living Latin movement?

[melaneesa]

What do you think about the living Latin movement? I was looking at the NLE website and fell down a Latin rabbit hole. Videos, conferences, retreats...it all looks like nerdy fun at a quick glance. Obviously we're not studying Latin primarily to speak it, I understand that, but it's interesting that there's this whole movement going on - I haven't really heard about it in connection with the classical ed movement. Do their goals not align with ours in classical Christian ed? Do these two movements complement each other at all, or are they at odds? I did a quick forum search and didn't see previous discussion.

[Girlnumber20]

Re: living Latin movement?

What do you think about the living Latin movement? I was looking at the NLE website and fell down a Latin rabbit hole. Videos, conferences, retreats...it all looks like nerdy fun at a quick glance. Obviously we're not studying Latin primarily to speak it, I understand that, but it's interesting that there's this whole movement going on - I haven't really heard about it in connection with the classical ed movement. Do their goals not align with ours in classical Christian ed? Do these two movements complement each other at all, or are they at odds? I did a quick forum search and didn't see previous discussion.

I should wait to see what others say first, but can't resist posting. I don't speak for Memoria, of course, just a satisfied customer- but, personally I think it's pretty cool. While it is true that the overarching goal isn't to be able to speak Latin, more to read Latin, as I understand it, anyway- it doesn't seem to me that there could be anything academically wrong or damaging with speaking Latin, as long as that isn't being used as a shortcut to really memorizing and understanding the grammar. There do seem to be two schools of thought on how to properly teach/learn Latin, with a kind of "shortcut" immersion method being at odds with a more grammar-based method. But if used as a supplement and not the meat- it seems speaking it could only aid in appreciation, delight (because it is just plain funny and amusing among other things) and seems, it would aid in understanding the grammar, actually, to speak it. You would have to think much quicker to speak it, to form sentences. Once my kids are at that point I would totally get them involved in the Latin camps and things like that if I could afford it. Seems like so much fun.

[melaneesa]

Re: living Latin movement?

I did find an article by Mrs. Lowe (https://www.memoriapress.com/article...d-not-natural/) arguing against the conversational method of teaching Latin. I do love the systematic, orderly way we learn in the Forms. But wouldn't it be helpful to hear it, also? I subscribed to some Latin podcasts, just for fun.

I also found this: http://indwellinglanguage.com/readin...n-extensively/ which is really interesting.

[pickandgrin]

Re: living Latin movement?

I've looked into some of the programs at the University of Kentucky as well as the summer Latin camps. I've thought it would be excellent to send some of my kids to in high school, at the earliest. With the long, steady work in the Forms and through a few years of translation, I think some kids could really dive in to these. However, I wouldn't want to learn it this way. This would just be for play after the hard work has been done. Let me know if you pack off to one!

[Michael]

Re: living Latin movement?

I did find an article by Mrs. Lowe (https://www.memoriapress.com/article...d-not-natural/) arguing against the conversational method of teaching Latin. I do love the systematic, orderly way we learn in the Forms. But wouldn't it be helpful to hear it, also? I subscribed to some Latin podcasts, just for fun.

Good morning,

I think it's important to distinguish between the conversational approach as a teaching method vs. enrichment. To teach via the "natural method" is, as Cheryl explains, unnatural and unhelpful. However, there is nothing wrong with enriching one's Latin education with some spoken, conversational Latin, perhaps in spare time on a Friday or over the summer. The grammatical understanding provided by a program such as the Forms Series will allow one to better learn and understand said conversational Latin. If this type of enrichment encourages a love of Latin and language, it would certainly not be unhelpful (again, as long as it does not replace a grammar-based approach to learning Latin).

[Girlnumber20]

Re: living Latin movement?

Speaking of living Latin- did anyone see this? https://cruxnow.com/global-church/20...dcast-finland/

The link for the Finnish site is here: https://areena.yle.fi/1-4280315

There is something really cool about listening to these!