What are some good resources for learning Latin?

[Schatzl]

I am a high school sophomore and I am interested in learning Latin. I already know most of the pronunciation for Ecclesiastical Latin. I also know a few Catholic prayers like the Pater Noster, Ave Maria, part of theGlory Be and the Sign of the Cross. I am only interested in learning on the side because I am bogged down with Spanish homework. Does anyone know any good sources for learning Latin on my own because I do not have time to take formal classes, and my school doesn't offer Latin as a choice, either you choose Spanish or you get a zero. I have heard mixed things about Rosetta Stone, people who are like college students taking it hate it and people who are like me all love it so I'm kind of stuck here. Books, software, online interactive lessons, websites, anything will do. Thanks in advance.

 

[Adrian]

I am a high school sophomore and I am interested in learning Latin. I already know most of the pronunciation for Ecclesiastical Latin. I also know a few Catholic prayers like the Pater Noster, Ave Maria, part of theGlory Be and the Sign of the Cross. I am only interested in learning on the side because I am bogged down with Spanish homework. Does anyone know any good sources for learning Latin on my own because I do not have time to take formal classes, and my school doesn't offer Latin as a choice, either you choose Spanish or you get a zero. I have heard mixed things about Rosetta Stone, people who are like college students taking it hate it and people who are like me all love it so I'm kind of stuck here. Books, software, online interactive lessons, websites, anything will do. Thanks in advance.

Salve (Hello) Schatzl,
Your nickname indicates that you might be either from Germany, Austria or Switzerland.
As a very disapointed owner of Rosetta Stone Latin, I strongly advise you not to buy it. It will not help you.
Your Auto didact of Latin will consist of three stages
I. Latin Basics (Student Book)
II. Grammar improvement + reading Latin texts
III. Latin prose/lyrical composition + practical conversational latin

ad I
Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata (you have to acquire the whole set: studybook, practisebook, audio companion, student's manual; teacher's manual, sermones etc.
follow the instructions in the teacher's manual and student's manual.)

II. Grammar improvement
Hermann Menge - Lehrbuch der lateinischen Syntax und Semantik
Latin texts - search for online billingual texts latin-german; if there aren't any, visit local library or academic library (faculty of classical philology); there you will certainly find german translations of most popular works of classical authors translated into german.
there are also a lot of translated works available on german online book stores:
http://www.libri.de/shop/action/magazine/35349/lateinische_buecher.html
Start with Aesop's fables, and bible then progress to more advanced text's (Cicero)
http://mythfolklore.net/aesopica/phaedrus/113.htm
http://studybible.info/Vulgate/Genesis 1
http://www.latinvulgate.com/

then progress to Cicero (search for bilingual texts online; search local libraries or academical libraries - they will have german translated works of Cicero; with comments regarding vocabulary and grammar constructions).

III. Latin prose composition:
http://www.libri.de/shop/action/quickSearch?facetNodeId=-1&searchString=latein composition&mainsearchSubmit=Los!
If you find your english command good, there are many free latin prose composition books available
http://archive.org/search.php?query=latin prose composition
Conversational latin:
Georg Capellanus, Sprechen Sie Latenisch
John C. Traupman, Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency

Hope to have been of any assistance to you.
Cura ut valeas! (Take care so you are well!)

 

[Schatzl]

Thank you very much. PS: I am from the US, Schatzl was just a nickname given to me by a group of friends. I only picked it because it's very easy to remember. I am very confident that your information will help.

 

[echidnas brown]

The best book will depend greatly on your personal learning style. There are quite a few different ones mentioned in the Latin Language Resources forum. If you have a look at some of them you can decide if they are right for you.
Classics were much more thoroughly taught in the past then they are now, so don't dismiss a book because it is old. Some of the older books are freely available on the internet.

 

[Schatzl]

Thank you, I think I'll look there now.

 

[metrodorus]

Hi.
You can try the resources on my Latin distance learning website http://latinum.org.uk

There is also quite a lot of free material on my YouTube channel - over 1000 Latin language (mostly) educational videos.

Evan

 

[Schatzl]

Thank you very much?

 

[Schatzl]

About last post, I used my iPod and hit the ? Instead of the . Sorry about that.
GRATIAS MVLTAS.