I am new here and I have decided to start with D’Ooge’s book, however I have one question. My question is short and simple, is it possible to learn Latin to an OK standard using only free material from the internet? The reason I ask this is that I prefer not to buy anything at the moment, especially considering the fact there is a lot on the web to take advantage of. I am not saying I will never buy anything, I probably will at some point when I have done some of these free on-line courses but I would much appreciate any replies to my question.
I have no doubt that you can just learn latin just from materials taken from the web. People in the 19th century learned using the same books or others similar to the ones on this site. Such an approach however wouldn’t appeal much to me however for two reasons. First, in the older books there is a heavy reliance on learning rules to bring you up to the point of being able to read Caesar. This can be a bit boring if you are not that interested in cutting down barbarians or defending the ramparts. Second, with a book in hand you can pretend to study in bed on your way to taking a nap which is what I have just emerged from. Books can also be studied on a treadmill which I also do. Of course you could nap and exercise with internet resources if you don’t mind printing out everything. My only objection to this is the “feel” of the materials in my hand.
If you do decide to buy something, many here, myself included, recomended the the all-latin Orberg method which is presented in two th books, Familia Romana and Roma Aeterna. However, my personal favorite teaching series is the three-volume “Oxford Latin Course” which progressive presents necessary grammar through the medium of a fictionalized account of the poet Horace’s life. The story and pictures are very engaging, I find.
One internet resource that is a must for you is the LATINUM PODCAST. Just google it. The site’s owner is systematically creating podcasts using a nineteenth century author (Adler).
Yes, you can learn just using the net. The only difficult thing will be not giving up. If you are smart (I trust you are) and if you stay with it, you can learn.
Thank you very much for your reply Kyneto it’s much appreciated . I don’t mind using internet resources myself, though I fully understand why you would prefer an actual book in hand. I think I agree with you most on your point about staying motivated with internet resources, since you have to actually go on the computer to do it, you have to print things, you are restricted to having a computer at hand most of the time Et cetera (<< a bit on Latin in the English language there ha-ha).
Yes I saw that Latinum pod cast site last week, this morning I took the liberty of downloading two of them relating to pronunciation and this afternoon two of his first lessons relating to syntax and I must say I found them quite informative. At first I found his site VERY confusing but I understand it now.
Anyway thank you very much for the reply, that is a bit of a confidence boost knowing that the internet is indeed a substantial resource for learning Latin.
Oh one other thing I have edited this post to ask though I don’t know if you can help. In Adler’s book the odd page here and there is blurry to the point it cannot be read. Is there any way of getting round this? 2nd edit never mind I have found a pdf of corrections so ignore that question
. I don’t mind using internet resources myself, though I fully understand why you would prefer an actual book in hand. I think I agree with you most on your point about staying motivated with internet resources, since you have to actually go on the computer to do it, you have to print things, you are restricted to having a computer at hand most of the time Et cetera (<< a bit on Latin in the English language there ha-ha).
but I understand it now.