Getting Started With Latin

(subtitle: Beginning Latin for Homeschoolers and Self-Taught Students of Any Age)

Author: William E. Linney

Back-of-the-Book Description: What's preventing you from teaching Latin in your homeschool or learning it on your own? If you're intimidated because you've never studied Latin, bewildered by traditional Latin books that move too fast, or just don't know where to begin, then Getting Started with Latin is for you! Specifically designed to overcome these types of obstacles, Getting Started with Latin is divided into simple lessons that explain the fundamentals of Latin grammar in a way that anyone can grasp. Instead of burying you in mountains of information to memorize, new words and concepts are introduced in a gradual and systematic way. You can immediately apply what you've learned by translating the fun exercises at the end of each lesson. To hear the words pronounced, simply download the free MP3 files from www.gettingstartedwithlatin.com. Quickly check your work by turning to the included answer key. With everything you need here in one book, why aren't you Getting Started with Latin?

My Description: My family and I have been wanting to learn Latin for quite some time now. Mommy found this book on Amazon.com and ordered it.

It sat lonely on our shelf for a couple weeks before I pulled it down. I'll never forget my first lesson... "Nauta". It means sailor.

Now, for the actual review...

Mr. Linney gives us bite-sized lessons--usually only one page-worth--where we learn one word at a time, and sometimes learn Latin grammar. He makes it easy to grasp and though there were some times when I was slightly confused (the whole "Ablative Case" really mystified me. It took me a bit before I figured that out) I just kept going and I got it eventually.

I did, however, 'take a break' a couple times. Not purposely, but I just stopped studying... I was able to come back to it, though; almost without any trouble. By the end of this book I had a much-improved understanding of Latin, and more than just a foundation to build the house of language upon.

Getting Started With Latin is the only non-fiction book I've been truly wrapped up in. Practically all I read is fantasy, so being almost completely sucked-in wasn't something I expected. Now I love Latin. I really, truly do. He made it fun, interesting, and very lovable. I loved how it ended, and I also loved the little "Latin Expressions" he does every once in a while to keep us from getting bored (he explains some Latin phrases that are in our own language--like Summa Cum Laude). The FREE downloadable MP3s on his website helped quite a bit with my pronunciation, and the pronunciation guide in the back helped as well.

As much as I loved this book (and I mean really LOVED), I never fully appreciated it until I moved on to "The First Year of Latin". Don't get me wrong, it's good so far, and I'm excited about doing it, it's just the piles and piles of information in the INTRODUCTION, and the way it was written, and how small the text was... If I hadn't developed my love of Latin and that foundation from Mr. Linney's book, I would have been scared off. Instead, I took a few deep breathes and re-read the beginning. Turns out I was reading WAY more than I was supposed to, and after a bit I finally started catching on.

Anyways, to get to the bottom of it, if you want to get started with Latin, Getting Started With Latin is the way to go. Definitely. Positively. ABSOLUTELY.

Recommendations: To anyone who wants to learn Latin--if you can read, you could do it by yourself (like I did), but I'd recommend learning it with someone, if only so you can have someone to talk to in Latin and to share your new knowledge with (a job Dear Sister was forced to take, hehe. It's amazing how much she has learned without even reading passed lesson 8--she even skipped #6 and 7)

Pages: 224

Writing Rating: 9

Interest Level: 9

Overall Rating: 9 (it would be 10, but the book wasn't nearly long enough)

Book #48 of '08