<p>So I really want to be a classics major but unfortunately there are no Greek or Latin programs at my school or the local CC. </p>
<p>Has anybody self studied these and have advice? I don't want to like prepare for the AP test or anything, just maybe do one year by myself before college (I am a junior right now).</p>
<p>I did an "independent study" of the Latin III material last year. Basically went through the book my teacher gave me, had to have certain passages finished by certain dates. I asked her after school if I had any questions. Find someone who knows latin to ask questions, because it can get pretty confusing, especially when you have to infer what parts of speech which word is and stuff.</p>
<p>I self-studied Japanese (surely not a classical language, but still pretty different from, say, French and Spanish), and found it manageable (had a teacher, though). If you're good at languages, though, it shouldn't be difficult. Look up stuff on teh internetz. They're helpful :)</p>
<p>Oh, yeah, focus your efforts on the grammarz. Without them you will be nothing!</p>
<p>The problem is though, I don't know anybody who knows latin. I've asked all of my teachers, my only hope is my calc teacher lol.</p>
<p>Actually, I think most of the first two years of high school Latin is pretty manageable on your own, it's mostly rote memorization. Third/Fourth year is tough though when you get into translating things that actually mean something.</p>
<p>Did Latin I, doing Latin II this year. It's not that hard, just grammar and vocab.</p>
<p>I know someone who self-studied Latin this summer, from the basics to the subjunctive mood. That's about two and half years' worth of Latin at my school (at the pace my Latin teacher went, anyway). I think it's definitely possible to self-study Latin, but to a limited extent.</p>
<p>The basics are pretty easy if you know your grammar. However, the problem with self-studying is that the books you use may not have everything, i.e., exceptions to some rules, or may contain many errors. That is why I do NOT recommend 'Our Latin Heritage'! We use this book and my teacher, who has a Ph.D in Latin, always complained about it. There are literally, errors on every other page.</p>
<p>So, my point is, it's possible to self-teach yourself Latin..up to Latin III I would guess.</p>
<p>Latin and Greek are some of the easiest languages to self-study, since listening and speaking with other people aren't important - it's just memorizing grammar and vocabulary. One of my friends has taken Latin for three years, but has mostly been self-studying since our school Latin program isn't so great. He says Wheelock's Latin is a particularly good textbook to use. I'm self-studying ancient Greek right now with Athenaze and have found that to be pretty clear and user-friendly.</p>
<p>I self studied Latin 2 and did 1, 3 and 4 at my high school. It's manageable, particularly since you're looking at Latin one. Some dilligence and a textbook with teachers guide should do it for the most part, although I did have a tutor I saw a few times before taking the test-out exam. If it's for your personal enjoyment, that will most likely suffice. I know that programs like Rosetta Stone, etc. offer Latin, although I haven't tried it so I can't vouch. Look up your state Junior Classical League. Sometimes those sights rec tutors etc. Good luck, amicus!</p>
<p>Hi! I've taken latin for 4 years (this is my 5th! ahh!) year of my life. and i've used different books.</p>
<p>Latin...self-studying means you have to be GREAT at grammar. Not like "80" on SAT writing great, but like legit, participals, verb tenses, etc. I would say about 90% of people are not prepared for this hardcore grammar and need a teacher to help them with ENGLISH grammar to help with LATIN grammar. That said, after getting the "gist" of Latin I, you can easily self-study it, Latin II and probably half of III (depending again, on your level of english grammar). Latin is very logical, and makes sense. </p>
<p>My advice for you? Try an online course where you can at least learn about the basics, then use multiple latin books + maybe english grammar books to get you through. </p>
<p>Here's book recommendations:</p>
<p>Ecce Romani: very easy to self-study, easy to flip through and "get", but you won't be learning necessarily great latin/classic latin; also, I found the whole teaching style of the book confusing in later parts, as you have to go back and relearn verb endings they didn't teach you! </p>
<p>Jenney: My teacher uses the pre-1991 version, which he says is a lot easier than the current version (which uses words in the translations before brought up in vocab).</p>
<p>Ecce Romani</p>
<p>Lol sorry but I obviously love the name :]. </p>
<p>Lol. </p>
<p>Ok so I did about 7 years of French and I'm in my 3rd year of Spanish.
Will that help me at all?</p>
<p>Conjuguemos helps a lot with verbs in Latin if you want to self-study.</p>
<p>I'm in my 4th year of Latin.</p>
<p>I second the suggestion of trying an online course. I'm sure there's plenty of good ones out there. Honestly, unless you're amazing, I think it'd be pretty difficult to self-study. I agree with Anon<em>Person</em>1 that you'd need really good grammar skills. I used Wheelock's, but don't think it'd be very helpful to self-study from.</p>
<p>You also could probably look into summer programs. I'm sure some universities offer classes in it for summer credit.</p>
<p>^^ That's a good idea. I hadn't thought of that lol. Thank you :].</p>
<p>I third wheelocks. I am currently taking Latin II and I use it as a supplement and it works really well.</p>
<p>I just tried Conjuguemos. It's a very interesting tool I'd never heard of before! Viva Latine! or so.</p>
<p>I'm no Latin expert but I have a etymologies tutor who is, and he recommends that after a certain point of rote memorization (by the end of level 1, or 2, according to this thread I guess) one way of learning Latin really well is to go through actual books in their original Latin, and circling stuff you don't know, learning new words, getting grammar down, etc. It's enjoyable and apparently the best way to learn!</p>
<p>I use conjuguemos for spanish. It's AMAZING.</p>
<p>Ok, I'll use the book suggestion. Thanks :].</p>