Supplements to Use With Latin Primer
by Julie Garfield
Reviewed by Martha Robinson
Purchase details: Latin Primer DVD's and flashcards, published by Logos Press. Please support HomeschoolChristian.com by buying these items from our Christian Book Distributors link. An older version in VHS format was reviewed.
Latin Primer I Video
On this three-tape VHS video program, Julie Garfield, an instructor with nine years of experience in teaching Latin at Logos School, conducts a Latin class with about 10 students. Using classical pronunciation, she leads the class in recitation of vocabulary and in all of the chants for each lesson. She then teaches the information on the worksheets from the Latin Primer I using a standard chalkboard and speaking to the student who is watching as if they were in the classroom. These professionally produced videos have clear sound and good picture quality.
A teacher's manual is included with the video program. It has general instructions, weekly quizzes, and four exams. The videos and manual for Latin Primer I are $55. [Editor's note: This is now available on DVD.]
Recommendation: The parent's preference on "hands-on" teaching plays a big part in deciding to use a program such as this. This video program could be helpful to the family in which the parent is timid about teaching Latin, has limited time to spend teaching the child, or just has a "hands-off" teaching style. The video will not take the place of coaching and checking by the parent, but it will relieve him or her of the time spent introducing the chants and going over the worksheets. The material at the level of Latin Primer I is quite straightforward and simple, so the tapes may not be worth the expense in most situations at this level.
Latin Primer II Video
This video set includes five tapes of Julie Garfield teaching Latin at Logos School. Students chorus the previous year's chants in the first segment of tape one and each of the new word lists when they are introduced throughout the program. Mrs. Garfield works through the worksheets and adds explanations and examples as needed to flesh out the sketchy teacher's notes in the text. Once again, these tapes were professionally produced, though the sound quality was not as good as in the Latin Primer I set.
The teacher's manual includes twenty-two quizzes and their keys, chant charts, and some very handy paradigm charts that are referred to throughout the lessons. The video set and teacher's manual are $75. [Editor's note: This is now available on DVD.]
Recommendation: Perhaps when the Latin Primer II books are revised, more teaching notes will be available to help inexperienced homeschooling parents. In the mean time, the Latin II Primer video set will make this level accessible to all families. Mrs. Garfield's experience teaching Latin makes the increasing difficulty of the material seem simple.
The videos for Latin Primer III were not reviewed.
Latin Primer Flashcards
These oversized 4"x6" cards are made of white cardstock. The lesson number is printed in the upper left corner of the English side of the card. The English word or phrase is in large, bold print on one side while the corresponding Latin word and its part of speech are on the reverse side. The set includes 350 cards and is $20.
Recommendation: If you are planning to use this program and can fit the cards into your budget, having these nicely-made, durable cards will save you time.
HomeschoolChristian.com resources related to this review:
Latin Curricula Comparison Chart to help select an introductory or intensive program.
HomeschoolChristian.com's Classic Languages Resource Section
Review of Latin Primer
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