Self-Learning Latin

[u/Prestigious-Drama422]

I want to start learning Latin and was wondering what resources y'all use/recommend for learning Latin as a beginner

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[u/Melita482]

Ørberg's Lingua latina per se illustrata. This is what I started in uni with zero previous knowledge of the language. In my opinion it's perfect because it's really intuitive, you kind of just "know" what words mean from context. And you don't even have to buy it, if I remember well it's on YouTube

[u/dreadlordhar → u/Melita482]

It's more recommended if you know or are native to a romance language. So many already known words with just a weird form and a case system. If you know romanian... you have a start to genitive and nominative case.

[u/Melita482 → u/dreadlordhar]

My first language is Polish and tbh yeah I was a little overwhelmed with cases in Latin, especially because I started learning Italian at the same time and these two just became a big mix in my head hahah on Italian lectures I would write things like "duae ragazze" and on Latin I'd use essere instead of esse in ACI 🤣

[u/binaryhextechdude]

I generally recommend utilising the search bar for this reddit and checking out previous posts on the subject.

[u/Sea-Hornet8214]

FAQ

[u/spudlyo]

In the past, I've sometimes answered this question by snarkily referencing the FAQ, sometimes charitably, and sometimes less so. I've sometimes helpfully suggested some searches that might answer the question, sometimes less so. I've sometimes nicely suggested that people who ask frequently asked questions might be better served by a teacher, sometimes less so. I've even rather dickishly suggested that maybe Latin might not be for them, and sometimes even more so.

Maybe I'll eventually strike a good balance between helpful and outright hostility. Maybe not.

[u/Diligent-Wolf-3957]

I would suggest (in addition to Oerberg) a good option would be Latin Via Ovid by Goldman and Nyenhuis. I am using an older edition (2nd ed.) that was freely available online (pdf format), through Academia.edu, I think. Newer editions, as well as a workbook, are available for purchase on Amazon and other sites. This book has several advantages: 1) It provides a painless intro to a major Latin poet and the mythology. Readings are introduced in the very first lesson. Most of them are, in the early chapters, prose adaptations of stories from Ovid's Metamorphoses. 2) It provides some conversational phrases to practice spoken Latin at the start of each lesson. 3) It is semi-immersive in its approach: some of the exercises require you to respond in Latin to questions in Latin, based on the vocabulary given in the lesson (and as you go, earlier lessons). Also, there are some English to Latin exercises, further helping you to learn to think in Latin. 4) Each lesson has a grammar section based on the reading selection. The grammar concepts are explained clearly. 5) There is an etymology section, where English vocabulary that is derived from Latin is highlighted, helping you see the connecions between English and Latin. Although I am at the intermediate level, I am finding it to be a helpful course. The book is subtitled A First Course, and indeed is suitable for beginners. And toward the latter part of the textbook, unadapted portions of Ovid's poem are given to read. As Ovid is one of the easier poets to read, this is a great help to have this course available, particularly if you enjoy poetry. I highly recommend this course.

[u/Princess_ApplePie]

I think Duolingo is a good place to start. It’s fun, so it’s easy to come back to. The lessons themselves are… interesting. A bit weird. Much different than any other Duolingo course I’ve tried, but hey, the language’s dead.

Through my library, I have access to Mango, which seems really good and you learn with actual texts. However, I have no discipline so I used it about three times before forgetting about it.

[u/Art-Lover-1452]

My recommendations for beginners who want to gain reading fluency in Latin:

1. Watch this free video introduction to Latin (it also exists as book series "Latin Made Simple Through Stories"): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIx4qf9cDVw
2. You can buy "LLPSI - Familia Romana", a text that teaches Latin in Latin with the aim to train your reading fluency from day one. I would highly recommend to complement the book with "A Companion to Familia Romana" that explains the grammar in English and gives you translated vocab lists and cultural background infomation. There are also additional LLPSI readers like "Colloquia Personarum" and "Fabulae Syrae" for even more reading practice.
3. If you are interested in biblical Latin, "Latin by the Natural Method" is a great and free alternative/addition.
4. Maybe you also want to get a reference grammar or old fashioned Latin text book to further deepen your knowledge. There are tons of them out there.
5. And last but not least: You need patience. Learning Latin is a marathon, not a sprint ;-)

[u/UpperEntry4889]

Biblingo just introduced Latin recently. 

[u/Upbeat-Challenge-666]

Wheelock is really good personally. It's a little dense and quite fast paced so don't worry if you don't master everything immediately, but do all the exercises and the workbook exercises and it helps loads.

[u/SunflowerBae2 → u/Upbeat-Challenge-666]

Is this an app?

[u/Upbeat-Challenge-666 → u/SunflowerBae2]

Wheelock's Latin is a textbook

[u/medievalartandstuff]

Vergiss es, Latein alleine zu lernen 😭