Salvete omnes!
I’ve been studying Latin since October last year. I’ve spent about 7 months (from mid-October/2024 to early May/2025) studying with the “grammar-translation method”, saw that I would get nowhere by studying dry grammar all the time and then switched to Familia Romana. I’m currently at the 11th chapter.
I’ve grown up attending the Tridentine mass (a.k.a. “traditional Latin mass”), and my father knows how to read the main prayers (the Hail Mary, the Lord’s Prayer, the Salve Regina, maybe the Creed…) and the texts which are in (or on, I never know which preposition use…) the missal. The thing is, a.f.a.i.k. he doesn’t know anything past the meaning of the whole text (that is, he knows only what each text means and, again, as far as I know, only because he knows the translation): if I show him a piece of text in Latin without showing the translation, for example, I don’t think he is able to read it, neither I think he’s able to recognize a case or explain me what a specific word means (I’m not trying to smear him, mind: I just want to give context). I wanted to help him learn Latin properly, as he shows some interest in doing so. The problem is: I’m still a beginner, and I don’t think we have the money to afford a Latin course right now.
After this wall of context, I ask: do you guys have any idea on how to help him learn? I was thinking on reading him the chapters I’ve already studied (I would be like a more advanced student at school helping the less advanced ones, not properly a teacher, as I don’t master what I’m trying to teach). Has anyone tried something like this? Have you any ideas on how to prepare each lesson, what to do, etc.? Much thanks!
-John