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TIPS

 

TRY IT!

You can play
with your Latin anywhere!

Playing with a language, even a little at a time, gets your brain into the language.  Refresh the page to see a new tip. More tips will be added throughout the year. Feel free to suggest a few of your own for me to add.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
What are some things I can do to help me succeed in Latin?
  • Always practice your Latin OUT LOUD, trying your best to pronounce the Latin accurately. If you don't remember what the rules are for pronouncing Latin, refer to your pronunciation guide or print a new pronunciation guide. (Reading out loud will help you develop a comfort level with Latin, as well as stimulating your pre-frontal cortex of your brain.)
     
  • Study your vocabulary for 5-15 minutes a day. Use either your own flashcards (good for extra credit), or use the quia drills.
     
  • Reread each story at least 3 times, out loud preferably. Impress family and friends (or alternatively, drive them crazy) by reading in Latin.
     
  • Try rewriting a story in Latin by changing characters, locations, etc.
     
  • Practice Latin whenever and wherever you can, counting in Latin, describing things in Latin, whatever you are able.
     
  • Get a study buddy. Practicing a language is never easy on your own, but is much easier with a friend. Work on assignments together, study together.

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Making Flashcards

One of the most important aspects of learning a new language is the acquisition of vocabulary. It does not happen automatically but requires time and effort. To make this easier to manage, you should make vocabulary flashcards for your personal use. 

The following demonstrates how you should make your vocabulary flash cards. Your basic cards should have: 

  1. The Latin vocabulary item in LOWER CASE LETTERS. This actually gives the word more “shape” and is easier to remember the spelling. Include macrons/long marks. 
  2. The English meaning should be on the back.

Other items you can have on your card:

  1. English derivatives  
  2. Latin sentences from the text in which the word appears
  3. Other forms of the word (cases or tenses) 
  4. Pictures
  5. Color coded

Your vocabulary cards should be HAND WRITTEN, but you can also use FlashMyBrain or similar programs. You will need to write some things on your cards after printing, since this program has its limits. Making them is as much a part of the process of learning as using them. You will probably want to do them in PENCIL in case you wish to change derivatives or add forms later on.

You may color-code your vocabulary item, though this is not necessary. I use the following colors for our class set of cards: 

  • nouns: black 
  • verbs: brown 
  • adjectives: blue 
  • adverbs: purple 
  • prepositions: green 
  • expletives: pink (words with exclamation points following them) 
  • pronouns: grey 
  • conjunctions: orange 
  • interrogatives: red (question words)

Remember, use your flashcards to study no more than 10-15 minutes at a time. Use small sets–not all of your cards at one time! Say the word out loud to yourself because hearing it will help reinforce the spelling of it. When you feel you know a particular item well, remove that item from you set and work on the words which give you trouble. Do this a couple of times a day or more. Seriously. 

Good times to review vocabulary for the typical student: in the car or on the bus on the way to and from school, while waiting for the bus, while waiting for friends to show up, during commercials when watching mindless television shows, before you go to bed at night, etc. Score points with your parents by asking them to help you study your vocabulary. Pull out your cards and review them any time you are about to be accused of being lazy by parents or friends.

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For Parents

Think you can't help your student because you don't know Latin? Think again! There's plenty you can do to help.

  1. Review vocabulary with your student.
    The required vocabulary is on the last page of each stage in the Cambridge Latin Course. Students in Latin 3 studying from Ecce Romani. ALSO, your student can earn extra credit points by making flashcards. 
  2. Encourage your student to come visit me during tutorials OR to email me at home (use the address at the bottom of the page). I am always happy to help anyone learn Latin.
  3. Make your student use the quia drills appropriate for his/her class. These are not only for vocabulary, but for grammar as well.
  4. Ask about cultural issues we are studying. We not only study Latin but the culture of the Romans. Ask your student what aspect of the culture we are studying, how the Romans are similar to us and different, etc.
 
Magistra Ginny Lindzey is the Latin teacher for Dripping Springs High School, Dripping Springs, Texas. All questions and comments about this website should be sent directly to Magistra Lindzey. In fact, students and former students as well as parents are encouraged to contact Magistra Lindzey.

These web pages last updated August 12, 2007.