Study groups!

[geekchic9]

Hey, I'm interesting in forming a study group for Latin and possibly another for math.

About Latin:

I've read several articles on this site that Henle Latin is the way to go for grades 8 and up, but I'm willing to start at an earlier level if that seems to scary for you all. I've purchased Memoria Press' "First Year Henle Latin" study guide that spends 30 weeks on Units 1 and 2 of Henle Latin I. It breaks down each week into 5 days. I think that is reasonable enough for adults as well as children. What do you all think?

About Math:

I don't think Memoria Press publishes a math textbook. I've tried Saxon and I don't like it, because I don't think it's organized well. Have any of you tried any other math textbooks? Singapore math is intriguing and the books are rather cheap. They run between $11-$20 each. Is anyone interested in this?

[Maria]

geekchic9,

According to this page (http://www.memoriapress.com/articles/outline.html), Henle's First Year Latin could be started as early as 5th or 6th grade! At that level completing only the first couple units would be plenty. However, adults may need to move faster; I think completing the first five or seven units in one year is good for adults and high school students (if you want to give high school credit, you'll need to complete at least the first seven).

Maria

[geekchic9]

You raise a good point, Maria! My only problem with this is that I haven't seen any structure given for covering Units 1-7. I have an idea for using the Henle Latin Study Guides to provide that needed structure:

We could cover each week at a faster pace than recommended. For example, we could cover each week's worth of work in a day. That would mean that we cover "First Year Henle Latin Study Guide" in 6 weeks, covering 5 lessons a week. We could complete "Second Year Henle Latin Study Guide" in another 6 weeks. Assuming a 15 week semester, that leaves 3 weeks left for units 6 and 7. It would be a big rush, but this way we could cover the first 7 units in a semester.

What do you think?

EDIT: I have another, more sane idea: We could cover each Henle lesson in 1 week. If we assume a 15 week semester, we could cover 15 lessons the first semester, and the other 14 lessons the second semester. That way, we cover Units 1-8 in a school year. That would leave Units 9-14 for a second year. Saner, right?

[Maria]

geekchic9,

You raise a good point, Maria! My only problem with this is that I haven't seen any structure given for covering Units 1-7.
Yeah, the Memoria Press guides don't proceed that fast. However, you do have a couple other options:

1) You can get Laura Berquist's guides here (http://www.emmanuelbooks.com/product_detail.cfm?ID=1142&user=811932692), and/or

2) You can join one or more of the Henle Latin Yahoo Groups listed below. The main group is for anyone who is using/teaching Henle. The other subgroups are study groups with syllabi. The FY1, FY9, and FY17 groups together will take you through units 1-7 of FYL in one year, and the FY27 and FY37 groups will get you through units 8-14 in the second year. After you finish FYL, you can join the SY group, etc.

Main Henle List: HenleLatin-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Beginning Study Group: HenleLatin-FY1-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Starting in lesson 9: HenleLatin-FY9-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Starting in lesson 17: HenleLatin-FY17-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Starting in lesson 27: HenleLatin-FY27-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Starting in lesson 37: HenleLatin-FY37-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Second Year Book: HenleLatin-SY-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Third Year Book: HenleLatin-TY-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

EDIT: I have another, more sane idea: We could cover each Henle lesson in 1 week. If we assume a 15 week semester, we could cover 15 lessons the first semester, and the other 14 lessons the second semester. That way, we cover Units 1-8 in a school year. That would leave Units 9-14 for a second year. Saner, right?
It would seem so. However, the units are not all of equal length or difficulty. I highly recommend the Yahoo groups. Even if you only join the main group, you will gain a lot.

Maria

[geekchic9]

Ok, I have bought the MODG Syllabus for Latin I and II covered in a year. I have also subscribed to the main group and the first 8 lessons group. I can't wait till the syllabus comes in. Until then, I will have to wait.

Thanks for all your help!

Geekchic9

[Maria]

Uh...I'm afraid you ordered the wrong syllabus; that syllabus covers units 1-14 (the whole book) in only one year, which is way too fast for most people. The syllabi you need are the individual Latin I and II syllabi, covering Henle's FYL in two years. (Henle's FYL is actually worth two years of high school Latin.)

I forgot to mention in my previous post that you only need to join the main Henle group, not the individual study groups (FY1, FY9, FY17, etc.), if you will be using the Berquist syllabi, and vice versa. I apologize for any confusion this caused.

Maria

[geekchic9]

Yikes! And here I was, thinking I was getting a good deal and saving $30 on the syllabi. I wonder if I can cancel the order...

EDIT: I'm not sure if I can cancel or change the order. Do you really think doing the entire book in a year would be too fast for adults, even if they were dedicated?

[Maria]

geekchic9,

Do you really think doing the entire book in a year would be too fast for adults, even if they were dedicated?
Unfortunately, yes. Unless they already have a very good foundation in English grammar and a lot of time on their hands, it would be very difficult to complete the whole book in one school year.

I'm not sure if I can cancel or change the order.
If you email the company immediately and explain your dilemma, I'm quite sure they can help you.

Maria

[geekchic9]

If it's so hard to complete the whole book in a year, I wonder why do they sell syllabi that does precisely that? Maybe it's for people who have a Latin background already, and, like you said, an excellent grasp on English grammar and plenty of time on their hands.

I've emailed the company from which I've ordered the syllabi. Fortunately, the order has not been processed yet. I'm crossing my fingers!

Geekchic9

[Maria]

Geekchic9,

If it's so hard to complete the whole book in a year, I wonder why do they sell syllabi that does precisely that?
I've wondered that myself.

Maybe it's for people who have a Latin background already, and, like you said, an excellent grasp on English grammar and plenty of time on their hands.
I think so. I completed Henle's FYL in six months, but I had previously completed Latina Christiana, had a good understanding of English grammar, and devoted 12 or more hours a week (maybe even 18 hours some weeks) to studying Latin.

Maria

[geekchic9]

I've got good news! Emmanuel books changed my order to the correct syllabi for Henle FY, units 1-7. They were also extremely kind about the matter. I will remember to continue to use them.

I think so. I completed Henle's FYL in six months, but I had previously completed Latina Christiana, had a good understanding of English grammar, and devoted 12 or more hours a week (maybe even 18 hours some weeks) to studying Latin.


Were you homeschooled, Maria? Or was this an independent project you took up on your own? If it's the latter, could you give me any advice about studying Latin?

Geekchic9

[Maria]

Geekchic9,

I've got good news! Emmanuel books changed my order to the correct syllabi for Henle FY, units 1-7.
Great! :)

Were you homeschooled, Maria? Or was this an independent project you took up on your own? If it's the latter, could you give me any advice about studying Latin?
I was homeschooled K-12; however, I studied most of my high school subjects independently. Neither of my parents knows any Latin. I taught myself Latina Christiana in 9th grade and Henle's FYL in 12th. I intended to continue with my study of Latin after high school, but I never got around to it until over a year later. By that time I had forgotten a good portion of what I had learned, and so I skimmed FYL to refresh my memory. I'm currently in the middle of Henle's SYL.

I have found two things to be indispensable for learning Latin successfully: 1) daily recitation of grammar paradigms from memory, and 2) daily vocabulary drill via flash cards.

About daily recitation of grammar paradigms: For the first half of FYL you'll need to recite all the paradigms you know everyday. But as you get into the second half you'll start accumulating so many that it will be more convenient to divide them over a week. For example, you could do all the declensions on Monday, the first conjugation on Tuesday, the second conjugation on Wednesday, etc.

About daily vocabulary drill: I HIGHLY recommend making and using flash cards. At first I used paper flash cards, but now I enter the words into a vocabulary drill program called VTrain, available here (http://www.vtrain.net/). If you decide to use VTrain, let me know and I will PM you some tips and tricks for using it. (Note: Please wait until you begin your study of Latin to get VTrain because you get a 30 day trial before you have to pay for it. I've heard that some people prefer paper cards to computerized cards, and you might find yourself to be the same way. So please wait until you begin your study of Latin so that you can give VTrain a fair trial.)

Maria

[geekchic9]

Thanks for all of the great advice, Maria. I will check out VTrain when I get my MODG syllabi. That should be next week.

BTW, are you a college student now? If so, what university do you attend?Plus, how do you find time for Henle in your busy schedule?

Geekchic9

[Maria]

Geekchic9,

Thanks for all of the great advice, Maria.
I'm glad to be of help. :) Not having anyone in my family interested in Latin, I appreciate the opportunity to share my experience and interest in Latin with the online community!

BTW, are you a college student now? If so, what university do you attend?
No, I'm not in college.

Plus, how do you find time for Henle in your busy schedule?
I make time! ;) Well, since I'm not in college, it's not too hard to find time for independent study projects.

Maria