Customer Reviews

Learn to Read Latin, Part 2

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"Learn to Read Latin" may be too challenging for beginning Latin students. For an introductory course, the pedagogical method used in Wheelock is perhaps a better choice for many. This is particularly true if you are an independent learner. There is an official answer key available for Wheelock's workbook, but not the textbook (at least not officially). In addition, "Grote's Notes" for Wheelock (available on-line or in paperback) is an excellent supplement for those needing additional help.

While there are no tutorial exercises in the "Learn To Read Latin" text, there is a supplemental LTRL workbook. And, unlike Wheelock, there is an official answer key for both the readings in the text and the exercises in the workbook. I did not, however, have any luck when I contacted the publisher to request the answer keys. The publisher was not responsive. Instead, you may wish to contact the authors directly through the Collegiate School ([...]).

On a positive note, after you've learned the material in the first half of Wheelock, I'd highly recommend LTRL as a complimentary text to use with remaining chapters of Wheelock. One of the strengths of LTRL is that it provides context for all the readings in the text. Thus it addresses a significant shortcoming of Wheelock's which generally fails to provide context for its exercises. As a result, even after you've successfully translated the words in many of the exercises, you still may not understand the meaning. Further, LTRL uses numerous examples of real Latin written by classical authors and poets as an aid to learning. Whereas Wheelock, while also using examples of actual Latin, relies primarily on the use of synthetic Latin sentences constructed by the authors.

LTRL also goes into much greater detail on various topics of grammar than does Wheelock. It also explains subtle distinctions and nuances in Latin vocabulary and usage. Although these details may be too much for an introductory Latin text, they are indispensable for intermediate and advanced study. By analogy I'd compare Wheelock and LTRL this way. Wheelock's will teach you to understand the basics of Latin in "black and white". But LTRL will help you to understand Latin in "high definition color". So, if you're a beginner, go with Wheelock. But if you've gotten beyond the basics and want more, try LTRL.