Parallel Lives: An Illustrated Latin Course for All. Boook 1.

A Latin course leading learners up to the equivalent of a GCSE (UK) level: the textbooks are concise and the workbooks unique as they are largely modelled on MFL acquisition research and practices. The lavish, professionally done illustrations promote discovery and discussion and encourage creativity and imagination. Book I develops a love for the Roman World and an understanding of the ways it underpins the foundations of Western civilisation (themes include: at school and at home, life in town and in the countryside, Roman toys and pets, Roman names and inscriptions, education, slavery and the Graeco-Roman Pantheon, the City of Rome, the Roman Forum, the Roman House, gladiators and gladiatrices, the stories of Aeneas and Odysseus. ‘Language Focus’ rubrics provide a solid base for the understanding of the foundations of Latin grammar. These have been kept as free of formalised terminology as possible, to allow each teacher to introduce the grammatical units in the way best suited to the learners and his or her own teaching methods and background. Links to English have been central: the presentation of language is based on understanding of a native English language speaker’s ways of thinking and learning. Prose composition is introduced seamlessly (especially in the workbooks) in a variety of ways. A designated website provides extra support for teacher and learner alike, including audio versions of all dialogues.