Learn Latin at Your Own Pace { A Memoria Pres First Form Latin Review}

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor compensated in any other way.

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If you are looking for a beginning Latin program that your late elementary, middle school, or high school child can use independently or with you teaching, let me suggest the First Form Latin Complete set by Memoria Press, which my son requested for review.

What is First Form Latin by Memoria Press?

First Form Latin Complete set by Memoria Press is a popular Latin program designed for beginners of Latin from about Grade 4 or 5 and above.

It contains 34 Lessons to be worked through at a suggested speed of one lesson per week - broken down into daily parts - for an entire school year's worth of learning.  Due to the way lessons are presented, however, students can self-pace or parents can expedite or slow down lessons to meet personal needs.

The eight different components of the set (detailed below) allow families with no Latin experience to succeed with the course and also make the course accessible to visual and auditory learners.

Moving through the program as suggested will allow students to master the Classical "grammar" stage of Latin and, then, having done so, students can advance through other levels of learning using the entire series of Latin programs from Memoria Press.

Included in the the First Form Latin Complete set are:

• a small, concise, softcover Student Text with 34 2-page lessons on uncluttered pages
• a softcover Teacher Manual which includes Student Text insets, scripted "Chalk Talk" lessons, a recitation schedule, extensive teaching notes, FYI info for background, etc.
• a softcover Quizzes and Tests book with reproducible weekly quizzes and unit tests which can be used to assess material as it is mastered
• a spiral bound Workbook with 4-6 pages of exercises per lesson to help students move from practice to mastery
• a Teacher Key with answers to the workbook, quizzes, and tests
• a set of First Form Latin Flashcards with vocabulary and Latin sayings on them
• a Pronunciation Guide CD, which includes all vocabulary and grammar forms for each lesson
• a 9 hr, 3 disc set of Instructional DVDs which contain 15-30 minute video lessons with explanations by Highland Latin School teacher Jessica Walton and also offer on-screen notes, illustrations, diagrams, recitations, etc.

Why Did We Choose First Form Latin?
We decided to review the First Form Latin Complete set because my oldest son wanted to try it as an independent, self-paced language credit for high school. Key word there: independent. (My son is in a stage where he wants little to nothing to do with me working with him.) 

That worked for me as I don't know Latin myself, need time for my other children, and know that Memoria Press is well-reputed for their Latin programs, so, as long as my son is diligent, he will have quality teaching and be able to practice and master beginning Latin.

It also worked for me because, since it is a DVD course - not a subscription-based online one, if my son is not diligent and needs to extend the time it takes him to master beginning Latin, we will not be bound by a subscription with a deadline. (There is, however, a 13-month streaming video access option for a small additional fee for those who want that.)

I call the First Form Latin Complete set a win-win option for my family then: my son gets to pick a language course that he can work through independently, and I am comforted knowing that the instruction and materials are sound and that there is room for my son to fail-forward if need be - meaning that if he does not pace himself well, he can learn from that and continue on without the penalty of having to pay for another year of a subscription.

As an extra bonus "win", I also like that when/if I have time, I can learn Latin myself by purchasing my own student workbook and re-using the rest of the course materials my son is using and also that my younger two children can do likewise if they show an interest in learning Latin, for the workbook is the only consumable item within the set!

In My Son's Words

My son has been using the course and will continue to do so. However, he has not progressed as far into the course as most would have in the time he has had it. He explained more when I asked him for his review, saying:

This Latin course is well-structured and well done. 

I would have preferred if it was Classical instead of Ecclesiastical, but that is just my personal preference. 

I chose this program to get one whole year of high school foreign language credits on my own without my mother. 

At first, though, I got confused, because I did not read any of the Teacher Manual and thought one lesson was meant for one sitting in one day, which overwhelmed me. It seemed to take forever and so I paused. Then, my mom explained that lessons can be done in portions. Since then, I have been working out what pace will work best for me. I have a lot of courses I want to do right now, so I think I'll do Latin every other day or every third day, taking it at a slow pace around my other courses, because my other courses have a course deadline and Latin I can take longer for. 

I would recommend this course to people who like a traditional way of learning or people who want to self-pace. I am not the former, but I am the latter. This course sort of works for me and I will probably finish it.

Learn More

Find free samples online.

See other Memoria Press programs that we've reviewed.

American History

Traditional Logic

Greek Myths

Cursive

Music Appreciation

First Form Latin

Fifty Homeschool Review Crew families reviewed different levels of Memoria Press Latin programs.  Click through to find links to all the reviews.

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