Hi ladies,
What have you used for teaching foreign languages? What language are you studying?
Anyone doing Latin? What benefit do you find from studying Latin?
Christine

Hi Christine,
I teach Spanish but studied Latin first. I believe Latin is a wonderful first language to study because of its foundation for other Romance languages (i.e. Spanish, Italian, etc.). My 10 year old grandaughter is homeschooling Latin and considers it very interesting.

My son took Latin 1 at our homeschool co-op. My oldest daughter will take it next year, and will probably continue on to Latin 2 and possible Latin 3 before she graduates. She took a Greek & Latin Roots Vocabulary class this year and loved it (and did very well). At home we're using Rosetta Stone to study Spanish (starting this fall) and we've all be learning sign language for the past few years using video courses. Aly, my 15-yr-old, loves languages and wants to study Latin, Spanish, and ASL. She'll probably take ASL at the community college when she's in 11th grade.
Lori

Hi,
Welcome SEM! Come on by and introduce yourself!
We did one year of Latin in 7th grade. Then my 2 high schoolers did Rosetta Stone for the last two years - one in French, one in Spanish. We liked it, but really felt it needed to be supplemented with some more grammar and writing practice. So, you might want to look to something to add to it.
Anyone here used the Latin Road to English Grammar?
How do we feel about Latin?
Christine

Hi Christine,
I have purchased "The Latin Road to English Grammar" by Schola Publications (www.thelatinroad.com). It looks like a great program and I have only spoke to one person who went through (and truly learned/and retained and enjoyed) the program. It is a three year program that counts as 2 years foreign language and o1 year of High School Grammar as well. My daughter is in 5th grade so I am considering waiting one year so that we can finish up in the summer of Ninth Grade so that she can get High School credits for the program...I will be attending a workshop on this in July. Just thought I'd let you know about the proram... All the reviews that I have been able to find have been very favorable. It is a little bit pricey, but the premise of the education and how it is laid out (especially for those of us who never had Latin) made it worth it for me.
I will update you when we start it and get going to let you know...

Hi Ann Marie,
Please do keep us posted. Why is Latin so intimidating? It's just a foreign language!
Anyone else here a Latin scholar?
Christine

Hi Christine,
Well I decided to wait until 6th grade to do the Latin Road so that we can finish in/or the summer before ninth grade so that we can count it as High School Credit. We will be doing sign language this year...

Our plans are having to change as far as foreign languages go. Since we are moving, we won't have our co-op anymore, or the community college. We will have similar options in Texas, I just don't know what they are yet. I may look into the Latin Road to English Grammar. I had considered it before, but the Latin teacher at co-op is so wonderful I decided to go with her instead. Aly even said the other day that she's not sure she wants to take Latin from someone else because she loves this teacher so much, so just knows there won't be anyone else like her. So maybe Latin Road would be a good thing for us. If we started it in January we'd have 2-1/2 yrs before Aly graduates so I'm not sure how that would work. My girls are in 10th, 8th & 7th grades now so they could all get high school credit for it. Does anyone know how it works when using it with several students in different grade levels? I know absolutely nothing about Latin, and Aly will only have had 9 weeks' worth of Latin I when we move, so is this a very teacher-intensive program, or is it more mom-friendly?
Lori

Hi Lori,
The Latin Road to Grammar was written with the home-school mom in mind. In fact it was written by a homeschool mother for her own children. She taught for another program, but wanted something more user friendly and a program that children would understand, learn and retain. I have met the author and attended a general information meeting at a homeschool conference. I bought the program and have looked reviewed it and I am excited about using it next year (my daughter is in fifth grade this year) we will start it next year. You can use it for multiple levels, each child will need there own notebook. It is suggested that the mom also do the program (for moms like me who have no prior latin knowledge, so that you can help, understand, and teach your child). I have read many reviews where the mother did not do the program and only had there child do it with the DVD's and it got great reveiws - It does also have pronounication CD's -no guessing on how something sounds Each daily lesson is broken down - no having to make a schedule. The website is www.thelatinroad.com You can also send emails to Barbara Beers and she is very gracious in answering questions. I also have another friend who used a different program last year and this year is using The Latin Road...I have only heard good things...
I pray that God will lead you Lori in the decisions that will be right for your family
Let us know what you decide and how it goes.

Ann Marie,
Thanks for the information. I talked to my daughter about it a little today. I think she wants to wait until we get moved and see what our options are there. She may decide to try another co-op, if that's available. If we go with Latin Road I'm thinking of starting Aly in January (she's 10th grade now) so she has 2-1/2 yrs to complete it. But I think I'll wait until next fall to start my younger two and take them thru it together (they'll be 8th & 9th grades then). Aly would even be able to help them if needed, which would be great for me! I'm all for learning with them, but I'm not sure my 40-something brain can handle it anymore! I'm trying to learn sign language with them and they retain it SO much better than I do! Anyway, I'll keep this in mind, and I'll let you know if we decide to give it a try.
Lori

Hi Ladies,
Can you educate me about Latin Road? Is it a complete language program? Does it include a writing component?
Christine

For a review of Latin Road to Grammar see:

http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/Reviews/LatinRoad.html

Farther down there is a link to Latin Programs comparison chart. I chose Matin Latin because I had no experience with Latin. I purchased the whole set, student and teacher workbooks, flash cards, worksheets. It teaches English grammar while introducing Latin, but for my 7th grade at the time it was review. "We" did pretty well it, I wasnt intimidated at all and plan to reuse it with my youngest next year for 5th. She's currently learning the Greek alphabet with the Bluedorn's Alphabetarian and really likes it.

Hey Briva,
You snuck in here ... Tell us about yourself!
Blessings,
christine