Learning Latin

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Latin is central to the cultural and linguistic heritage of Western Europe and the Americas. Learning it allows senior school and adult beginners to connect with this shared legacy. John Randall, with over two decades of experience teaching Latin at Lancaster University, developed techniques that facilitate a quick understanding of Latin sentence construction while preserving natural word order. The Learning Latin course emerged from his teaching insights and was further refined with the help of fellow Latinists Jonathan Foster and Duncan Kennedy, who rigorously tested it at Liverpool University. The course exclusively utilizes authentic Latin from classical authors, including both prose and poetry, starting with the phrase "homo hic ebrius est" from Plautus. Any minimal adaptations made to the Latin are clearly indicated, with original forms provided in an appendix. The course employs traditional grammatical terminology alongside two modern linguistic concepts: 'kernelling' and 'metaphrasing.' It includes tables listing the forms of nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and verbs. Comprising 25 chapters, each designed for approximately two hours of instruction, the course aims to ensure students progress in understanding the language's structure, enabling them to confidently engage with Latin prose and simple verse using standard reference materials upon completion.