Customer Reviews

Learn to Read Latin (Paper Set) (Yale Language Series)

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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.

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."

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.

Wonderful! A rigorous model of clarity for the dedicated beginning and intermediate student. Conscientiously working through the text and workbook will lead to a thorough understanding of the basics of Latin, allowing the student to go on to advanced readings. I wish I had had a text like this when I first encountered Latin many decades ago.

In answer to previous comments about there not being an answer key available for the workbook, such a key for teachers, parents of home schoolers, and independent learners may be had for free (PDF format) upon request to the publisher Yale University Press.

I just finished my first Latin course at the undergrad level using this book. The book provides enough grammar points and vocab to get the student reading fast, but most of the essential information is relegated to the footnotes (a pain when reviewing for exams). I don't think I would have been able to understand the text without review in class. The book charges ahead without repeating lessons and it rarely makes the point to build on information already learned; it poses few juxtapositions what would be helpful to understand new concepts and it introduces vocabulary that isn't fully explained until the next chapter. The grammar notes are extensive, but they obscure key information by grouping it with the rest of the notes. The "real Latin" passages at the end of chapters are entertaining to puzzle out, but aren't the focus of the text. Unlike Wheelock's, it doesn't include helpful phrases or fun Latin facts and modern applications (although it does include lists of derivatives and cognates).
The workbook is essential for drills. It provides many Latin to English but few English to Latin sentences (a problem for those taking exams, maybe not for other readers). Finally, the lack of an answer key makes home study near impossible.

However, it is well organized in terms of subject headings and groupings of (some) concepts, making it easy to flip through and find topical information. The pull-outs at the back of the workbook review the major concepts in each chapter, helpful for quick review. The book is compact enough for easy carrying, but the workbook can be awkward at times. At least the pages tear out well.

Not such a great book, all in all. Ok for students in a classroom environment, but I think it would be awful for the independent learner.

I have recently begun studying latin on my own and is half-way through Wheelock's. I like it, but when I had a few seconds the other day to flicker through Keller, I realized that this book would probably have been the better choice. Perhaps I'll start with it after having finished Wheelock's. I have a question, though: is there a key to the workbook that independent learners can use?

I very much enjoy this textbook and the accompanying workbook. Each chapter starts with a list of vocabulary and then has several subsections dedicated to different grammatical points. The text is easy to understand and there are detailed footnotes for both the vocabulary and grammar.

The workbook goes along very well with the text and has a large number of drills to practice with. I'd estimate about 30+ short drills per subsection and around 60+ drill sentences at the end of each chapter.

I am currently learning with this text in a small university class but I would guess that if an independent learner contacted the publisher for a workbook answer key, the text would be great for independent learning as well.

This is the best Latin grammar out there, I have 6 different Latin grammars and I just wished I had found this sooner. If you enjoy Latin and want the most in-depth learning tool, get this, the price is high but completely worthy. If you are studying just because you have to, perhaps the best option would be Latin Via Ovid: A First Course Second Edition, which is more fun and lighter, but not so complete.

My two cents' worth is that this is a really good textbook for learning Latin starting from zero. I had two semesters of undergraduate Latin, in which we did this entire book except for Chapter XV. It seemed like insanity to me at the time! (I learned French starting from zero in college also, and the pace seemed reasonable to me by comparison.) A year later, I am trying to take up Latin again as a graduate student and all I hear from my classmates is "Wheelock." I read the reviews of Wheelock. I would shell out the dough for 'Learn to Read Latin' by Keller and Russell instead. (You don't need both!)

My son is in 3rd year Latin. He struggles every day in this class only able to pull C's. I purchased this book for him last week and since he's gotten it his grades have gone up a small bit so far. What I find wonderful, however, is that he is reading it every night. He wants to do well in this class and this book seems to be capturing his attention and helping him learn the basics again. He brought it into his teacher today and she highly recommended it to everyone in his class. Hopefully we'll see a B or two from now on! I'll keep you posted!