learn Latin

In my first 2 years of secondary school, I learnt latin, but at that time it was compulsory to learn a modern foreign language not a dead one! Even though I was amazing – according to teacher – I gave it up as I wasn’t a language buff! Total regret!

Add to the list!!

I wantus to learnicus so i can spellicus righticus

Whoo! I’m signed up for a class next year! =] In September, classes start!

and what with so many things I have to take in school, it’s getting harder to justify the time to learn things on my own just for fun. But I’m satisfied with my progress so far, and being able to translate what I can.

Next semester I’ll go for Latin 201, and get to study some poetry :D

Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese

I’m going to learn Latin… eventually… after I finish Mandarin Chinese, which’ll take long. xP Ok, why? Well, Latin really interests me. A lot of languages do. If I ever get finished Mandarin, and then Chinese, I’ll go to Ancient Greek. I like learning Latin, and old languages, because they’re root words and we get our words from past words. It’s really, really interesting to compare them. It’s so… beautiful. I may sound weird, but that’s the only thing that interests me. How a word can be beautifully transformed into modern English that we have today.

Bought Wheelock’s textbook. It looks much more friendly to the modern reader than some of the public domain textbooks I was looking at online! I’m breaking it down in to very small pieces. My thought is to write these “pieces” on index cards that I can refer to throughout my day whenever I have a minute or two. Not sure if this is a good approach or not, we’ll see. Right now, I’m just camped out in the Introduction learning the pronunciation of vowels, consonants and diphthongs. I’ve also discovered that you can hear some Latin pronunciations on YouTube.

Have started revising what I have learned before. Now on Ch 3 of Reading Latin. But finding it so hard to keep it up because of work and other distractions.

The fact that my memory is getting worse is no help. The conjugations and vocabulary just don’t stay in. I can keep them for a week or 2, then after that I start to forget. I guess I don’t spend enough time reading and using the language.

I’m probably going to start a 2-year course in Latin as one of the 6 subjects of my choice when I start the International Baccalaureate programe, but since course may or may not be available depending on the number of participants, I’ve decided to take the matter in my own hands and got myself a self-study textbook I’m going to have a look at in my free time and during the summer holidays. If the course is available, it’s going to be easier for me, and if it’s not, I’m still going to know some Latin!

What would you say is the best all-round textbook for an absolute beginner?