Artes Latinae

by Waldo Sweet

Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers

While Bolchazy-Carducci publishes many classical language materials, the most interesting to home educators is Artes Latinae. This is a programmed-learning style Latin course for independent learning. It includes texts, readers, reference notebooks, teacher’s manuals, test booklets, cassettes, and optional audio-visual materials for Levels 1 and 2. Both levels are available in traditional print format or the newer CD-ROM format (with some course materials remaining in print format.) Completing these two levels should be equivalent to two years of traditional high school latin coursework.

As they begin the course, students first become familiar with pronunciation and the sound of the language in sentences. Later, they look at sentence elements and develop vocabulary. Knowledge builds in small increments that are constantly repeated for reinforcement—the essential description of the programmed method. It does teach Latin grammar, but in an unusual way.

I have some concern about the methodology beyond the programmed method itself. For instance, in Book One, before nominative and accusative cases are named, students are told to identify subjects and objects by endings of “s” or “m”—a fact that will not hold true with plurals and other declensions. Later, the proper terms and other endings are introduced, but I find this confusing. Proper grammar is taught as the program progresses, on a “need to know” basis.

The program moves slowly (at least through the first half of Book One) with much repetition, although students can zoom ahead through this at whatever rate is comfortable for them. Coordinating the teacher’s manual and other materials with the textbook is also quite confusing, but we really do need all the extras except the audio-visual materials, which are recommended but not essential.

My opinion has been influenced by our experience using it with one of our children, which certainly is limited exposure. Many knowledgeable people do not share my misgivings about Artes Latinae. I have also solicited reactions from a number of people using the program. The majority of them are very pleased with the program, so I feel that it is important to balance my misgivings with the fact that I am in the minority.

Components of the program for Level I are two student texts (Books I and II for Level I), a Unit Test Booklet, Graded Reader, Reference Notebook, Teacher’s Manual (which covers both student texts), teacher edition of the Graded Reader, Teacher Guide for Unit Tests, and 15 audio drill cassettes. The CD-ROM version of the program puts the student books (I and II) and cassette tapes on CDs but includes the other materials in print form.

The CDs will run on Windows computers. The CDs also have self-checking exercises that enable the student to work independently while also assuring that they answer questions correctly.

Another major difference has to do with pronunciation choices. The traditional course offers only Waldo E. Sweet’s “American Scholastic” pronunciation. The CD-ROM course offers students three pronunciation choices at the click of a button: American Scholastic, Restored Classical, or Continental/Ecclesiastical.