Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

You can learn Latin on your own if you approach this issue correctly. All you need is a set of correct textbooks, exercises, and writing practice in Latin. Most likely, your family and friends will not be able to speak Latin with you, but practicing the spoken language will help you improve your general knowledge of Latin. If you try, you can speak Latin as well as the Pope, and in no time.

Steps

1. 1 Pick up a beginner's book with lots of exercises and answers. The answers are important because there is no one to check you.
   • Wheelock's Latin is a well-known book of answers. This is perhaps the best choice for self-study. The book contains a huge number of exercises, as well as online training groups.
   • There are several publicly available books with answers, for example:
     
     
     • B.L. D'Ooge, Latin for beginners + answers
     • J.G. Adler, Latin Grammar + Answers (with audio and other materials)
     • C.G. Gepp, Henry's First Latin Book + Answers
     • A.H. Monteith, Method Ahn First Course + answers, Method Ahn's Second Course + answers.
2. 2 Read each lesson, do each exercise, check your answers, and memorize. It will take you at least a few months, possibly years, to complete a book. In schools, in turn, the book on Latin - Wheelock - is used in successive introductory courses over several semesters.
3. 3 A note about books. There are two schools of Latin that differ in teaching methods. The first method is to focus on the organized teaching of grammar and vocabulary. Wheelock's Latin and other old books like a textbook Latin for Beginners, belong to this method. The second method focuses on reading, is highly dependent on the teacher and is less demanding on memorizing a large number of words. The Cambridge Latin Course is a book that exemplifies this method. This is more like a teaching methodology during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
4. 4 Choose the method that suits you best. The advantages of the first method are that you can learn without a teacher, and in the general availability of books that use this method. The disadvantage of this method is the difficulty of self-learning and the potentially dangerous probability of abandoning this business. The second method is good if you want to quickly learn to read, learning only grammar and vocabulary - which is necessary for reading books early. The presence of a teacher is highly desirable to provide assistance with difficult grammatical points. It is unlikely that you will find the answers in books that match this method, and most textbooks are not readily available at all.
5. 5 As soon as you finish the book, start reading it lightly. Here are some good examples of books to choose from:
   • Latin Reader Part I and Part II.
   • Fabulae Faciles (light stories)
   • De Viris Illustribus (used in teaching Latin in schools for decades)
   • The Latin Vulgate Bible - Vulgate
6. 6 Now that you have learned the basics of vocabulary and grammar, the next step is to strive for fluency in the language. This is the most important and most difficult part of your training.You have to move from translating sentences in your head to subconsciously understanding their essence. In other words, you need to learn to think in Latin. Since Latin is a dead language, the best thing you can do is read tons of Latin texts. The Assimil course is a good self-study and reading book. The book is currently out of print, in other words, you can search for old copies or audio on the internet (available in French and Italian).
   • Schola Latina Universalis (distance learning with translations in English and Spanish using the Assimil course).
7. 7 These days, as you can imagine, communication in Latin is a rare occurrence, but extremely useful. Communication in the language is the best way to master it.
   • Schola (follow the first link) (chat and forum)
8. 8 As you read, jot down the words and create your own Latin vocabulary. Add words and phrases that are new to you. It is helpful to make separate entries for words with multiple meanings, as well as for idioms that have a single meaning.
9. 9 In order not to get bored when reading in Latin, you can try well-known novels. If you read these books, you will be on the right track to fluency in Latin:
   • Insula Thesauraria (Treasure Island); and also here and here.
   • Rebilius Crusoe (Robinson Crusoe)
   • Pericla Navarchi Magonis (Captain Magon Adventures)
   • Mysterium Arcae Boulé (The Mystery of the Boulé cabinet)
   • Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)
   • Harrius Potter et Camera Secretorum (Harry Potter And The Chamber of secrets)
10. 10 You can switch to classic Latin books at your convenience. Some authors are easier to read than others. You can also start with the work of Caesar - De bello gallico and Cicero - Orations.

Tips

• Choosing the right vocabulary is important for what you will read. If you are interested in classical Latin, use Elementary Latin Dictionary or Oxford Latin Dictionaryif you can buy it. If you are interested in Late Latin, Middle Ages, Renaissance and Neo-Latin, you are better off using the Lewis and Short’s Latin Dictionary, although it is a little expensive. Otherwise, you will have to use Cassell, which is neither very useful nor small in size. Unfortunately, choosing the right and inexpensive dictionary will not be easy. If you can understand French, then the dictionary Grand gaffiot would be a good choice.
• While you are still studying from the textbook, you will have to memorize a lot: declensions, conjugations, vocabulary. There is no shortcut. In this case, your morale is very important.
• Latin is a poor vocabulary language, in other words, one word can have multiple meanings. This also means that there are many idioms in Latin that you will also have to memorize. You will get to the point where you understand every word, but the meaning of the sentence as a whole will not be clear to you. This is because you ponder the meaning of each word individually. For example, the expression hominem e medio tollere means "to kill a person", but if you do not know this phrase, then literally it translates to "remove a person from the center."
• Avoid poetry while studying prose. You would not recommend reading Shakespeare to someone learning English without knowing how to read a newspaper yet. The same goes for Latin.
• Learn the words. Carry a word list or flashcards with you to look at on the bus, toilet, or wherever.
• Write in Latin. Even if you want to learn how to read, don't avoid the English to Latin translation exercise.
• Do not hurry. One lesson every few days is enough. If you are in a hurry, you will not have time to remember the information you need. On the other hand, don't hesitate. Try to exercise at least once a week.
• If your answers do not match the answers in the tutorial, you are most likely missing something. Return to class and reread.

Warnings

• People might think that you are a nerd, crazy, or have too much free time.
• If you speak Latin just to impress people, you will be treated accordingly.