Over half of the English language is derived from Latin.
unicorn: cornū,horn
humble: humus, earth
gregarious: grex, flock
pantry: pānis, bread
flamingo: flamma, flame
These and thousands of other words we use every day keep this "dead" language--a language of kings and poets, of scrolls and secrets--alive. And this means that when we study Latin, we're not just learning about Rome--we're learning about ourselves. Rediscover this time-honored language, which led classical education innovator Dorothy Sayers to declare that "Latin should be begun as early as possible . . . when the chanting of 'amō, amās, amat' is as ritually agreeable to the feelings as the chanting of 'eeny, meeny, miney, moe.'"
In Latin Primer 3, the language basics explored in Primers 1 and 2 continue, with an increasing emphasis on translation. Revised and expanded, this text introduces students (grades 5 and up) to Latin's final noun declensions and verb conjugations, as well as to the perfect tense, indirect objects, simple prepositions, and more, opening up broad frontiers for their understanding and enjoyment of this early language.
Those of you familiar with the older editions of Latin Primer 3 may wonder what's different about this new edition. If you've been using the new Latin Primer 1 and 2, you probably have a good idea what all the excitement is about!
To begin, the content and teaching approach of this third edition is fundamentally the same as before. We have added more exercises, moved some of the vocabulary around, etc., but these new editions won't force teachers or parents to struggle through a long period of adjustment. If anything, this new edition will be much, much easier to use.
Why is that? Well, actually, there are several reasons.
First, the Primer 3 now features weekly Word Lists. Just like Primers 1 and 2, students will receive a new Word List every week, rather than once every few weeks. This transition from Primer 2 to Primer 3 has never been more simple or familiar.
Second, we have completely redesigned the layout. While older editions were arranged by category--a word list section, exercise section, and test section--the new edition has been arranged in a simple lesson-by-lesson format. For example, all of Lesson 1's components are grouped together, back-to-back. When you finish one lesson, you're on to the next. No more flipping back and forth between sections: everything you need for each lesson is right at your fingertips, whether you're the teacher or the student!
Third, we've added new exercises to every lesson, giving students greater opportunity to practice and review their Latin skills, as well as providing teachers with more material to gauge their students' level of understanding.
Fourth, the teacher's edition has been significantly expanded. Mirroring the student book, it includes not only the answers, but also weekly quizzes and new weekly teacher's lesson notes. The lesson notes have been redesigned to explain the standard flow of every lesson and offer tips on preparation and focus for everything from weekly derivatives to unit goals. Whether you're a homeschooling parent or a classical school teacher, these convenient notes will save time, provide a clear direction for the course, and better help your students grasp the language.
And last, but not least: you've heard that you can't judge a book by its cover, but who doesn't like to use a good-looking book? Latin Primer 3 will debut in its new perfect bound form with perforated exercise pages for easy grading. And don't miss out on taking a look at the new, kid-friendly cover.
These new editions will be especially helpful for those brand-new to Latin. Our goal is for parents and teachers who have no Latin background to still be able to walk their students through these texts with ease. (And maybe even learn a thing or two themselves!)
