Self-Teaching AP Latin

Test Preparation AP World Languages
1

I have been studying Latin online since 7th grade, where I took Latin I, 8th grade Latin II, in 9th grade I managed to complete both the coursework for Latin III and the old AP Latin Literature course (Catullus-Horace combination), but I found out late in the year that courses would no longer be continued in the 2018-2019 school year, which would not allow me to take AP Latin in my 10th grade year, which my school doesn’t offer. I was saddened by this, as I really came to love Latin. Having used Wheelock’s Latin on my own in 7th grade, and teaching myself French to a fairly good level with several books, I decided, since the majority of other online AP Latin courses were very expensive, that the best course of action would be to go through Caesar and Vergil myself and take the test, as I would LOVE to further pursue Latin in college. I came to this forum looking for more suggestions for any resources, or any advice.

Here are the resources I had in mind:

Caesar: Selections from his De Bello Gallico by Hans-Friedrich Mueller
Vergil’s Aeneid: Selections from Books 1, 2, 4, and 6, by Barbara Boyd
A Caesar Workbook by Rose Williams
A Vergil Workbook by Katherine Bradley and Barbara Weiden Boyd
Vergil’s Aeneid, translated by Robert Fagles

These would be the main textbooks, using the first two for comprehension of the texts, and the workbooks to see if I comprehended what I read by writing the essays (to get practice in essay writing) and answering the multiple choice questions I understand sight reading is an important part of the test, and so I have chosen a book for this as well a book with passages and comprehension questions, which I used only partially with a tutor in eighth grade after my self-study with Wheelock:

Intellegenda: Comprehension Exercises in Latin Prose and Verse

I would also do some other sight reading with other authors as well, as somewhere in the AP syllabus it is said that one might consider that sight reading texts should not come from a school textbook.

I also have other resources such as podcasts explaining the texts, and the FRQ’s on the College Board’s website. Does anyone know of anymore resources, especially for sight reading?

MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Edited to correct author errors and to remove Latin phrases; per ToS, unless a foreign phrase is in common usage in English, all posts must be in English only.

2

Do you have access to and resources for a tutor? You sound very self-motivated, but I wonder how well-prepared you could be. D [a classics major in college now in grad school] had straight As in six years of Latin with excellent middle school and high school teachers, and still found the AP test somewhat challenging. Are you anywhere near a college/university that offers Latin? A grad student or upper class student could be a good resource.

3

I checked into other online courses, all of which were about $600.00. My school only offered Latin I and II online, but I managed to get the school to let me take III which they didn’t actually offer, and I completed it early in the year and got to take Latin Literature. So, while Latin isn’t popular at our school and I don’t have any upper class students, or a university that offers Latin (the nearest one is about 1 hour and 30 minutes away, but we do have a notable Classics program at our state university), my Latin teacher did give me his email if I needed any help.

Alternatively, I’m still searching for more books that are good for sight reading (i.e., they contain appropriate passages and comprehension questions).

4

Also, I’ve been searching for a preparation book, but it seems like the one that is currently found is out of print and very expensive. It was for the AP Latin Vergil exam, and is printed by REA Test Preps but this is the only one I know of. Do you know of some more?

Many Thanks,
Langoid

5

Just checked D’s old bedroom upstairs with no luck. Her apartment is [obvi] full of books, so I’ll check in with her to see if she has any recommendations.

6

I’ll PM you a link. Even though you are a very new member, I believe you can receive.

7

Thanks! I don’t plan to start until some point in August, and I’m usually on the forum daily, so I’ll gladly accept any recommendations you have. Many thanks!

8

MODERATOR’S NOTE:

Correct. New users cannot send PMs, but can receive them.

9

Thanks @skieurope. As you know, I’m a slow learner. ^:)^