Your favourite book?

[Eleonore]

Re: Your favourite book?

The same reason you can get Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, The Giving Tree and How the Grinch Stole Christmas in Latin.

I think putting these fun books in Latin is a WONDERFUL idea. It allows Latin students to practice translating on something relatively easy. And, because they will know right away if they've got it right, it builds their confidence in working the translation.

My daughter is only 10 and we are on our 2nd year of Latin. She is ready to start doing some translation work, but there's NO WAY I'd hand her a piece to translate if it is something I would have a hard time understanding in English! But, Cattus Petasatus is something fun to work with and it's a hoot to read aloud in Latin and hear how much you can recognize. It's also a great tool to teach using context to translate unfamiliar words, which comes in handy no matter what language you are reading.

Im sorry, dont take this wrong but Im really curious.
why with so many languages ...languages that ppl actually talk...is your 10 yo child learning Latin?

[Swimmom]

Re: Your favourite book?

Im sorry, dont take this wrong but Im really curious.
why with so many languages ...languages that ppl actually talk...is your 10 yo child learning Latin?

No offense taken. Believe me, I've had to explain this many, many, MANY times (starting with my dh LOL).

You said in your earlier post that we use Latin many more times every day than most people realize. Greek, too. It's been estimated that more than 80% of the words in the English language derive from Latin or Greek (yes, some words are derived from French/Italian/Spanish, but those languages are Latinate based). So, what better way to be able to "derive" the meaning of $64,000 English words than to look at the roots that comprise that word and use those to figure out the definition. For example, let's say she's reading a book and the characters have to find someone who has novemdigitate. She can use what she knows of roots to figure out they need to find someone with nine fingers (Frodo, perhaps?). Novem = nine and digitus = finger. That's a silly example, yes, but it serves its purpose here.

Scientists have actually started mixing Latin and Greek derivatives into "modern" terms. Your example of "astronaut" is a good one here. Astro is Greek for star and "nauta" is Latin for sailor. They could have used the Latin word for star which is "stella", but I don't think "stellanaut" sounds as cool, do you?

I also feel that once she learns Latin well enough, it will serve as a springboard to learning any (or all) of the Latin based languages that she wants. I know she was already able to figure out an interpretation of many of the signs we saw in Belgium (and she did it faster than the kids who are studying French!).

So, that's my reasoning.

[Eleonore]

Re: Your favourite book?

Swimmom

hi,
( we can thank William I for most of the latin words that are now part of the english language.)
You have a good point there. I have no kids yet, but I do think it is important for them to learn different languages from an early age. It was the latin that I found strange...sorry.
Only know I noticed you come from Germany, actually I think for your child know latin can even help her understand how her own language works.



Ele

[sallyseachange]

Re: Your favourite book?

When's the Latin version of DANDR coming out??? Maybe nay-sayers will understand it better, and be less prejudiced against it! Lol!

My favs include anything by Jane Austen. Bronte sisters books. Most things by Stephen King, anything by Ruth Prawer Jabvahler (?spelling?), the Inspector Lynley series by Elizabeth George.... ummm... Wilkie Collins books... everything of Oscar Wilde's... E.M. Forster's books... Watership Down... Grisham and Cornwell... Of Mice and Men... 1984... Animal Farm... like Emile Zola and Henry James...

Oh boy... the list could go on and on. Sorry I mixed books in with authors in a hodge podge....

Never without a book in my bag!

Sal

[Swimmom]

Re: Your favourite book?

Only know I noticed you come from Germany, actually I think for your child know latin can even help her understand how her own language works.



Ele

Ele,

Even some other homeschoolers give me the look when I tell them we are into our 2nd year of Latin. They always ask, "Do YOU know Latin?!?" My reply is always, "If you want your child to learn something in homeschool that you don't know, why not learn it together?" So, that is what we are doing. I admit that my daughter is much better at Latin than I am. She consistently finishes the exercises faster and scores higher on the quizzes than I do.

Actually, we are not German. The Air Force has us living over here for 2-3 years and then we'll be on the move again. I also admit that my daughter is getting better at figuring out German words than I am, especially when they cram two or three words together into one loooooonnnnngggg word. Must be that "look for the roots" practice.

[sadie@136]

Re: Your favourite book?

finally my thread beats Richts threads

so i guess i am am cooler than u rich..lol

[Eleonore]

Re: Your favourite book?

Ele,

Even some other homeschoolers give me the look when I tell them we are into our 2nd year of Latin. They always ask, "Do YOU know Latin?!?" My reply is always, "If you want your child to learn something in homeschool that you don't know, why not learn it together?" So, that is what we are doing. I admit that my daughter is much better at Latin than I am. She consistently finishes the exercises faster and scores higher on the quizzes than I do.

Actually, we are not German. The Air Force has us living over here for 2-3 years and then we'll be on the move again. I also admit that my daughter is getting better at figuring out German words than I am, especially when they cram two or three words together into one loooooonnnnngggg word. Must be that "look for the roots" practice.

Hi,
I mention german because even if it is a germanic language it has declinations...not as many as latin and greek, but the priciple is the same.



Ele

[biogeek]

Re: Your favourite book?

No offense taken. Believe me, I've had to explain this many, many, MANY times (starting with my dh LOL).

You said in your earlier post that we use Latin many more times every day than most people realize. Greek, too. It's been estimated that more than 80% of the words in the English language derive from Latin or Greek (yes, some words are derived from French/Italian/Spanish, but those languages are Latinate based). So, what better way to be able to "derive" the meaning of $64,000 English words than to look at the roots that comprise that word and use those to figure out the definition. For example, let's say she's reading a book and the characters have to find someone who has novemdigitate. She can use what she knows of roots to figure out they need to find someone with nine fingers (Frodo, perhaps?). Novem = nine and digitus = finger. That's a silly example, yes, but it serves its purpose here.

Scientists have actually started mixing Latin and Greek derivatives into "modern" terms. Your example of "astronaut" is a good one here. Astro is Greek for star and "nauta" is Latin for sailor. They could have used the Latin word for star which is "stella", but I don't think "stellanaut" sounds as cool, do you?

I also feel that once she learns Latin well enough, it will serve as a springboard to learning any (or all) of the Latin based languages that she wants. I know she was already able to figure out an interpretation of many of the signs we saw in Belgium (and she did it faster than the kids who are studying French!).

So, that's my reasoning.

Good for you, Swimmom!!!! What you posted is so true with science, medicine, and just learning new English words & new languages in general. I can not tell you how many times I figured out what a word meant b/c of my Latin & Greek background. It was INCREDIBLY helpful in taking the SAT and the GRE!!! Then, when I took a semester of Spanish at the university, I had to laugh because a lot of it was so eerily similiar to Latin. In my opinion, there were more similiarities between Latin & Spanish than German & English.

I only wish more students would study the classics! You will also note that your daughter will have a better command of the English language and grammar than other kids that have not studied Latin. If she goes on to the university, all those years of Latin will serve her well!

[biogeek]

Re: Your favourite book?

finally my thread beats Richts threads

so i guess i am am cooler than u rich..lol

Way cooler!!! And way prettier, too!!!!

[Swimmom]

Re: Your favourite book?

Good for you, Swimmom!!!! What you posted is so true with science, medicine, and just learning new English words & new languages in general. I can not tell you how many times I figured out what a word meant b/c of my Latin & Greek background. It was INCREDIBLY helpful in taking the SAT and the GRE!!! Then, when I took a semester of Spanish at the university, I had to laugh because a lot of it was so eerily similiar to Latin. In my opinion, there were more similiarities between Latin & Spanish than German & English.

I only wish more students would study the classics! You will also note that your daughter will have a better command of the English language and grammar than other kids that have not studied Latin. If she goes on to the university, all those years of Latin will serve her well!

Hopefully, she will eventually realize all the benefits of her language studies. Right now, she's just thrilled when she can translate something in Latin faster than Dr. Jackson on Stargate SG-1!

[biogeek]

Re: Your favourite book?

Hopefully, she will eventually realize all the benefits of her language studies. Right now, she's just thrilled when she can translate something in Latin faster than Dr. Jackson on Stargate SG-1!

LMAO!!!!! Well, I am happy that she's learning Latin as well as reading books. Seems like most kids today are interested in video games than reading. A shame! Kudos to you for putting her on the right path!

[not2late]

Re: Your favourite book?

I've add another book to my favorites list: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. I'm halfway through it and it's hilarious. Durrell was a naturalist. The book is based on the five years his family spent on Corfu when he was a child.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Your favourite book?

I've add another book to my favorites list: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. I'm halfway through it and it's hilarious. Durrell was a naturalist. The book is based on the five years his family spent on Corfu when he was a child.

That sounds good. I like the title!

[sadie@136]

Re: Your favourite book?

Way cooler!!! And way prettier, too!!!!

wpphoo
i am sure Richt will over look your post bio

[sadie@136]

Re: Your favourite book?

err,i meant woohoo!
sadie u really need to learn typing:S