Maurice BalmeRezensionen

3/11/22

This slender title is the teacher's companion to the second volume of the Athenaze text on ancient Greek, and contains the answers to that book's questions and exercises, as well as some helpful hints for the instructor.

As I mentioned in my review of the first teacher's companion to the Athenaze texts, the utility of such a book for teachers need hardly be commented upon. But this companion is also of value to the independent student, or someone (like me), who returns to their studies after a significant absence, and wishes to review some basics before progressing to the next level.

This slender title is the teacher's companion to the first volume of the Athenaze text on ancient Greek, and contains the answers to that book's questions and exercises, as well as some helpful hints for the instructor.

The utility of such a book for teachers need hardly be commented upon. But this companion to the Athenaze text on ancient Greek is also of value to the independent student, or someone (like me), who returns to their studies after a significant absence, and wishes to review some basics before progressing to the next level.

I look upon Balme & Lawall's introductory classical Greek text, Athenaze, as a single work that happens to be published in two volumes. Nothing expresses my feelings about Book II better than my review of Book I, which I have duplicated below (with some minor adjustments):

Good old Dicaeopolis! Lazy Xanthias! Brave Philip! How we students enjoyed snickering at the "Dick and Jane" approach to classical Greek that is to be found in this introductory text, and what an effective teaching tool it turned out to be...

This was the book used in the beginning Greek class I took in college, Book I the first semester, and Book II the second. Each unit contains a list of vocabulary, a text in Greek, a Word Study, a section on Grammar, and a list of exercises. Taken sequentially, the texts tell the story of Attic farmer Dicaeopolis and his family, living in Greece at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War. Interspersed throughout are various passages explaining some of the cultural background of the story. This second volume has 15 units, each divided into two lessons. The book also contains a reference grammar at the back , a brief dictionary, and an index.

These books are ideally suited, I think, for introducing students to this ancient language. They allow one to jump into textual passages right from the beginning, even though very little grammar or vocabulary has been learned. While I can think of any number of things more interesting than Dicaeopolis digging stones out of a field, it would be impossible to jump right into Homer, Plato, or any of the other greats. Nor would it be especially pleasant to spend an entire year doing nothing but memorizing lists of vocabulary and tables of grammar paradigms. Here is a noble compromise: and though my classmates and I may have groaned, I look back now with nostalgic fondness.

Good old Dicaeopolis! Lazy Xanthias! Brave Philip! How we students enjoyed snickering at the "Dick and Jane" approach to classical Greek that is to be found in this introductory text, and what an effective teaching tool it turned out to be...

This was the book used in the beginning Greek class I took in college, Book I the first semester, and Book II the second. Each unit contains a list of vocabulary, a text in Greek, a Word Study, a section on Grammar, and a list of exercises. Taken sequentially, the texts tell the story of Attic farmer Dicaeopolis and his family, living in Greece at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War. Interspersed throughout are various passages explaining some of the cultural background of the story. This first volume has 16 units, each divided into two lessons. The book also contains a reference grammar at the back , a brief dictionary, and an index.

These books are ideally suited, I think, for introducing students to this ancient language. They allow one to jump into textual passages right from the beginning, even though very little grammar or vocabulary has been learned. While I can think of any number of things more interesting than Dicaeopolis digging stones out of a field, it would be impossible to jump right into Homer, Plato, or any of the other greats. Nor would it be especially pleasant to spend an entire year doing nothing but memorizing lists of vocabulary and tables of grammar paradigms. Here is a noble compromise: and though my classmates and I may have groaned, I look back now with nostalgic fondness...

Clear, easy to understand, good vocab, and interesting to read.

This book was easy to understand, clear on vocab, and interesting to read.

La haré cuando tenga la obra en mis manos.

This is the only textbook I have ever used so I can't compare it with any others. I found it engaging. I usually like more drills and paradigms in language books but I found the storyline amusing. It helped me remember vocabulary because I could link it to a funny passage in the text. The characters are from The Acharnians.

In short, I thought it was a good language textbook for ancient Greek.

I will always associate this book with my early high school introduction to Ancient Greek. I did the subject because I didn't want to do art and this was the only one left. Thank goodness I did, this book helped develop a lifelong habit of classical literature and history.

I always remember this book fondly, the sequel to the story of Dicaeopolis the farmer, which finally begins to bring in some more genuinely historic textual material. The classic Ancient Greek text book.

The Oxford Latin Course is fairly well-regarded, and for the most part it served me well. It does, however, rely heavily on the presence of an experienced teacher to guide the student, as it does not always explain everything sufficiently (to my mind). Its dictionary of terms in the back is also severely lacking and must be supplemented by outside sources. Finally, it keeps the student carefully blind, parsing out knowledge in tiny bits, which I personally found extremely aggravating. With these reservations, however, it is a useful course, and its grammar tables are well-organized.

Just about indispensable if you teach Latin.

"2012-10-26 12:00:00"

"2012-10-26 12:00:00"

"2012-10-26 12:00:00"

"2012-10-26 12:00:00"

"2012-10-26 12:00:00"