Barbara BellMinimus Pupil's Book: Starting out in Latin

I certainly do not regret buying this book at all, it was a major success. All my pupils thoroughly enjoy reading this book and they learn very quickly from it too as because of its easy to read conversation-style boxes, along side with a few major nouns by the side. At the very beginning of the book, it introduces the basic pronouns which are simple but very useful words to know where-as some books miss out these important and basic words and the pupils start to struggle as they learn to make sentences. Later on in the book, it starts getting more and more advanced and it teaches verbs, adjectives, nouns, accents and masculine and feminine words. It is very important to know masculine and feminine words, like French, because there are different words for masculine and feminine, it also presents a pattern with the words so my pupils can spot and tell the differences between the two.What I usually do is give them small cards with adjectives and nouns which the book shows and they have to match the masculine and feminine words together and also translate them into English. I ask my pupils to say a word in Latin in either masculine or feminine, then I would usually ask them to make it a proper sentence, (including the extra words which make the sentence grammatically correct)so it just shows that there are so many other things you can do with this book, other than reading it. My pupils usually find some other languages boring even when I teach them, at we go at a very slow progress but with this book, they can understand things so much easier and they find it so much more fun. We are now beginning to finish this book so I may have to start talking to them in Latin!

A great resource for young learners. This book allows primary school children to get to grips with the basics of the language. With comic strip stories based on real artifacts found at the roman fort of vindalanda in northumbria it also give the kids real insigt into aspects of roman life and culture. Each chapter contains bite size chunks of grammar and vocabulary with engaging illustration. Roman myths are also incorparated into the story so kids learn about icarus and Medusa etc as they go along. The course is engaging and challenging without being overwhelming and there are a huge amount of support materials availible online.

I bought this book to teach my sons Latin, to expose them to the learning, the joy of knowledge, the self-discipline, and the sheer pleasure of puzzle-solving that the English state school system is depriving kids of today. I have to admit it is not bad, especially for introducing the very young to Latin, and begins with some lessons having to do with things that will interest children and to which they can relate. The words are ones that children have a good general knowledge of in the English language by primary school, and the interest in history, especially Roman Britain, is maintained by the use of texts originating in Briatinnia and relating to its culture and people. Colour drawings and maps accompany lessons as well as historical tidbits and photographs of artefacts.It is hoped that students who learn Latin will develop a real pleasure in picking out words in a text, and being able to translate them into eloquent English by employing what they have taught themselves in vocabulary, grammar and nuances. I did not expect it to appear so abstract where language learning, especially entirely literary languages like Latin, needs to have a very solid framework so that translations can be worked out and understood beyond a shadow of a doubt in the student's mind. If this is your only learning resource, be warned that the explanations are not systematic, necessitating review of material learned often for consolidation. Without the teacher's resource book, very expensive and meant to accompany this programme, it would be very difficult for students to develop a clear and solid basis in Latin grammar and syntax.The course is well-thought-out for younger students, and comprises short, easy-to-follow lessons that make an appreciable attempt to hold the student's interest whilst covering the basic framework by which Latin can be learned and enjoyed. For it size it is quite expensive, but worth the price. In comparison to everything else out there currently, this is perhaps the best of that group. I would recommend, even if your student has a tutor or learns this in school, the purchase of the very expensive Teacher's Resource Book as it will provide a good support for student, teacher, and parent helping with homework.

A really good introduction to Latin, not the easiest of subjects but made very accessible by this wonderful book, also gives context with a bit of detail re roman life and vindolanda, entertaining and yes designed for children but i found other books a bit dry where this was entertaining and educational, inspired us to visit vindolanda which was fascinating. Latin grammar was no longer some enigmabut understandable, this said there is a follow up book which is more in depth as goes up a level, all in all if you or your child isinterested in latin i would definately reccommend.

I bought this to teach Latin as an after-school club activity to two Spanish girls and 1 English girl in Year 9. I've already used it to privately coach (yes, I know I've split the infinitive) a primary school girl. All have enjoyed it - it's a good, pupil-friendly way of introducing Latin to children who may not want or be able to take it further at the time.I've got a degree in Latin, but the Teacher's Book and activities should help a non-specialist.My only quibble - the "performers" of the dialogues sound a bit lack-lustre, but an enthusiastic class should be able to perform with gusto as all the words are in the Pupl's Book.

This is the best Latin beginners book for kids I've ever bought (and I've bought many). My 10yo could read the comic book style settings after reading the word list quite quickly because the layout is very easy to understand. She loved it so much we bought the 2nd book of Minimus. Simply the BEST book to start your child out with.