by Magistra » Sun Sep 14, 2003 10:11 pm
Quote:<br />That's one of the problems with Wheelock, and probably most of these 'Learn Latin' books - no context to the examples.<br /><br />You said a mouthful there!!<br /><br />Most writings from the ancient authors ( & modern ones too) come "in context". The passages you learn from should too. You learned your native language in context (& by immersion). Not too many people are lucky enough to have the opportunity to learn Latin "from the cradle", so to speak; however, everyone should be offered the opportunity to learn it in context, not in a series of sentences contrived solely based on the current grammar topic. This is why the "reading programs" can be very successful. There is the cohesion of context which allows the student to progress with the grammar by internalizing it rather than learning "rules" and applying them ad infinitem to contrived sentences.<br /><br />"How I got there" was by assuming it was perhaps a proverb & then, using life experience and knowledge, reasoning what was probably meant behind the words. Proverbs in one's one native language can be puzzling; in another language, they can be impossible.<br /><br />We're back to context again. Context, to me, does not just pertain to the words in the passage around what you're reading, but also what you bring into it from prior knowledge of the topic, the times, etc.<br /><br />Magistra<br />
phpbb