Author Topic: Teaching Latin to Children (Read 3819 times)

MaterDominici · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2015, 02:31:47 PM »

Quote from: Jaynek

I use Memoria Press Prima Latina starting at around 7, whenever they read English fluently. I am using it with my oldest grandson now.

It has pronunciation CDs but I don't use them. I don't like their accent.

Do you know if they have samples of the audio? I don't think I'd attempt anything that doesn't have audio pronunciation since I don't know much Latin myself. The only reason I concluded that the program we were doing wasn't very good was that they were inconsistent.

For example: magistra, in the song they'd pronounce it mah-jee-stra and on the pronunciation CD they'd say mah-gee-stra (with g like goat).

Lad, any chance I can talk you into downloading the audio files from the book you linked to and giving me your 2c on their pronunciation? I'm of course looking for a program that does a good job with ecclesiastical pronunciation.

Mabel · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2015, 03:00:57 PM »

I use Memoria Press as well.
We start Prima Latina around second grade, at the beginning of the year or midway, really whenever the child is reading well enough to read the simple vocabulary. I help them with the workbook, I don't write for them but I am there to read directions. We spend 5-15 minutes each day, working at the pace of the student.

After Prima Latina is done we move on to Latina Christiana I. Also done at a student's pace. One child has stretched this over two years, and is a great Latin student, possibly even better than my speedy Latin child. I would say the range would be third-fourth grade here. Again, 5-15 minutes per day, or more if you buy enrichment materials.

Next we do the First Form Series. I think this series is excellent and much better than where the Latina Chrisitana books were going. There is ample practice and the text is not cartoony or colorful (I'm all about business). I also allow us to go at the student's pace, however, I've noticed that my students really are on a roll with Latin at this point. They get it. I'd say that it takes 15-25 minutes to complete, maybe more if review is necessary.

I am satisfied with Memoria's materials and will continue. I don't purchase the DVD but every once in a great while I might listen to the PL or LC CDs to hear a word, usually words with "q" in them. I don't think their pronunciation is wonderful but my ears are spoiled by going to mass in a small room with a priest whose Latin was flawless for many years.

I'm considering having my oldest take the National Latin Exam this year or next year.

Personally, I would never consider not teaching Latin. If we are busy, we always finish at least Latin and math every day. It is important for us as Catholics and for the development of the mind.

Jaynek · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2015, 03:23:12 PM »

Quote from: MaterDominici

Quote from: Jaynek
I use Memoria Press Prima Latina starting at around 7, whenever they read English fluently. I am using it with my oldest grandson now.

It has pronunciation CDs but I don't use them. I don't like their accent.

Do you know if they have samples of the audio? I don't think I'd attempt anything that doesn't have audio pronunciation since I don't know much Latin myself. The only reason I concluded that the program we were doing wasn't very good was that they were inconsistent.

For example: magistra, in the song they'd pronounce it mah-jee-stra and on the pronunciation CD they'd say mah-gee-stra (with g like goat).

They do have a lot of sample pages on their website but I don't think they have any audio. They pronounce it with a Southern US accent which just seems strange with Latin. I keep waiting for them to say "Salvete, y'all."

The inconsistency you are describing looks like they are combining ecclesiastical pronunciation (the first one) with classical (the second). That would be bad.

Centroamerica · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2015, 04:06:58 PM »

Quote from: Jaynek

Quote from: MaterDominici
Quote from: Jaynek
I use Memoria Press Prima Latina starting at around 7, whenever they read English fluently. I am using it with my oldest grandson now.

It has pronunciation CDs but I don't use them. I don't like their accent.

Do you know if they have samples of the audio? I don't think I'd attempt anything that doesn't have audio pronunciation since I don't know much Latin myself. The only reason I concluded that the program we were doing wasn't very good was that they were inconsistent.

For example: magistra, in the song they'd pronounce it mah-jee-stra and on the pronunciation CD they'd say mah-gee-stra (with g like goat).

They do have a lot of sample pages on their website but I don't think they have any audio. They pronounce it with a Southern US accent which just seems strange with Latin. I keep waiting for them to say "Salvete, y'all."

The inconsistency you are describing looks like they are combining ecclesiastical pronunciation (the first one) with classical (the second). That would be bad.

Teaching kids Latin is very important. the benefits are immeasurable.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2015, 08:35:22 PM »

I have long disagreed with the customary/classical method for teaching Latin where you memorize lists of inflections (declensions, conjugations, etc.). It's an unnatural method for leaning a language, does not lead to fluency, and is certainly not conducive to the minds of younger children. There's a lady from Christendom College who put together a more natural learning method, but I can't find it all of a sudden. I had intended to do something similar years ago but never managed to get around to it. That's why Latin had been deemed inaccessible to students before 7th grade or so. But I'm sure that Roman children were quite fluent in it well before then, eh?