I’ve heard from Paul Veyne that “no student of Latin after 7 years of study would be able to read two lines of authentic text” ( a bit of a hyperbole to my mind, but with some truth in it, just look at Persius and Statius) and that less than 20 hours a week would yield no fruits whatsoever ( If you want to see his views in detail refer to these videos: https://youtu.be/P5gyrOLDNTw and https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ayn99). He went so as far as to recommend the Ratio Studiorum as a guideline for study. I decided then to make some kind of program to study the language and not bore myself to death. I would split in 7 or so parts ( or years)and make his proposal somewhat more doable (whilst keeping 20 hours a week mark in sight).
1st year:
Textbooks:
-Latin for Beginners by D’Oodge
-LLPSI-Familia Romana
Readers:
-Ritchie’s Fabula Faciles
-New Gradatim
-Roma Aeterna
-Ladder to Caesar
Authentic texts:
-Vergil’s first eclogue
-Caesar’s De Bello Gallico
2nd year:
Authentic texts:
- Vergil’s Aeneid
- Ovid
-Catullus
-Cicero’s In Catilinam
Composition exercises:
Undecided yet
Grammars in extensive reading:
-A&G
-Gildersleeve
3rd year:
Authentic texts:
-Sallust
-Tibullus
-Propertius
-Livy
omposition exercises:
Undecided yet
Grammars in extensive reading:
-A&G
-Gildersleeve
4rth year:
Authentic texts:
-Seneca’s letters
-Suetonius
- Terence
Composition exercises:
Undecided yet
Grammars in extensive reading:
-A&G
-Gildersleeve
5th year:
Revision of the previous four years
6th year:
Authentic text:
-Horace’s Odes
Composition exercises:
Undecided yet
Grammars in extensive reading:
-A&G
-Gildersleeve
7th year
Authentic text:
-Horace’s Odes
- Tacitus’ Annales
Composition exercises:
Undecided yet
Grammars in extensive reading:
-A&G
-Gildersleeve
Planning a reading list for Latin learning and a study plan for 7 or so years
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Cristoferuritius15
- Textkit Neophyte
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2023 10:44 pm
Planning a reading list for Latin learning and a study plan for 7 or so years
Last edited by Cristoferuritius15 on Sun Jan 08, 2023 10:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Klyson
- Textkit Neophyte
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:53 am
Re: Planning a reading list for Latin learning and a study plan for 7 or so years
Hello! I'll start by noting that I've only been learning Latin for 2.5+ years (since, with a 6 month break at one point, November 2019).
Furthermore, it's worth noting that many parts of Roma Aeterna are quite a bit harder than DBG. And, I'd argue, at the end of your year 2, having diligently (I mean this quite literally, for otherwise you'll move too quickly through your plan) read through your year 1 and 2 schedules, most of Latin literature should be *accessible*. Do not suppose that I mean it will all be easily legible - if this is your goal, there is no better method than reading 1-2+ hours of *level-appropriate* Latin everyday - but your plan will eventually work, and if you wish to come as quickly as possible to *real* texts, it isn't a bad one. Are you intending to be a scholar? Or are you learning for fun? The former demands A.S.A.P. engagement with important texts, I think (which will ultimately compromise your efficiency in becoming 'fluent'), while the latter does not. It depends on you.
I do wonder, as well, what you mean by "grammars in extensive reading". I've found both those grammars very helpful, but mostly for no more than clarifying a particular point about which I was lost.
Furthermore, it's worth noting that many parts of Roma Aeterna are quite a bit harder than DBG. And, I'd argue, at the end of your year 2, having diligently (I mean this quite literally, for otherwise you'll move too quickly through your plan) read through your year 1 and 2 schedules, most of Latin literature should be *accessible*. Do not suppose that I mean it will all be easily legible - if this is your goal, there is no better method than reading 1-2+ hours of *level-appropriate* Latin everyday - but your plan will eventually work, and if you wish to come as quickly as possible to *real* texts, it isn't a bad one. Are you intending to be a scholar? Or are you learning for fun? The former demands A.S.A.P. engagement with important texts, I think (which will ultimately compromise your efficiency in becoming 'fluent'), while the latter does not. It depends on you.
I do wonder, as well, what you mean by "grammars in extensive reading". I've found both those grammars very helpful, but mostly for no more than clarifying a particular point about which I was lost.
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CMatthiasT88
- Textkit Neophyte
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2021 7:34 pm
- Location: Mandan, North Dakota, United States of America
Re: Planning a reading list for Latin learning and a study plan for 7 or so years
This is very ambitious, I'm happy to hear that you are so interested in learning Latin.
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Cristoferuritius15
- Textkit Neophyte
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2023 10:44 pm
Re: Planning a reading list for Latin learning and a study plan for 7 or so years
Cristoferuritius15 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 08, 2023 2:38 am I’ve heard from Paul Veyne that “no student of Latin after 7 years of study would be able to read two lines of authentic text” ( a bit of a hyperbole to my mind, but with some truth in it, just look at Persius and Statius) and that less than 20 hours a week would yield no fruits whatsoever ( If you want to see his views in detail refer to these videos: https://youtu.be/P5gyrOLDNTw and https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ayn99). He went so as far as to recommend the Ratio Studiorum as a guideline for study. I decided then to make some kind of program to study the language and not bore myself to death. I would split in 7 or so parts ( or years)and make his proposal somewhat more doable (whilst keeping 20 hours a week mark in sight).
1st year:
Textbooks:
-Latin for Beginners by D’Oodge
-LLPSI-Familia Romana
Readers:
-Ritchie’s Fabula Faciles
-New Gradatim
-Roma Aeterna
-Ladder to Caesar
Authentic texts:
-Vergil’s first eclogue
-Caesar’s De Bello Gallico
2nd year:
Authentic texts:
- Vergil’s Aeneid
- Ovid
-Catullus
-Cicero’s In Catilinam
Composition exercises:
- Gildersleeve’s Exercises in Prose Composition
Grammars in extensive reading:
-A&G
-Gildersleeve
3rd year:
Authentic texts:
-Sallust
-Tibullus
-Propertius
-Livy
Composition exercises:
Undecided yet
Grammars in extensive reading:
-A&G
-Gildersleeve
4rth year:
Authentic texts:
-Seneca’s letters
-Suetonius
- Terence
Composition exercises:
Undecided yet
Grammars in extensive reading:
-A&G
-Gildersleeve
5th year:
Revision of the previous four years
6th year:
Authentic text:
-Horace’s Odes
Composition exercises:
Undecided yet
Grammars in extensive reading:
-A&G
-Gildersleeve
7th year
Authentic text:
-Horace’s Odes
- Tacitus’ Annales
Composition exercises:
Undecided yet
Grammars in extensive reading:
-A&G
-Gildersleeve