Review: Getting Started with Latin

Getting Started with Latin: Beginning Latin for Homeschoolers and Self-Taught Students of Any Age by William E. Linney
Armfield Academic Press, June 2007, 224 pages
ISBN: 0979505100
www.gettingstartedwithlatin.com

To prepare for this review, I decided to put this book to practical use. Nightly, as our family sits down to family prayers, husband begins by doing a lesson orally with the kids. It's been a hit, a very nice family activity indeed. We all participate, from first to tenth grader, mom included. For some of us it's mostly review, for some it is all new, but we all look forward to it.

Getting Started with Latin is an introductory adventure into Latin. The path is easy with short lessons: only one new word or concept is introduced per lesson. Some lessons introduce a peculiarity of Latin or a grammar point. Sprinkled amidst the lessons there are interesting explanations of Latin expressions that we commonly encounter in English. For instance, between lessons 83 and 84 there is page entitled "Have you ever wondered what per capita means?"

The format is also suitable for being read aloud with a group of students or your whole family. We have enjoyed it as a family very much! And no, you do not need previous knowledge of Latin.

"A good general introduction!", says my husband. For the Catholic homeschooler this volume can serve well as a next level Latin for beginning students or for the next level for students who have done Our Roman Roots, albeit these will be able to go quite quickly through the first twenty lessons or so.

The book has a companion website with resources and downloadable pronunciation both on Classical and Ecclesiastical styles. Also, you can preview many sample pages.