Cambridge or First Form Latin?

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  • January 8, 2020 at 12:19 pm
    CrystalN
    Participant

    Just wondering what the consensus is with regard to Latin. We will be finishing up Getting Started with Latin first term of next year and I am not sure if I should go with First Form or Cambridge. I know Cambridge is recommended here, but I own First Form already. We have actually down the first half of First Form twice 😐 The recitations kill us. I must have 400 flash cards that came with the program! Wondering if I should try it again, I keep thinking maybe we just need to be older… And I like the idea of all the Latin grammar, we have learned so much we apply to English. The Latin grammar really did make English grammar concepts easier. But….the recitations. What is Cambridge like? Is it grammar heavy? I will have a 6,9,11th grader. Is 6th grade too young for Cambridge? Should I just go slowly through First Form and skip recitations, since I have it. What are your thoughts?

    January 9, 2020 at 2:35 pm
    HollyS
    Participant

    We’ve done both programs.  My kids (and I) prefer Cambridge.  We do very little recitation and lots of translating/reading Latin.  It also has lots of fascinating cultural background information.  There is far less grammar, and it is more applied than directly taught.   My 7th grader is doing well with Cambridge, but it was too much for my 4th grader, so she is using Minimus (she didn’t want to drop Latin and I didn’t want to teach First Form).  Plus I already owned Minimus as well.   Minimus is published by the same company, but much lighter than Cambridge.

    I feel like they get “more” Latin with First Form, but it takes so much time!  All that grammar memory is supposed to build all sorts of connections in their brains (according to classical educators).  In the end I decided I’m not raising classical scholars, and I needed to prioritize other subjects more.  😊 We went from an hour or more every day with First Form to 20-30 minutes a few times a week with Cambridge.

    I think you should look at your end goals for Latin.  They still end up reading Latin very well with either method, but those that do a grammar first approach (like First Form) supposedly have a deeper understanding of the grammar.

    January 10, 2020 at 11:59 am
    totheskydear
    Participant

    <p style=”text-align: left;”>Just so you know, Linney has written a second Latin book! It’s called Keep Going With Latin. :)</p>

    January 10, 2020 at 1:01 pm
    CrystalN
    Participant

    Ooohhh thanks, I didnt know that. I am going to check it out.

    January 11, 2020 at 6:06 pm
    Morgan1
    Participant

    I have a question about the Latin. Do the ladies that use Cambridge Latin use the entire unit sets? Or just the student text or what parts do you use? I was looking on rainbow resource and there was so many different parts to the unit 1 I was confused as to what I really needed to start Latin with my 8th and 5th grader next year. Or if I did need all the parts? Thank you so much for your help 😃

     

    morgan

    January 12, 2020 at 8:46 am
    HollyS
    Participant

    The workbook is mostly busywork, and you really don’t need it.  The cd reads aloud most of the exercises.  It’s nice to have, but not necessary.  The teacher’s guide and textbook are pretty essential.  I buy a copy of the text for myself and each of my kids.  I can usually find them for about $6 (shipped) on eBay.  The cd and teacher’s guide are harder to find used and cost quite a bit more.

    There is also an online version, and I think it’s free.  But my kids hate ebooks.  😊

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