Greek Langauge study in home schooling

[Patagonia]

Hi. I notice that there are two schools of thought on teaching Latin and Greek simultaneously. I would appreciate any thoughts on the topic, especially in undertaking a gradual and easy launch of both at the age that Memoria Press recommends starting Latin studies. Secondly, can anyone recommend primary school level Greek curriculum, kind of like a 'Prima Greeka' or 'Greeka Christiana' :-)? The only one I have found is 'Hey Arthur', which is koine. Thank you. Scott

[jeremiah213]

Patagonia,

There is a reason that you can't find any Greek primer texts for younger students... you'd have to be crazy to attempt it. :) I'm overstating my case of course, but let me say like this... Latin is like Greek...but fixed. Greek is a highly technical, a bit disorganized language. The third declension alone has like 5 different charts... the verb aspects are crazy and there is a lot of crassis (vowel combining) and form changing. Latin simplifies, regulates, and normalizes this mess.

We teach Latin early because we want our students to know English, and be able to think logically, and orderly, not because we want them to converse with Romans or translate ancient texts with ease. It is the logical-order of Latin that draws us to learning it young, Greek, in it's disorder would actually accomplish the opposite.

If you have dreams of your children being able to read the Bible, or other ancient texts in these original languages... hold on to those dreams, however realize that there are thousands of masters-level students in Seminaries and Bible-schools all over the country that struggle hard to be just barely proficient at Greek, so to you sir I say

...Greek studier beware...

Glen Moore
Student of Hebrew, Greek, Latin and other assorted formerly-dead languages

[Patagonia]

Dear Glen,

What a marvelously appropriate, gracious, and, best of all, helpful response to my question. It is not easy graciously to put a sizable speed bump in someone's path when you are convinced he is likely heading toward a non-negotiable bend at almost any speed, and I thank you for doing so/saying it. Your response has freed me up significantly to think again, and it feels right, 'in the gut', to be doing so. Thank you, sir.

Tibi gratias ago (I think that's right; I won't attempt it in Greek)

Scott (Patagonia, and a Patrick O'Brian fan)