Wheelock's Latin: The Classic Introductory Latin Course, Based on Ancient Authors

Wheelock's Latin: The Classic Introductory Latin Course, Based on Ancient Authors | Frederic M. Wheelock, Richard A. LaFleur | Optime!

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Wheelock's Latin: ...

	Wheelock's Latin: The Classic Introductory Latin Course, Based on Ancient Authors Frederic M. Wheelock, Richard A. LaFleur HarperCollins, 2000 - 560 pages average customer review:based on 72 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

When Professor Frederic M. Wheelock's Latin first appeared in 1956, the reviews extolled its thoroughness, organization, and conciseness; at least on reviewer predicted that the book "might well become the standard text" for introducing students to elementary Latin. Now, more than four decades later, that prediction has certainly proved accurate.

The sixth edition of Wheelock's Latin has all the features that have made it the bestselling single-volume beginning Latin textbook, many of them revised and expanded:

40 chapters with grammatical explanations and readings based on ancient Roman authorsSelf-tutorial exercises with an answer key for independent studyAn extensive English-Latin/Latin-English vocabularyA rich selection of original Latin readings--unlike other textbooks, which contain primarily made-up Latin textsEtymological aids

Also new to the sixth edition are maps of the Mediterranean, Italy, and the Aegean area, as well as numerous photographs illustrating aspoects of classical culture, mythology, and historical and literary figures presented in the chapter readings.

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Sorry, folks--Latin IS grammar, and if you don't want to learn it, you can't translate

People who think it is possible to learn Latin the way one would learn a spoken language are going to be mightily disappointed with this book--but they also have no understanding of what Latin is. If you don't learn Latin grammar systamatically and technically, you will never, ever be able to read real Latin literature. It's not like a modern language, which you can learn to speak quite well without ever learning grammar--through conversation, immersion, guided reading, etc. Note that the person from Lancaster, CA who claims, frighteningly, to be a teacher of Latin, wrote a Latin headline for his review that translates to "Difficult Brother of Latin Wheelock made." This gentleman does not like Wheelock because he thinks the book "makes" Latin grammar complicated--but this gentleman does not know how to write the simplest Latin sentence! Latin grammar IS complicated, and unless you memorize charts and rules, you will not know Latin and you will mistranslate every time. Wheelock teaches through simple sentences in the beginning when the student knows only a few forms, and very complex sentences (and actual Latin literature) by the end. There is no reason on earth to study Latin if you don't want to learn morphology and syntax--you'll waste your time and still not be able to read a single Latin text in its original form. Maybe not "fun" for many people, but indispensable. Otherwise, just skip learning the language and try this: get a copy of a Latin text you want to read--say the Aeneid; a Latin dictionary--say the Cassel's; and an English translation--say the Penguin edition; and read all three at once and cobble it together that way. This would be a perfectly valid way to get closer to an original text, but it ain't learning Latin. Note also that "Paula" who thinks Wheelock is "snotty" is a survivalist who wants to learn German so she can read Hitler. Read her other reviews!

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Optime!

Years go by, tons of new books are published, yet the cliche is usually true: always go with a classic!

Before buying this, keep one thing in mind: Professor Wheelock doesn't sugarcoat things. Apart from a brief introduction to ancient Rome and the evolution of the Latin language, which I found very engaging, he wastes no time and dives right into the grammar. Some people find he goes by too fast, but I disagree. I've looked at several Latin programs (including Rosetta Stone and Teach Yourself Latin Complete Course), but none of them teaches you Latin nearly as well as Wheelock does.

The problem most people have is that in our modern society, grammar is no longer taught as intensively as in the past. Even those who speak almost perfect English often times don't know the grammatical rule for why a sentence is correct. This is what Wheelock wants you to be able to do in his course. If he gives you a Latin sentence, he wants you to be able to distuingish why he used the Accusative and not the Nominative case, and so on. And rightly so. How can you learn a language without knowing the reason behind the declensions and conjugations you make? If your command of English grammar is so poor, then you probably have more serious issues than trying to learn Latin!

To those who have purchased the book and are having trouble with the course, here's a few suggestions. First, make sure you go through the book SLOWLY. There is no reason to rush through it. Wheelock himself suggests this as well. Learn the rules, learn how to use them correctly, and only then should you move on to the next lesson. I've spent close to 2 weeks studying some of the chapters, and there's no shame in it. Remember, repetitio est mater memoriae!

Second, I STRONGLY urge you to buy Professor Dale A. Grote's "Comprehensive Guide to Wheelock's Latin". He goes through every chapter and irons out many of the kinks found in Wheelock's book. There are times when Wheelock doesn't explain something fully; when you read Grote's explanation, more often than not you'll say "Ohhhh, now I get it!"

I don't agree that you have to be a genius to be successful in this course. Though I consider myself an intelligent person, I'm by no means genetically predisposed to learning languages. Just like so many others who have learned Latin with Wheelock's course over the past few decades, I had to put in a lot of hard work and dedication, along with plenty of memorizing. There's simply no substitute for hard work. I wish you all good luck!

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Great Service!

Hi! The book (Wheelock's 6th ed.) is in very good shape and the delivery time could not have been better! I recommend the seller since I have ordered other books that were supposed to be in great condition or brand new and were not, but this seller lives up to her words and also the delivery and sale. Hope to buy some more of her merchandise again soon! :)

I am just starting to study Latin courses in my university program, and this book helped soooooo much more than the actual textbook that was required for my course! Wheelock explains things simply and easily so that you can grasp the key concepts that you need to understand and be able to write and read latin properly. This book was extremely helpful in the first few weeks of my learning and hope that someone else can benefit from it also!!!!

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Great Text for a Beginner

This is an excellent text for anyone wanted to learn Classical Latin. It's clearly written, with useful practice readings at the end of each chapter. In addition, it has a number of further reading in the Appendix. The one drawback is that there is no answer key in the text, and for the self-learner, you have to contact the publisher to send it to you. I suggest the workbook as well as a suppliment text.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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