Past Meets Future: Online Intro to Latin 

Past Meets Future 

Past meets future, that is, in the sense that you can learn an ancient language using 21st century technology. In other words, I’ve finally completed my online introductory Latin course. I call it Beginning Latin with Latin for the New Millennium I 1-12, and you can find it on the Udemy platform. As the title suggests, it uses Latin for the New Millennium as the course textbook.

If you’ve read my review linked above, you know that I describe LNM as a “five tool player.” That is, it does it all. It combines the best features of both the new reading-based method of learning Latin with the virtues of the old-fashioned grammar-based approach. On top of that, it give a great overview of the continued development of literary Latin from the 3rd century BC up through the beginning of the modern era. While the book itself lists for $75 on the publisher’s website, you can find used copies available for quite a bit less at Thrift Books or Amazon. My class works equally well with the 1st or the 2nd edition.

 How it Works 

Here’s how the course works. It’s designed primarily for the DIY (Do It Yourself) student. But it would also be valuable to homeschooling students, or students in a traditional class who’d like a little extra help. The textbook is the core of this course. I don’t have any sort of formal relationship to LNM or its publisher. So, for copyright reasons I can’t directly reproduce material from the book or provide an answer key. You can find most answers with a quick internet search. Failing that, it’s all included in the teacher’s edition. My role is to be your guide. I’ve created 112 short video lectures to further explain, illustrate, and demonstrate the lessons from Latin for the New Millennium.

In my lectures I provide added background (including lots of pictures) on the authors and their literary selections. I also point out connections between Latin vocabulary words and modern English along with their relationship to other Latin words as well. I offer examples and demonstrations of the Latin grammar lessons, especially where it differs from what we do in English. And for all of the above, I explore how it makes its way into our world today. Finally, students are free to contact me with any questions. Of course, as a reader of this website, you can already do that.

Learn the Lingua Aeterna 

I’m very excited to finally see this course go live. I’ve been working on it for a long time. The official list price at Udemy is $39.99, but you can get it here for $19.99. I always have a link on my Learning Latin Online page for a discounted price. Another plus for Aeterna Latina Readers. And that doesn’t just get you lifetime access to the course, but also to the instructor (your humble servant).

If you’re interested but unsure, follow the link and take a look at the Udemy listing. There’s a promotional video (which I’ll also post below), but I’ve also made the first three lectures available for free. And again, you can contact me with any questions.

It’s never been easier or more convenient to learn the Lingua Aeterna, Latin. The wonders of modern technology can bring the ancient language of Caesar and Cicero, Augustine and Aquinas, straight to you. Past meets future. Please give it a try.

Promotional Video

The featured image at top of page was created by ChatGPT from an image of a funerary relief found in Neumagen near Trier, c. 180-185 AD. From Wikimedia Commons, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.