If you want to learn Latin, the first thing you have to decide is how. What method do you want to use? What Latin road do you want to take?
If I’m being honest, there are as many ways to learn Latin as there are Latin teachers, learners, and courses. But when it comes down to it, they all boil down to one of three categories:
- The grammar and translation method
- The reading method
- Active Latin
Each of these methods highlights a different approach to learning. The grammar and translation method focuses on—you guessed it—Latin grammar, patterns, word forms, and more literal translation. The reading method, on the other hand, uses simple Latin stories to teach comprehension and grammar. Finally, active Latin—which is a newer method of teaching the language—prioritizes comprehension and understanding above all else, even translation.
When it comes down to it, choosing a method for learning Latin is a personal decision and depends on your goals and motivations.
In this post, I’ll summarize all three methods, let you know the pros and cons of each, and even guide you through some questions so you can zero in on the perfect method for you. Plus, read to the end to learn my personal favorite, proven approach for getting the most out of this awesome language.
The Grammar and Translation Method
The grammar and translation (GT) method of learning Latin teaches grammar structures and forms. This method prioritizes verb formulas, sentence structure, and being able to break down Latin sentences into their smaller, grammatical parts. In other words, this method is all about the nitty-gritty of Latin—who’s the subject, what’s the verb, what kind of sentence is it?
You will learn the grammatical building blocks of Latin and then de-code Latin sentences based on those building blocks. I like to think of it as grammar math.
The grammar and translation method might approach a sentence like this:
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for deep dives into the grammatical structure and rhetorical strategies in ancient texts | It takes more time to become a fluent Latin reader |
| Gives students a much deeper understanding of English grammar | Can be confusing and overwhelming for students unfamiliar with grammar concepts like subject, verb, tense, etc. |
| Helps students understand why the language works the way it does | Tends to focus on isolated sentences, which can get in the way of gaining contextual understanding and fluency. |
| Allows for deeper understanding of Latin grammatical structure down the road |
Some popular examples of the Grammar-Translation method include Wheelock's Latin and Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar. Many college Latin professors love Wheelock's Latin for its in-depth grammar lessons and holistic approach to the language. It's a great place to start!
The Reading Method
The reading method of learning Latin uses curated, often episodic Latin stories to introduce grammar points one by one and encourage comprehension. As the name suggests, you do a lot of reading in Latin and answer a lot of comprehension questions (some in Latin and some in English). Most reading-based textbooks include stories written for the curriculum (versus original Latin) and introduce grammar as needed.
The reading method might approach a sentence like this:
| Pros | Cons |
| You will be able to sight-read simple Latin quickly | Often leaves students behind in the grammar department |
| Great opportunity to have fun with the language and read interesting stories written in Latin | Makes it hard to break down, translate, and understand original Latin sentences that don’t fit the traditional Latin word order |
| Improves students’ ability to pick up on context clues and grammar patterns | Requires consistent practice and studying, which might be difficult for students with limited time. |
Some popular examples of the reading method include Ecce Romani and Lingua Latina. Both use episodic, curated stories to introduce grammar a little bit at a time.
Active Latin
Active Latin is a newer approach to teaching Latin and prioritizes comprehension above all else (even correct translation). It was borne from concerns that the other methods—especially the GT method—weren’t adequately preparing students to read Latin. After all, translating and reading are not the same.
Active Latin is designed to work like any other second language class where the emphasis is on speaking, reading, and communicating, NOT on translating a text word-for-word. It would approach a sentence something like this:
|
Pros |
Cons |
| You’ll be more equipped to speak and sight-read Latin | Doesn’t teach students to breakdown and understand sentences at a grammatical level |
| Less memorizing grammar and more exposure to vocab | Makes it harder to identify and appreciate stylistic choices made by original Latin writers |
| Less formulaic approach (this can be a pro or a con depending on how you learn and your reasons for learning Latin) | Less formulaic approach (this can be a pro or a con depending on how you learn and your reasons for learning Latin) |
| Improves students’ ability to pick up on context clues and grammar patterns |
So, which method is right for you?
People learn Latin for all sorts of reasons and they learn it in all sorts of ways. When it comes to choosing the method that’s right for you, there are a few things to consider. Mainly, what is your motivation for learning? And how do you learn best?
Check out the table below to get a better idea of how your goals line up with the three methods we’ve discussed.
| GT Method | Reading Method | Active Latin | |
|
You’re learning Latin to improve your English vocabulary |
✅ | ✅ | |
| You’re learning Latin because you want to translate a specific ancient text for yourself | ✅ | ✅ | |
| You’re learning Latin to better understand grammar patterns and language | ✅ | ||
| You want to speak Latin | ✅ | ||
| You want to write in Latin | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| You prefer a formulaic approach to learning | ✅ | ||
| You want to learn Latin as you would any spoken language | ✅ |
My approach to teaching and learning Latin
I learned using the grammar-translation method. Sometimes, it was awesome. It turned me into a huge grammar nerd and it came handy especially when translating some of the harder Latin texts. But other times, I felt like I was lacking in the reading comprehension department. I could look at a sentence and identify the exact grammatical structure, but I had no idea what any of the words meant (which you can imagine made translation pretty hard). This was manageable when it was just me, but as soon as I started teaching, I realized that the grammar-translation method couldn’t do the whole job on its own.
If six years learning and teaching this language has taught me anything, it’s that no one method does the whole job. I’ve seen students struggle with all three of them.
The reality is that each approach has its unique benefits and each one has cons that shouldn’t be ignored.
That’s why, when I teach, I use a mixture of all three methods:
- Like the GT method, I prioritize grammar from the get-go and teach it using formulas that help simplify the language. However, I mix in a ton of translation (both original Latin and curated passages) from the start and rarely ever use isolated sentences.
- Like the reading method, I write many fun episodic stories for my students that help them expand their vocab and produce translations from a mixture of grammar knowledge and context. However, I also expose students to original Latin early on and supplement their learning with comprehensive grammar lessons.
- Given that active Latin is a newer approach, I’m still in the process of implementing this one and have found that it works better for some students than it does for others. My two biggest takeaways from active Latin are: (1) the importance of having students write in Latin; and (2) encouraging students to read the whole passage in Latin before translating any of it.
In conclusion...
Ultimately, the method you choose depends on your goals, personal preference, and how you learn best. I got into Latin because I wanted to improve my English grammar and learn more about original texts and etymology. As a result, the grammar-translation method worked great for me (at least as a stepping stone).
On the other hand, if your goal is to speak Latin or simply to better understand its uses in the modern day, then you might be better suited to the reading or active methods (or a mixture of the two).
And no matter which method you choose, I’d love to chat more about your Latin language journey. Let me know in the comments, send me a message, or book a free consultation call with me today.
With love and Latin,
💖 Olivia