< Latin

Learning Latin can seem daunting, but in truth it poses the same set of problems as learning any other language. You will need ways to practice and reinforce your learning.

With the birth of the Internet, the range of resources and opportunities to use and practice Latin is greatly increased. In particular, self-publishing tools have led to a large number of short novels, and scans of older books mean that a lot of public domain Latin materials are available for download and in reprints. And you can find people who want to chat in Latin from across the globe. This article is designed to help you find opportunities to practice Latin that suit your style of learning.

General resources and finding help

A good place to start is Reddit, /r/Latin

Writing and conversing online

It is a good idea to try to 'converse' in Latin, as it develops your recall of words and active vocabulary, as well as reinforcing your grammar understanding. Actively using Latin may seem counterintuitive, given that most people's goal is a reading skill, but it will help you progress more quickly if you do.

Applications include:

Weekly online chat

Reading materials for beginners

There are a wealth of reading materials available for all levels. Some are freely available, while others you can buy from online bookstores.

Beginner texts

There are fuller lists here and here

Post beginner

  • Arnold, Ellie (2016), Cloelia, puella Rōmāna, CreateSpace, ISBN 978-1533624727; PDF version cc-by-sa-nc available
  • Jessie Craft (2018), Templum Romanum, CreateSpace, ISBN 978-1983489518
  • Jessie Craft (2019), Odyssea Magistri Craft, CreateSpace

Graphic novels and cartoons

  • Tres Fabulae Horrificae, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017, ISBN 978-1545300060, OL 26803074M
  • Alix senator, Tome 1 : Aquilae Cruoris, Casterman, 2018, ISBN 978-2203165625
  • Murena, Liber Primus : Murex et Aurum, Dargaud, 2013, ISBN 978-2505019480
  • Murena, Liber Secundus : Ex Arena et Cruore, Dargaud, 2016, ISBN 978-2505066446
  • Many Asterix editions have been published in Latin, too many to list here, as well as two Tintin editions (see Wikipedia for a full list of these).
  • Antiqua Signa is a series of 4 titles with the original texts of Ovid, Vergil and Plautus in the balloons, English translation aside. Free slideshows on story site:

Lingua Latina per se Illustrata

This series is probably the best way to gradually improve your reading fluency and practice grammar. Familia Romana covers similar grammar to this course, and beyond.

Using Familia Romana and the second volume Roma Aeterna are very often a key part of getting 'rading fluency' and avoiding the trap of learning to translate Latin, rather than mastering it.

Intermediate novels

  • De Tribus Investigatoribus et Terrore in via Sheldon Street, MundusLatinus, 2014, ISBN 978-3981389234; detective novel

Intermediate readers

  • Petterson, Daniel; Rosengren, Amelie (2018), Pugio Bruti - A Crime Story in Easy Latin, Latinium
  • H. C. Nutting (2018), Ad Alpes, Latinium, ISBN 978-1981365739
  • Ritchie, Francis (2012), Geoffrey Steadman (ed.), Fabulae Faciles: Latin Text with Facing Vocabulary and Commentary, Latinium, ISBN 978-0984306558; free editions can also be found as the original is out of copyright

Full list of modern Latin translations

There is a list of Latin translations of modern literature on Wikipedia and also on Vicipaedia.

Listening to Latin

Listening to Latin is a very powerful way of building your understanding and recognition of words. A great deal of Latin has been recorded and a lot is available online.

Beginners Latin audio

  • Divus Magister Craft, using Minecraft to animate videos on various topics, from architecture to Latin society and literature.

Podcasts in Latin

Latin on Youtube

Films and television

Unlike modern languages, there is not a huge amount of Latin in commercial productions. Most famously, there is

  • The Passion of the Christ (2004), featuring dialogue in Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew
  • Sebastiane (1976) a Derek Jarman film about gay eroticism conflicting with early Christian ethics
  • Romulus and Remus (2019) in proto-Latin
  • The Destiny of Rome (2011) a French production, features a number of speeches in excellent Latin. Also known as Rome's Greatest Battles, excerpts sometimes posted on Youtube, for instance Mark Anthony's speech
  • Chelmsford 123 (UK only at link) Episiode 1 has the first few scenes in Rome in Latin, albeit the lines are designed for deliberate mistranslation jokes.

Non-professional, semi-professional and educational productions include:

  • AD 61, a 15 minute educational film with professional actors and Latinists, also on (Available on DVD with Latin / English / no subtitles); notes on the language used are here
  • Die Hermannsschlacht (1996), about the Roman-German battle that settled the border, available on video from the producers (in German and Latin; no English subtitles)
  • Imperator, (2014) a Polish film about Emperor Marcus Salvius Otho on Youtube
  • Capriciile Fortunei (2015), a Romanian short film "On his way from Apulum, a soldier of the Roman legions displaced in Dacia struggles for his life after the twists of capricious Fortune, the goddess of luck" on Youtube

Spoken Latin events and courses

There are many of these around the world. Here are a few:

Europe

USA

Worldwide Latin Circles

Online tools for practicing Latin

Free online courses

  • Duolingo Latin Currently a short course in Beta.
  • Schola Latína Európæa & Úniversális offers courses using Assimil's Latin course by Dessard with online support. You have to buy the book and audio to participate. There is no English edition, but English translations and notes are given in the online course. The German edition is best for English speakers as it contains macrons. Courses start in September each year, tuition is with skilled volunteer teachers. The book can be covered in either one or two years.

Getting beyond the basics

Justin Slocum Bailey explains at this blog how extensive reading can help you past the intermediate stage, when you have the grammar but still need to familiarise yourself with all the language. He used Lingua Latina per se Illustrata as discussed above.

Reading, speaking, writing and listening can all be great strategies for internalising Latin so you understand it as a language rather than as a puzzle to be solved.

Reference materials and dictionaries

Other resource pages

Other

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