How about learning Latin? From time to time Christian home educators mull over the value of doing this but it does seem a bit off-putting if you don't have any skill in Latin already yourself. When I was researching for Not Without Tears, the biography of the educational pioneer Favell Lee Mortimer, I made a interesting discovery. You can read all about it in detail in the book but she taught herself Latin in order to teach the orphans and other children in her care the language. It was unusual for women to learn Latin in those days but that did not stop the redoubtable Mrs Mortimer! How she did it and the methods she used are all detailed in Not Without Tears; she ended up writing her own textbook because – being Mrs Mortimer – she had discovered a way of teaching Latin that made it more palatable.
I'm in favour of learning some Latin myself. It gives you a good basis for learning a whole group of other languages (not that I've ever done that personally) but also it is vital if you want to study history in depth – something I am keen on. I think there are other values in it as well. The structure of Latin grammar is very logical. The memorizing of the patterns of endings and the application of this in translation seem to have a very healthy effect on the developing mind. Mrs Mortimer's textbook Latin Without Tears is on the Mothers' Companion flashdrive. It is divided up between volumes 5 to 9 but you can obviously use it at your own pace. Latin Without Tears together with the additional worksheets and audio resources on the flashdrive can be used by anyone whether or not they have any previous experience with Latin. I have recently been expanding all this further in order to take Latin Without Tears up to IGCSE level by means of a website that includes additional materials keyed in specifically to the Cambridge IGCSE syllabus as well as a short course of Classical Thought (basic philosophy) for older children. There are lots of goodies here so do have a look – and don't forget to get your copy of Not Without Tears if you haven't already. I enjoyed doing the research so much that I'm sure you will be fascinated!
0 Comments
|
All the latest!Here is the place for news on updates to the Mothers' Companion as well as notes on my researches into Mrs Mortimer and other bits a pieces! Archives
October 2023
Categories |