Steadman How To Use

xiii
How to Use this Commentary
Research shows that, as we learn how to read in a second language, a combination of reading and
direct vocabulary instruction is statistically superior to reading alone. One of the purposes of this book
is to help readers identify the most frequent words and encourage active acquisition of vocabulary.
1. Skim through the book and familiarize yourself with information boxes and the glossary.
Familiarity with these boxes will help relieve anxiety and enhance your enjoyment as you read.
2. Develop a regimen for memorizing vocabulary before you begin reading.
A. First, master the running core vocabulary listed on the following four pages. Although
very many core words (5 or more times) come within the first few lessons of the book (75% are
found in the first 8 lessons), readers have already learned most of these words in earlier levels of
Latin and can devote their efforts to mastering the handful of new vocabulary that they encounter.
B. Develop the habit of reviewing dictionary entries before you read. The presence of the
corresponding vocab lists (4 or fewer times) gives readers and instructors several options for
review. In a classroom, teachers may select words from each lesson that they want students to
review for a prereading exercise or post-reading test. Teachers may also ask students to memorize
the entire vocabulary for the lesson as a homework assignment and use the next class as an
opportunity to assess mastery and sight-read the reading passage. For readers who find such an
exercise impractible, I recommend that you review the word list however briefly before you read.
3. Read actively and make lots of educated guesses
Develop the habit of making an educated guess under your breath before you consult notes or
dictionary entries. If you answer correctly, you will reaffirm your understanding of the Latin. If
you answer incorrectly, you will become more aware of your weaknesses and therefore more
capable of correcting them in the future. If you are honest, you will learn from your mistakes.
4. Take full advantage of both the continuous prose and outline formats of the text as you read.
A. Note the advantage of the continuous prose. One advantage of the continuous prose is that it
allows all vocabulary and many of the grammatical notes to be included below on the same page.
Readers may wish to use this format during their initial reading of Cicero because it is so easy to
glance quickly at the vocabulary and notes and continue reading the text.
B. Recognize the benefits of the visual cues in the outline format. Initially, readers have a
tendency to treat Latin as a puzzle and jump around the sentence from subject to verb to object
and so forth. But this approach proves to be both frustratiing and unnatural when reading Cicero’s
prose, where the vocabulary and grammar are very accessible, but Cicero’s use of parallellism
and long periodic sentences (with the verb packing the punch at the end!) are difficult to interpret.
The purpose of the outline format is to provide readers with enough visual cues about the
structure of the sentence that they will feel emboldened to read the text in natural word order.
Reading in Latin word order is a lot of fun, and with persistence it is very satisfying.
5. Reread a passage or lesson immediately after you have completed it.
Repeated readings not only help you commit Latin to memory but also increase your ability to
read the Latin as Latin. You learned to read in your first language through repeated readings of
the same books. Latin is no different. The more comfortable you are with older passages the more
easily you will read new ones. If you read the continuous prose first, reread in the outline format.
6. Reread the most recent passage or lesson immediately before you begin a new one.
This additional repetition will strengthen your ability to recognize vocabulary, forms, and syntax
quickly, bolster your confidence, and most importantly provide you with much-needed context as
you begin the next selection in the text.

Steadman How To Use

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Steadman How To Use

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Steadman How To Use

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

xiii

How to Use this Commentary

You might also like