Learn to Read Latin (Paper Set) (Yale Language Series) [Paperback]

Andrew Keller (Author), Stephanie Russell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0300103549 | ISBN-13: 978-0300103540 | Publication Date: December 11, 2003 | Edition: Workbook

A Latin grammar and reader all in one, Learn to Read Latin presents basic Latin morphology and syntax with clear explanations and examples, and it offers direct access to great works of Latin literature even at the earliest stages of learning the language. As beginning students learn basic forms and grammar, they also gain familiarity with patterns of Latin word order and other features of style, thus becoming well prepared for later, more difficult texts. No other beginning Latin book contains unaltered versions of ancient texts. Learn to Read Latin includes the writings of such authors as Caesar, Cicero, Sallust, Catullus, Vergil, and Ovid, arranged chronologically and accompanied by introductions to each author and each work. These readings serve as the chief training texts around which the book's fifteen chapters are constructed. A workbook is also available, providing abundant drills for each chapter of the text. The workbook exercises can be used in the classroom, for homework assignments, for extra individual drill work, or as a home study tool.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"This book offers an excellent introduction to Latin, significantly improving upon Wheelock's Latin and other existing textbooks that follow a grammar-oriented approach."-John F. Miller, University of Virginia

About the Author

Andrew Keller is associate professor of the classics at Colgate University. Stephanie Russell is a classics teacher at Collegiate School in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1062 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; Workbook edition (December 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300103549
• ISBN-13: 978-0300103540
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #318,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Jenney's and Wheelock's, August 9, 2006

By 

Percival L. Bright (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Learn to Read Latin (Paper Set) (Yale Language Series) (Paperback)

By the end of high school I had completed five years of Latin courses, including AP Latin, using both the Jenney's (probably now obsolete) and the Wheelock's texts. There was a gap of nearly four years between my last Latin class in high school and my first Latin course in college, and that gap was long enough that I forgot nearly everything I had previously learned. The intro college course that I took was using this textbook for the first time, and I myself, my classmates, and my instructor were all very pleased with it.

Despite the complaints of some other reviewers, the grammar-based approach employed by this text is here executed almost flawlessly. Fundamental vocabulary and grammatical pinciples are provided in seamless order and are explained thoroughly. The workbook, of course, is an essential companion to the text--the two are sold as a pair for a reason. As with any inflected, grammar-based natural language, repetition in reading explanations and completing drills and exercises is essential. And it cannot be repeated too often that Latin was at one time a spoken language, thus repetition is a necessity. Having used other texts, I can say without hesitation that this text best provides a strong foundation for reading Latin literature at the intermediate and advanced levels.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great updating of the grammatical approach, January 10, 2008

By 

Ian Drummond "Ian Drummond" (Beverly, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Learn to Read Latin (Paper Set) (Yale Language Series) (Paperback)

This is a thorough introduction to the classical Latin language. And I do mean thorough. Russell and Keller are to be commended for introducing the complexity of Latin without apology, but also without assuming prior knowledge. It is up to the instructor (or the self-taught student) how much should be required to learn, because it really is quite a lot, being modeled on the Greek and Latin Intensive courses.

The textbook is actually appropriate for three whole semesters, because of (1) its thoroughness, and (2) the readings. The reason this book is so long is the enormous number of readings all along, but especially from chapter 8 on (to 15). There are many pages, from prose and poetry, of various authors, all with glossed vocabulary (but not grammar, see below). This means that a Latin class can "slow down" in the second semester a bit and do a lot of reading. The last four chapters have "continuous readings" from four major authors (Cicero, Caesar, Sallust and Catullus, I think), that that can take up the end of the second semester and a lot of the third.

The workbook is truly great, as well. There are far more (twice as many, three times?) exercises as can be gone through, so there is flexibility. Some can be done in class at sight, some done for homework, and there will still be ones available for additional work one-on-one if needed. In addition, there are at least 75 drill sentences per chapter that carefully reinforce all the grammar, syntax and morphology from the chapter.

After teaching from this book for a semester, my main suggestions would be:

1. Add grammatical (in addition to the vocabulary) notes to the longer and continuous readings.

2. Offer, as an option, artificial Latin, perhaps in the form of a continuous story (cf. the "reading method") from the beginning. The nearly universal "complaint" from my students was the "drudgery" of nothing but disconnected "drill" sentences in the first semester. It isn't until chapter 7 or 8 (i.e. the second semester) that the readings at the end of each chapter become long enough to be "interesting."

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A student of Mrs. Russell's that uses the book, May 28, 2004

By 

Daren McGregor (Mount Vernon, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learn to Read Latin (Paper Set) (Yale Language Series) (Paperback)

The book Learn to Read Latin is a great textbook for young Latin students. It teaches the language intuitively and moves at a steady pace which allows the student to understand the language. Conjugations, declensions, and other Latin syntax is all gone through systematically, as opposed to the confusing way that the Cambridge Course uses. The book also gives insight into, and information about, everyday Roman life through actual readings of Cicero, Sulla, and many other figures in Ancient Roman history. Lastly, I found that through the process of learning Latin, my ability to understand and use the English language was vastly improved. All in all, the textbook provides an excellent learning experience for anyone interested in learning Latin, whether on the beginner or advanced level.