If only this method worked for Japanese. Kanji are just too complicated to write. And writing is such an important part of learning. So, for now, I try to do my Anki deck each day, study my grammar book which uses manga to keep it interesting, and try to transcribe one or two sentences from a Japanese book. Slow progress but more than I knew the day before.
My pleasure, I'm glad you found it useful. There are so many different methods to learn vocab, it's best to never get it in your head there's only "one way" to learn.
Thank you, this motivated me to try out other methods of learning! I’ve felt «stuck» in my ways for a while now and haven’t really thought about that I can do other things!
While very familiar with the Latin needed to assist at a TLM I am looking to dive deeper into it. I have Wheelock’s to one side of me, a Great courses series of Latin videos to the other side and Familia Romana and its exercitia in the middle along with the Dowling method hovering above it. It’s all a bit overwhelming and now I read I need to choose a way picking up the vocabulary. Yikes.
Hi Tommy, thank you for a great comment! Is TLM the Latin Mass? Regardless, you're definitely off to a good start with the books and resources above. Wheelock's is a great grammar book though I have yet to ever use it, however, I've heard great things about it. You can't ever go wrong with the Great Courses series. I might have actually listened to that eight years ago or so. It's been a long time. Furthermore, I have used Familia Romana extensively and love it. It's a great book to learn how to speak and read Latin. I just looked up the Dowling method, I have never heard of it, but it sounds interesting.
The thing with language learning is there's many ways to go about it, and everyone has the "best" way for them. So I wouldn't get too worried about which way is the best, just decided to stick with one method for a least three months or so, and see what happens. If it works, great! If it doesn't work, move on to another.
I understand how it can feel overwhelming at times, I've been there countless times myself. Just try to focus on how great it will be to be able to read in Latin whatever you wish to read.
Thanks for your comment! That's a great question. I do like flashcards, and have learned to use and appreciate them while in school when learning Ancient Greek, something I didn't mention in my article. Flashcards are great for learning the first 500 or 1000 words or so, but after that, they become boring, and quite frankly, I would prefer to see the words in context while reading than on a card. Now that's just me, many people would say the opposite and that's great. The whole point of my article is that we should all use whatever method works best for us.
Flash cards can be sortable; first by chronology in studied work; then by mastery (know it/or not), then can be sorted by alpha to reference when needed in future works. They can be used in games and therefore not boring
If only this method worked for Japanese. Kanji are just too complicated to write. And writing is such an important part of learning. So, for now, I try to do my Anki deck each day, study my grammar book which uses manga to keep it interesting, and try to transcribe one or two sentences from a Japanese book. Slow progress but more than I knew the day before.
Thanks for sharing this, I've hit every single one of these roadblocks with Latin. So, happy to see a method that looks like it might work!
My pleasure, I'm glad you found it useful. There are so many different methods to learn vocab, it's best to never get it in your head there's only "one way" to learn.
Good luck!
Thank you, this motivated me to try out other methods of learning! I’ve felt «stuck» in my ways for a while now and haven’t really thought about that I can do other things!
While very familiar with the Latin needed to assist at a TLM I am looking to dive deeper into it. I have Wheelock’s to one side of me, a Great courses series of Latin videos to the other side and Familia Romana and its exercitia in the middle along with the Dowling method hovering above it. It’s all a bit overwhelming and now I read I need to choose a way picking up the vocabulary. Yikes.
Hi Tommy, thank you for a great comment! Is TLM the Latin Mass? Regardless, you're definitely off to a good start with the books and resources above. Wheelock's is a great grammar book though I have yet to ever use it, however, I've heard great things about it. You can't ever go wrong with the Great Courses series. I might have actually listened to that eight years ago or so. It's been a long time. Furthermore, I have used Familia Romana extensively and love it. It's a great book to learn how to speak and read Latin. I just looked up the Dowling method, I have never heard of it, but it sounds interesting.
The thing with language learning is there's many ways to go about it, and everyone has the "best" way for them. So I wouldn't get too worried about which way is the best, just decided to stick with one method for a least three months or so, and see what happens. If it works, great! If it doesn't work, move on to another.
I understand how it can feel overwhelming at times, I've been there countless times myself. Just try to focus on how great it will be to be able to read in Latin whatever you wish to read.
Good luck!
You don't explain why not use flash cards
Thanks for your comment! That's a great question. I do like flashcards, and have learned to use and appreciate them while in school when learning Ancient Greek, something I didn't mention in my article. Flashcards are great for learning the first 500 or 1000 words or so, but after that, they become boring, and quite frankly, I would prefer to see the words in context while reading than on a card. Now that's just me, many people would say the opposite and that's great. The whole point of my article is that we should all use whatever method works best for us.
What method do you use?
Flash cards can be sortable; first by chronology in studied work; then by mastery (know it/or not), then can be sorted by alpha to reference when needed in future works. They can be used in games and therefore not boring
Truly practical and very useful. Thank you!
I'm glad it was helpful!