Lingua Latina: (PC/CD-ROM) Pars I: Familia Romana-Interactive CD Rom [CD-ROM]

Book Description

ISBN-10: 8790696085 | ISBN-13: 978-8790696085 | Publication Date: August 30, 2006 | Edition: CD Rom

This CD for PC computers contains the complete text of the book, Lingua Latina: Familia Romana; a recording of 30 chapters in the classical Latin pronunciation; and a full interactive edition of the Pensa (or exercises). The Pensa exercises exist for all the sections of the text, and test for correct grammatical forms and new vocabulary. In the CD, correct answers are confirmed and incorrect answers rejected, with an option for answers to be supplied. As with the text, the CD is designed for self study. Contents: -The complete text of the book: 35 chapters, 328 pages -A recording of 30 chapters in classical Latin pronunciation -A full interactive edition of the exercises, Pensa.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

CD-ROM version of Familia Romana, the first part of the Lingua Latina text series

About the Author

Hans Orberg is the author of the international Latin course, Lingua Latina, used in a wide number of institutions and by students of all language groups worldwide.

Product Details

• CD-ROM: 1 pages
• Publisher: Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Co.; CD Rom edition (August 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8790696085
• ISBN-13: 978-8790696085
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 5.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,059,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Two stars to the software, four stars to the book, February 14, 2010

By 

Ricardo Castro (Mexico city, Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lingua Latina: (PC/CD-ROM) Pars I: Familia Romana-Interactive CD Rom (CD-ROM)

I bought this CD in my local bookshop a couple of days ago, and I must say I'm not at all satisfied with it.

*** EDIT: ***
---You can check the screenshots I uploaded and judge the program by yourself ---


*First, it looks like a program from the windows 95 era:

Basically,there are two frames, one for the controls and the other for the pages, and there's no way to change the size of either frame. The pages' frame is just a window that displays the pages of the book (which, by the way, are simple images of the book Familia Romana) and the controls are buttons (simple squares) with text written inside. To move the pages forward, you just have to click on the page, however if you want to move backwards, you'll have to type the number of the page in a circle on the right corner, there is no other way. Apparently, they forgot to put arrows. In the toolbar menu you'll find no options to change anything but the chapter, and some charts. It comes with audio files of the pages, read by the author (probably). Unfortunately, you won't have a time bar to forward/rewind. Instead, you'll have some buttons to skip some sentences.

*Second, the CD-Rom is not exactly interactive, and has several problems with the usability:

You can select the pages you want to read, and then move the file sound until it is in the correct part. I would have expected to have that done automatically, but it isn't, so if you move to the middle of a chapter, you'll have to spend some time untill you find the correct part of the audio file.

Also, you won't be able to listen to individual sentences or words, nor repeat them. That would have been a great feature. The only interactivity you'll find will be in the exercises section, Pensa. But there you won't be able to learn from your mistakes, they present you some sentences that you must complete either with endings or with full words. If you answer correctly, you'll move to the next, if not, you'll have two additional chances, and if you fail, the correct answer will be given, with no notes at all. Also, the program won't be able to remember your scores (nor your preferences nor any other thing).

The program contains no way to bookmark a section, so every time you open the program, you'll be taken to the first chapter, which I find annoying.

*Third, about the contents:

The book in general is good if you use it together with a grammar book, like Wheelock's Latin or some other book that helps you figure out grammar rules. You can listen to the entire book, which is in theory a good thing. The reality is that it is read in a rather monotonous tone. Even the parts that are supposed to be dialogues are read by the same person. The book was not adapted to fit an interactive CD-rom, I would like to see some more people reading at least the dialogues.

It is supposed to be used for self-taught people, however it does not include any recommendations on how to use it. Should I read/listen one chapter every day? Half of a chapter? How about the inflection charts?

My conclusion is that it could have been a great tool, however this book is simply an audio book with a few exercises. It would be better to download some free podcasts from the internet, like those produced by Yle Radio. They contain the most recent news read in latin with their transcriptions, just google Nuntii Latini.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works, although dated, March 31, 2011

By 

gloriousjob (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lingua Latina: (PC/CD-ROM) Pars I: Familia Romana-Interactive CD Rom (CD-ROM)

The CD-ROM for Lingua Latina is good because it provides mp3 readings of each chapter, although you have to dig for it. This is the main reason I bought it, though having the answers to the Pensum is good as well (saves me from having to buy another book). If you care, you can type semicolon(;) before a vowel to give it the long line above it, though the program cares less if you don't. The program gets the job done, although I done know what half the buttons do and there are no instructions for them. It also looks like it was made for Windows 95, which is a minus, but it works for me so I'm happy.