where can I learn Latin?

[gramercy]

I wish I had taken Latin at school, but there you go.

Ds's school does not offer Latin.

We would both fancy learning (we're not too poncetastic!) but an exhaustive search of the south of England only turns up classes in Latin American Studies or... Tracey's Latin Pole- dancing Lessons, neither of which is entirely suitable!

Is it possible to motivate oneself to do distance learning, or can you only really learn in a class environment?

[webwiz]

DS(year 8) is learning Latin as an extra at school and they are following the Cambridge Latin Course. If you look at their website it has stuff about independent learners.

[TheFirstLady]

I think Cambridge Latin Course are doing distance learning now - take a look at their very informative website.
I use Minimus with my primary school Latin Club and hope to continue with them at secondary school using the Cambridge Latin Course. It's the one to go for if you would like to go the GCSE route eventually.
Minimus is a great way in for younger children. For teens/adults a lot of people also recommend So You Really Want to Learn Latin for home study.
I did Latin at A-Level and recently did an OU Latin course to brush up - it was good but tough and I wouldn't recommend it for complete beginners.

[dixiechick1975]

I did the cambridge latin course at school from aged 12 and enjoyed it so much that I elected to do Latin for GCSE (very proud of my A)

I remember it was stories based around a family that lived in pompeii, so history aswell as language. I really enjoyed it.

Just had a look on the website and it is the course I remember - would be fun to do together imo.

[Keepo]

You can download free lessons from itunes

[BadGardener]

Alternatively, get in touch with a Latin teacher near you (look on website of any private/grammar school!) and see if they or anyone they know would be interested in doing private lessons.
Use a course aimed at adults (eg Reading Latin) that you can work through by yourself and have an hour a week with your teacher to keep you motivated/check you're getting it right.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Caecelius est in via!!

[gramercy]

pardon?

That's exactly why I want to study it!

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Cambridge Latin is the one I did yonks ago and is now the one DD is doing at school, she is in Year 8, so just starting her second year. The books are all about Lucius Caecilius Iucundus - a Pompeiian banker, his family, Cerberus his dog and Quintus the slave.

Dr Who fans had a joyous moment when in the story about Pompeii, Russell T Davis used Caecilius as his main character. Was a moment of genius

I'm loving revisiting it through her, because all i could really remember was the very basics i.e....
Canis est in via ( the dog is in the street!!)

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

as in ... were the very basics!!

[TuppyGlossop]

And don't forget Matella the mother who lounged about in the atrium and Grumio the cook consigned to the kitchen. Latin is fantastic it seemed like a totally waste of time but I really do use it all the time for spelling and figuring out the meaning of words. Good luck!

[gramercy]

Love the name, Tuppy.

Coincidentally just off to watch an episode now. Tuppy has just been reunited with Angela. Saw a random episode a while again on ITV 3 or something, and ds actually requested a dvd boxed set for Xmas.

[Romanarama]

I did that too! Don't remember much .

Caecilius in horto ambulavat

Cerberus est canus

Must have a look at that site.

[cupofteaplease]

I used the Cambridge Latin course and eventually got an A level in it.

Quintus puer est.

Scintilla puella est.

That's about all I can remember, despite the A level

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

"Salvete puellae", "salvete magistra".

This is how our lesson started every time!!

[NoahAndTheWhale]

I think I did a bit of the Cambridge course when I was about nine (my godmother is a classics teacher). Remember a slave called Grumio and the mother called Matella any way.

Would love to do more latin actually.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

actually I think it was "salve magistra"

followed by " SEDETE PUELLAE!!!!!!! "

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Noah
Grumio, was their cook/slave, who was often drunk, Clemens was another slave

Meum cerebrum nocet - anyone?!

[NoahAndTheWhale]

I have found this on the OpenLearn (ie free) part of the Open University. Might give it a go.

[Romanarama]

It was 'Et Iam Sedete' in our class. She was called Miss Bertram and had the weirdest hairdo!

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Meum cerebrum nocet = my head hurts!!

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

DH and I think to be a Latin teacher you have to be a bit quirky because you must feel such a minority. DDs Latin teachers are fab, very young but certainly quirky!

[Romanarama]

I can't remember how we described her, but I doubt 'quirky' would have covered it

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

[NoahAndTheWhale]

My godmother is great

Possibly a little quirky though

[gramercy]

NoahAndTheWhale - that looks good, thanks. Will give it a whirl as an initial try-out.