Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Farris:
Barbara, we’ve talked a lot about the benefits of learning Latin, but clearly there are a number of ways to go about it—some are better than others. How is your methodology different from other Latin curricula?

Barbara Beers:
Well, my emphasis in The Latin Road to English Grammar is built around the classical method of translating between Latin and English, teaching students how to look beyond the mere forms of words to the meanings behind them. To do this, we need to know how English is structured, to translate those same word relationships in a sentence into Latin, and the same from Latin to English.

So, not only do we achieve a high level of word mastery, but also become careful and skillful with expressing ideas in two different language structures. So, built into my study is not only a study of Latin, but advanced skills in English grammar in all its details.

As a homeschool parent myself, this was the best use of my time, because coordinated in about an hour each day we were studying our foreign language for high school credit, all our advanced English grammar, advanced vocabulary, and even spelling helps.

Mike:
Well, Barbara, all I can say to that is res ipsa loquitur, which I guess in law school they taught us meant, “The thing speaks for itself.” Thanks for your explanation. I’m Mike Farris.