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Visual Latin

Visual Latin

Visual Latin 1 is a first year Latin course that might be used with students about age nine or older. This is a challenging, grammatically-based course suitable for high school, although Visual Latin 1 does not cover enough by itself for a full credit. Most likely, Visual Latin I and II will together provide the foundation for a full credit.

Lessons are presented on video via DVD’s or downloads. Downloads are available in either HD (1280 x720) or iPod (640 x 360) versions. Both versions will play on a Mac or PC computer using iTunes. I was also able to watch using the VLC Media Player on my PC. The HD Version with the larger files will also run on iPad or iPhone 4.0., while the iPod version will play on all video iPods, iPhones, and IPads. (I found the iPod version perfectly satisfactory on my computer, and it takes less of my hard drive storage space.)

Presenter Dwane Thomas uses lots of humor in his presentations which I expect most students will find engaging, even the corny jokes. Thomas teaches in brief segments with students completing worksheets between each video segment. PDF worksheets are included with the downloads or DVDs, so you will need to print these out in advance. For each lesson, there are three video segments and three sets of worksheets (a few pages per set) plus instructions and answer keys. High school students and some junior high students should be able to complete a lesson (3 video and 3 worksheet sets) in about one hour. Students should review by re-watching the three segments at least once. With 30 lessons, this amounts to only a little more than thirty hours of study, which will not be adequate for a full high school credit course. For high school students, you will need to supplement. Thomas recommends the immersion approach books Lingua Latina: Pars I: Familia Romana and its companion Lingua Latina: Pars I: Exercitia Latina I. These combined resources should provide excellent coverage for a first year program. For younger students, you should move at a slower pace in Visual Latin, making sure students understand the grammatical concepts. This can be a wonderful way to teach or reinforce English grammar at the same time students are learning Latin, but this requires more teacher involvement.

The three segments of each lesson that I mentioned in the previous paragraph are titled “Grammar,” “Sentences,” and “Reading,” respectively. However, grammar is covered in the first two segments and vocabulary in the last two segments. The “Reading” segment includes reading, comprehension, and translation. It doesn’t really matter that distinctions in content between segments are a bit fuzzy.

While Visual Latin emphasizes grammar and teaches vocabulary, it relies on reading and translation work more than upon direct memorization as in many other courses. Lingua Latina reinforces this approach as students read passages written only in Latin. (Lingua Latina adds vocabulary and grammatical elements in side columns with examples rather than teaching by direct instruction—all in Latin, too!)

The teacher doesn’t need to know Latin. Students should be able to complete most of the work independently, and teachers can use the answer key to check work. This works because Visual Latin is not intended to be a conversational approach since Latin is primarily read rather than spoken. However, as Thomas teaches he does use classical pronunciation rather than ecclesiastical, so teachers should stick with this pronunciation if they discuss content with students.

This approach is likely to appeal to those who prefer experiential learning rather than memorization and drill, somewhat comparable to those who prefer a “real books” approach for learning history rather than using a typical textbook. Visual Latin does include practice with vocabulary and grammar in the exercises, but listening, reading, and translating play more significant roles.

Visual Latin has significant Christian content in its reading passages, most of it reflecting the beginning chapters of the book of Genesis. Content should be appropriate for all Christians, although Catholics might prefer ecclesiastical pronunciation.

The first part of Visual Latin II is due summer 2011. The next two parts will follow in fall 2011 and winter 2012.

Purchase options are available for single family or group class usage. Free sample lessons are available on the publisher's website.