Greetings!

Textkit Community Open Board
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Hello!!

Before I introduce myself, I would like to thank those that are responsible for creating textkit.com & for providing many free texts on-line. Furthermore, many thanks are in order for those that contribute to the message boards! It is the generosity of those that are willing to donate their time in sharing their knowledge & ideas that make these forums a great resource! THANK YOU!!

As for me? I am currently a biologist by day (genetics is my background), a wannabe classicists by night, and professional student always. A few years ago, I took a Greek & Roman myth class for fun. I was intrigued by the literature and the art. Never had I read such fascinating stories or been drawn to such art! Without hesitation, I enrolled in a couple more classics courses the following semester. Dear reader, I was HOOKED!

My new challenge for myself was to learn Latin for Vergil & Apuleius works, and Greek for Homer & Sophocles. I’ve taken one semester of Latin so far, but that was two years ago. I would have continued, but alas, I was plagued with serious health issues. :frowning:

Now that I’m healed, this fall I am enrolled in first semester Greek! I am also toying with the idea of auditing the first semester Latin class as a refresher. The following spring, my plan is to take second semester Greek & Latin. I am curious though, if anyone has ever taken both Greek & Latin at the same time? Perhaps I should wait until the following fall to audit Latin? Hmmmmm…so much to decide.

After I finish the language requirements, I will a classical antiquity degree under my belt! However, what is really a mind twister for my family is that I am willing to leave science in order to pursue graduate studies in the classics. I have no regrets about leaving science…my only regret is not starting classics studies sooner. :wink:

As for other things of interest, I love books & reading of course, but I also enjoy music, watching movies, and experimenting in the kitchen. I like to garden, but I am only skilled at growing weeds. I also enjoy a good dialog, and I am willing to admit when I am wrong. When I am not studying, I enjoy spending time with my husband, my step-daughters, and our pets!

If you’ve read this far, thank you for your time & interest. I look forward to reading more posts from others, and I hope that I can someday make useful contributions to this forum.

Cheers!

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Ah, revenge! Since Classics often loses someone to the sciences, it is diabolically gratifying to hear of Biology’s losing one to Classics.

Your plan sounds good. Refresh your grammar using the same textbook that your new class will be using, because your earlier course may have covered different ground in the first semester. I suppose auditing covers this. Take both languages at the same time (yes, I did). If you are sure you want to be a classicist, I see no reason to wait and delay an essential language. It is actually easier to take both, in my opinion, than to take one. You will learn many of the same grammatical points in Latin and Greek, thus reinforcing both.

Obviously the above is all just my opinion, and I do not pretend to have authority.

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Salve Eris! Welcome - I share your sentiments about the site. I am learning Latin s-l-o-w-l-y (I have this thing called a job, a family, and not enogh hours in the day).

I’m just here too make everyone else look smart. :laughing:

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Hello & welcome, eris.
Greek isn’t even on my radar right now. I’m still working on my Latin.
Good luck!

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Welcome, your zeal is admirable.

However, do not be so hasty as to leave biology because of classics, irrespective of your current eagerness.

Some may say that I was one of the most keen people for a few months in that which concerns Latin, but the more exposure to the classics that one accumulates the more one sees problems. Do not be so hasty, you might regret it.

Classics are a fair secret affair. I still like that, but consecration of one’s life thereto is a trifle sad.

Download the D’Ooge book from this site. He is the MAN!

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Pete–Thank you for your thoughts regarding coursework. I have studied more than one language at a time in the past; however, I had a full year of German under my belt before I had started Latin. My fear of taking Latin & Greek at the same time is that I am basically starting from scratch in both. You made a fine point regarding reinforcing grammar in both languages when they are taken at the same time. I will overcome my fear and I appreciate your opinion. Thank you.

Barrius–Thank you for the fine greeting! I completely understand about having a job, family, and ESPECIALLY about not having enough hours in a day. Such a shame that we require sleep! Good luck in your Latin studies! I may have to ask YOU questions!! :slight_smile: Cheers!

solitario–Thank you for the greeting & the luck! I feel like I will need all the luck that I can conjure. Good luck with your Latin studies!

Episcopus–Thanks for the welcome. I’m not certain if I am full of zeal, but I certainly do have a love for the classics when it come to reading translations & studing art. This has been going on for about 3 or 4 years now, so my decision to leave science behind was not a hasty one. In fact, I will not leave my current position for another two to three years (the time it will take to fullfill the language requirements for a BA in classical antiquity). I am sorry if I did not make that clear earlier. I took your advice & downloaded the D’Ooge book. I will start reading it in a couple of weeks.

You made me smile with your statement that “classics are a fair secret affair.” Indeed, my love for it is not well known within my science circle, nor do they really know how much I have grown to dislike being in science.

To elaborate, if you walked down the hall of my building at any time of day, no one is smiling or really enjoying what they do. So much fierce competition, back-stabbing, and just being plain mean is not the reason why I originally received degrees in the sciences. Call me naive, but in my youth, I truly believed that scientists had a common goal of helping one another gain ground in developing cures that would help the world. Since my ideal research world will never come true, the thought of surrounding myself with such negativity makes my skin crawl.

Sorry for my soapbox! I am off it now!! :slight_smile:

Thanks to everyone that posted here…even to those that lurk! I look forward to learning the classics along with you!

Have a fantastic day!

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I think I’ve been stuck on the 2nd declension for months - the minutes I have to study are enough to begin a section, only to drop it for a few days, then attempt to pick up where I left off … My biggest advice to you would be to avoid learning my way - set aside some time! :laughing:

Secondly, I agree with Episcopus about D’Ooge’s book, but I also use Beginner’s Latin Book by Collar & Daniell (also a free download), the latter having a few more exercises to attempt - and it is a change of pace from the D’Ooge vocabulary. With some advice from Jeff I have also purchased a few antiquarian Latin books, and have enjoyed them in the small amount of time I have had to peruse them. At least I can understand much more than I did two months ago.

I want to learn Greek as well, but I think I must understand Latin first - I think this will make Greek a little easier. I only wish that I had taken these steps decades ago, but at least my daughters have picked up some of my books and maybe that will kindle the flame of interest within them.

I had a job similar to that once - the backstabbing was incredible. I applaud you for your decision, and your courage to change. I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

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Barrius–Thank you for your kind response. I will take your advice and will set aside plenty of time for studying. Quite frankly, I find it very relaxing to study and is probably why I have always enrolled in a couple of classes each semester.

I hope your daughters will take up learning Latin and/or Greek! I think it is a shame that most individuals, particularly in America (I can’t speak for other countries), don’t learn a second (or third!) language.

Upon your advice, I will download the Collar & Daniell book. Doing extra exercises is a good idea. I just learned that my Latin class will be using Wheelock’s 6th edition. Have you had a chance to glance through it?

For Greek this fall, we will be using a book called Athenaze by Balme & Lawall. I’ve heard mixed reviews about this book. I plan on downloading the Greek texts from Textkit and studying them this summer along with some of the Latin grammar books. Sounds like a fun-filled summer to me! :slight_smile: Seriously!! :slight_smile:

Thank you, Barrius, for supporting me in my decision of change. I look forward to hearing how you are progressing through Latin (& if your daughters are studying as well!).

Cheers!

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I’ll give you a month, then I’ll be asking you for help :laughing:

If anything, at most they are directed to a few months or a year of either French or Spanish. I have long forgot my high school French, but Latin brings back some of it. I’m not pressuring my daughters, but some of the older books I purchased have pictures and text describing the Roman history - a bit more entertaining than a grammar. I’m trying to slip one by them.

I glanced through one at a bookstore, checked one out from our library. In my opinion, D’Ooge is much better, and supplementing with C&D reinforces it.

I agree with you - learning Latin is fun, I simply don’t have as much time as I wished to devote to it. Maybe in a few months the dust will settle, and I can see real improvement. Either way I’m challenging myself and learning something useful for a change. Hopefully my daughters will become interested enough to continue.

I wish you all the best - I think you are making an excellent decision.

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Barrius is right. I might not have said this before, but Latin For Beginners by Dr. Benjamin L. D’Ooge is the best Latin book ever.

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Barrius–Seems like we’ll help each other! :slight_smile: Hopefully the picture books will lure your daughters into studying Latin, but I’m glad to hear you are not pressuring them to learning it. When the timing is right, they’ll make that important decision. Perhaps when the dust settles for you, they’ll get curious as to what you’re learning? :slight_smile: What a wonderful role model you are! :slight_smile:

Episcopus–You didn’t quite say it that way before, but I can certainly take the hint! :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: Have no fear, the text is already on my computer! :slight_smile: Thank you for providing such a strong recommendation! I look forward to studying it!

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Hello, Eris, and many warm welcomes from Textkit’s shadowiest member!

My goal is also to study Greek and Latin at the same time, and last year I was making some progress. Lately, though, I’ve done so little studying that I’m seriously considering starting over…once, that is, I have the chance to breathe again!

This is the busy time of year for me, so I won’t be on much, but I look forward to helping (and being helped by!) you later on in the year.

Again, welcome to Textkit!

Keesa

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Salve Eris!

I empathise with you on the matter of scientists’ not enjoying ther work; so many people dislike it these days, I (even though I am 13) have a passion for the sciences.

I recommend, when you start to learn Latin and Greek vocabulary, to go through the biological genus-species names. I found it quite useful (thank you Carl Linnaeus!).

I found an interest in the classics somehow, maybe because of their prestige and culture. Also, I hope to read some great scientific works (such as Newton’s Principia) in Latin.

I saw that you like music.Which type? Maybe you could consider listening to some Masses and Requiems (or are they too religious?).

I wish you good luck and happy studying!

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Keesa–I am honored to have Textkit’s “shadowiest” member grace my thread! Thank you for coming out of hiding! :slight_smile: I look forward to exchanging ideas about how to tackle Greek & Latin! Thanks again for the warm welcome. :slight_smile:

Michaelyus–Greetings to you! It is refreshing for me to know that a 13 year old has a passion for something other than video games! :slight_smile: Please don’t let my poor experience with other researchers discourage you from pursuing your passion! Believe me, I will still be curious as to how things work, and will continue to read journals on the latest findings.

As far as biological nomenclature is concerned, I have (seemingly) hundreds of different names memorized. Not only is Latin & Greek used in Linnaeus’ taxonomy, but parts are used in chemistry, physics, and anatomy (just to name a few!). Latin was used heavily earlier in the sciences, but there seems to have been a shift toward Greek mid to late 1900’s. I’m not certain why. Also, some of the terms in anatomy are rather strange to me as they are combinations of Greek & Latin blended together.

I am thrilled that you have an interest in the classics! Reading Newton’s Principia would be a huge endeavor! It was quite the chore for me to read just parts of it in English! I personally would like to read Aristotle’s works regardomg Astronomy. I’ve only read translations.

Like music?? I LOVE music! I played the flute for many, many years, and also sang in choirs for more years than I can remember. As far as listening to music, my tastes are quite diverse. If it’s classical music, then Mozart, Vivaldi, and Bach are my favorites. Parts of Mozart’s requiem will cause me to shed tears while others cause my heart to race.
Mellow music would be Enya or Steve Erquiaga. If I need some pep in my step in order to clean the house or mow the lawn, then I’ll listen to dance music from BT, Prodigy, or Paul Oakenfold. As far as pop music is concerned…I personally can’t stand what they play on the radio anymore. However, I do enjoy some tunes from Sarah McLachlan, U2, and R.E.M. I could go on if you like! :slight_smile:

Thanks for wonderful greeting & the good luck! I’m collecting all the good wishes that I can! :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: Many happy hours of studying are ahead of me, I’m certain of that! :slight_smile:

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Hi Eris! Welcome to Textkit. I see you’ve already downloaded D’Ooge and C&D. Looks like you’re on your way to learning Latin. :slight_smile:

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Thank you for the warm greeting, Marie! I’m very excited about taking up Latin again, and Greek facinates me.

Does anyone know if the books we buy from Amazon.com through the textkit link really help textkit?? I received my order yesterday, but there was no indication on the packing slip that my books were ordered through textkit. I just want to make certain that Amazon.com sends money where it’s due! Also, can any order besides the recommended books to Amazon.com help textkit? I order items quite often from Amazon, but not all of them are books. Just want to help out as much as I can! :smiley:

Thanks!

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Yes, Amazon purchases most certainly do help. Anything purchased through our Amazon affiliate page pays Textkit a commission. That money goes towards paying for this server, purchasing books, conversion expenses, hardware and software and mailing expenses. Because we offer such large files for free download our hosting expense might shock some.

thanks for the support!

jeff

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Thanks for the info, Jeff! I’ll continue to buy items through textkit then!

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Greetings, Eris. :slight_smile:

Classical languages are addictive! I keep sneaking into “Homeric Greek: A Book for Beginners,” even though I told myself I was going to wait until I finished the equivalent of one semester of Latin first. So far though, it’s been inspiring rather than confusing, so perhaps I’ll continue on like this with both at the same time.

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Julia–I know what you mean about sneaking into the Greek books! I bought Athenaze book 1 (required for class this fall) and for fun, I bought Pharr’s Homeric Greek and Morwood’s Oxford Grammar of Classical Greek. Since I can’t wait for class to start in the fall, I find myself drawn to these books. I almost have the alphabet memorized. The only letter I’m having great pains in writing is lowercase “xi”. Mine is just dreadful!

Are you studying Latin on your own or through a classroom setting?

Good luck in your studies! We may find ourselves helping one another!

Cheers!