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Original poster

Learning greek - using symbols or english letters

36 replies

Ebound · 30/05/2019 06:35

Hi, for those with DC who learnt Greek, what is the way taught in school to learn Greek vocabulary - do you memorize the words using the greek "symbols" or do you transliterate the symbols into the corresponding english alphabets and then learn using the english letters? Thanks.

OP posts:
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Michaelahpurple · 30/05/2019 18:06

Do you mean ancient/Classical Greek? Is he starting at Westminster in September by any chance?

Having just marked DS2's latest common entrance past paper I am relatively up on this topic! Definitely do not learn vocab by transliteration. In fact, don't bother learning any vocab until he has totally mastered the alphabet - just work on letters and actual transliteration ie turning Greek words to english without translating (choosing ones that work!).

Big vote for the textbook mentioned up thread (Waite and pagnell or something similar) which has lots of suitable exercises. The greek alphabet song on you tube is quite helpful too, if you can stand the American accent.

Then it all comes quite naturally.

I have accidentally learnt a lot of his stuff setting up quizlets for him which is just as well as the little taps keeps texting me in transliterates Greek

GingerGetThePopcorn · 30/05/2019 16:47

Echoing what has already been said, but please resist the urge to transliterate! I'm a Classics teacher and am always having to get my beginner students out of the habit of rewriting Greek words in English letters. Learning the Greek alphabet and sounding out the words properly is a) less work and b) far, far more helpful for developing reading and language skills. It will also mean that when your DC starts Greek lessons in school they will actually be able to follow along as the teacher reads and points out the words. Pronunciation varies but not that much. Good on you for trying to give them a head start.

woman19 · 30/05/2019 13:00

I'm learning using Duolingo; it's good for listening and writing. Not so great for my spoken Greek.

danicohn · 30/05/2019 12:55

Why would you put Greek on his possibly very busy academic life already?? Confused

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 30/05/2019 09:55

The alphabet is the easiest bit!

IHeartArya · 30/05/2019 09:51

Most Greek descendants in London area (don’t know about elsewhere) send their dcs to (modern) Greek school on Saturdays. Most start in nursery (age3/4) & take gcse in year 9 or 10. Not really relevant but thought I’d mention it Grin

Messyisthenewtidy · 30/05/2019 09:37

Oh sorry OP I didn’t mean to sound judgey. I think it’s great you’re teaching him Greek. It always sounds a lovely language and a good way to learn another alphabet that isn’t too difficult.

My son actually taught himself the Greek alphabet (he likes alphabets) and can prounounce Greek words despite having no idea what they mean!

Good luck with your quest Flowers

ilovesushi · 30/05/2019 09:34

I did ancient Greek at school many years ago. Learn the words as written in the Greek alphabet. Why add another layer by translating back and forth the letters?

RiversDisguise · 30/05/2019 09:20

Greek is fun, OP. If you use the Cambridge Reading Greek series (which has an Independent Learner guide with answers) you can have yourself at a standard where you are reading Koine Greek (New Testament Gk) with ease in 6 weeks (3-4 hours' study a day). Homer too, albeit with more recourse to footnotes.

Let the kid learn it at school with the others. Classics teachers are aaaalways the greatest and his will almost certainly have a peculiar and interesting way of teaching the kids the alphabet.

senua · 30/05/2019 09:06

Ah, things aren't what they used to be.

I'm sure that by this age I had learned a lot of the Greek alphabet via Maths lessons.

Original poster
Ebound · 30/05/2019 08:49

To the question posed above - I am TRYING to teach him as he is taking Greek starting this September. And to some of the other comments - yes, I now do realized that I am getting ahead of myself. :-) Good luck to all of you with children learning it. It does seem like a fun subject. Maybe not such much (I hope!) mental gymnastics as Latin (so many conjugations!) but still fun.

OP posts:
Messyisthenewtidy · 30/05/2019 08:45

It makes reading his shopping list much harder

🤣 but much more fun

amidaiwas · 30/05/2019 08:40

why are you teaching him Greek at home if he is going to be learning it at school next year?
It is highly likely you are doing more harm than good.

DD is doing Greek. started in yr9. Loves it.

CMOTDibbler · 30/05/2019 08:35

Messy - my ds (having taught himself some latin and greek) has finally got his hands on the type of book he originally wanted and though he has a way to go on reading/writing Norse, is happily writing english in runes (Elder Futhark to be precise he tells me). It makes reading his shopping list much harder. Strange child he is, but his friends think its amazing

RottnestFerry · 30/05/2019 08:22

I'm just starting to teach myself Greek. This thread has been helpful.

GeorgeTheBleeder · 30/05/2019 08:22

One thing - if you carry on you really need to be ahead of him.

Obviously your intentions were good but you’d have fared better if you’d given yourself a month or two first to familiarise yourself with the language, terminology, teaching materials and best resources for help and advice.

Messyisthenewtidy · 30/05/2019 08:18

Can I ask why you’re teaching him Greek?

Messyisthenewtidy · 30/05/2019 08:16

At least Latin is in English alphabets

Just FYI it’s the other way around. English actually used to use the Rune alphabet (used by the Germanic languages including the Scandinavian ones) until Christian missionaries started writing English out in the Latin alphabet.

I often fantasise about us still using runes. It seems so much cooler.

Original poster
Ebound · 30/05/2019 08:09

Ha. yes, good thing that I asked. no damage done as we just started two days ago. Really appreciate all the input.

OP posts:
IdaDown · 30/05/2019 07:51

www.pragnellbooks.com/ancient-greek/

The Waite/Pragnell Introduction to Classical Greek is very good.

iMatter · 30/05/2019 07:50

Bertrand is right. Leave it to the school.

You're confusing things for him.

BertrandRussell · 30/05/2019 07:46

I would leave it to the school, frankly.....

LoafofSellotape · 30/05/2019 07:42

Just learn the alphabet!

MongerTruffle · 30/05/2019 07:37

At least Latin is in English alphabets
Confused It’s the other way round...

newyearoldme · 30/05/2019 07:34

At least Latin is in English alphabets

Fancy that....... Confused

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