Curricula and Learning Links
Classical and Charlotte Mason Methods
Living With Latin At Home
By Martha Robinson
You've read about the many benefits of learning Latin: improved vocabulary, higher performance on standardized tests, better understanding of English grammar, and increased cultural literacy, leading down the road to wisdom. Your children are up for the intellectual challenge, and you are feeling like a brave leap into a new educational world. Drum roll......
Now you've done it! You've made the decision to study Latin in your homeschool. Congratulating yourself, you think of how your children will thank you in the years to come for this outstanding addition to their education. You see them with high test scores, diplomas, professional degrees..... Suddenly, your beautiful dream is interrupted by the Jaws theme music. LATIN! Aaaaagh!
Really, Latin doesn't have to be so frightening! Take a deep breath and consider the following steps for a peaceful and successful adventure into the language of the ancient Romans.
Choose a program that fits your children's learning style AND your teaching style.
Homeschoolers have revived the Latin text market, and many different programs are available for your use. Survey the market beginning with the Latin Comparison Chart. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before choosing:
- How ready are your children for Latin? Your child should be a strong reader with at least some background in phonics before beginning Latin as Latin pronunciation is generally taught using phonics. While learning vocabulary and chants of noun and verb endings is easy for little ones, understanding the grammar will be much easier for children who are well-established with their school work, and programs are available for many age ranges. Don't rush into Latin. It's been around for a long time and will be still be here when your student is ready!
- How much time do you want to spend preparing to teach and teaching? Some programs such as The Latin Road to English Grammar suggest that you do the program a week in advance of your student. Others like Artes Latinae have the student working almost entirely on his own with little assistance or preparation on the part of the parent. Many programs offer video lessons that are extremely helpful to busy or Latin-fearful parents.
- What is your student's learning style? While many of the programs have audios for pronunciation, most are workbook based. In contrast, Artes Latinae is available as a computer program; Henle, Ecce Romani, and Latin Grammar are text-based; while Latin in the Christian Trivium and The Latin Road to English Grammar use a method in which the student creates his own Latin notebook.
- Do you want a faith-based Latin program? While much of the curricula is Christian-based, programs such as Ecce Romani, Artes Latinae, Power-Glide, Minimus, and Phenomenon of Language: Tabula Latina are secular.
- Do you have a preference in pronunciation? Your choices are classical and ecclesiastical. Since there aren't any Romans around to critique our pronunciation, this really is not a crucial item, but if you are planning on singing church songs in Latin, you may prefer ecclesiastical.
Learn with your children.
Of course, you don't have to learn Latin with your children, but they will have much more success if you do. Working alongside them doing drills, chants, and exercises will help the entire family understand Latin better.
Be diligent.
The quickest way to fail at Latin is to let it slide. Latin is a subject that must be diligently studied with time spent EVERY school day, and the more time spent, the better the results will be. Vocabulary flash cards should be drilled, and chants should be recited along with whatever exercises are called for in the lesson of the day. Spending forty-five minutes to an hour a day on Latin at the junior high and high school level is appropriate.
Have patience.
Be patient, with your children and yourself. If you keep pushing a little more every day, you will find that Latin comes easier and easier, but it takes time. For homeschooling parents with multiple children and many responsibilities, it will take extra time. Keep at it every day, and wait patiently for results. The old saying that "Rome wasn't built in a day" is applicable to the study of Rome's native language!
Make it fun!
After all that drill and study, Latin is going to be dull, right? WRONG! Keep it fun by studying Rome's history, culture, and wisdom. Dress up like Romans and eat reclining. Cook Roman food. Try writing on wax tablets (candles.) Make up games like bingo or Jeopardy using vocabulary or historical information. Learn Roman numbers. Label things around the house with their Latin names. Speak Latin to each other.
The study of Latin is interesting and rewarding in many ways! It will give you a tremendous sense of accomplishment and will give your children a boost in academics and on their path to achieving wisdom. By following the guidelines above, you CAN continue the educational traditions of more than two thousand years in your homeschool today.
HomeschoolChristian.com Resources Related to This Article
See the HomeschoolChristian.com Review Page for many Latin reviews. Also see our Latin curriculum comparison chart.
Interview with Karen Craig, author of Matin Latin
Interview with Mary Harrington, co-author of Latin in the Christian Trivium
Interview with Cheryl Lowe, author of Latina Christiana
Studying Latin - Tips about getting started.
