auditory so I have been searching in vain for songs to help her with the alphabet or even software that is geared for younger children. All I have found is for adults.... Maybe I should just drop it for awhile until I learn it?
Martha R.: YES, I think you started too early! Did you know that a motivated adult can learn everything he needs to know about reading, writing, and basic math in about 6 months? My point here is that you can beat your head against the wall and have your child go nuts too by trying to do things too early, or you can wait till she is ready, and have it go much faster. Why not focus on English phonics, reading, Bible stories, etc. for now and catch the Greek in a couple years?
How close is Biblical Greek to modern Greek?
Rev. Steve Hislop: I read the New Testament Greek quite well, and don't have any problem with the classical Greek of the ancient philosophers of Athens. But, I DO have a big problem reading modern Greek--there seems to be so much of a wide gap between them, or maybe it's a lot the differences in vocabularies.
Debbie G.: Our pastor mentioned once that when he worked with a lady from Greece, and tried speaking with her, she said it was like listening to Chaucerian English. Also, if you study Biblical (Koine) Greek, it is usually directed toward reading the New Testament, which means you work with a set vocabulary. Much of that will still be used, but you may not have all the vocabulary you need for modern conversation/reading. And there may be slight changes in word meaning over time as you find in English, for example.
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