Most Latin learners try to learn by studying grammar and memorising vocabulary, and then translating.

This is understandable because this is the way most teachers and textbooks give you.

And it CAN work – but it’s a LOT of work.

But I’m here to tell you there’s a simpler, easier – and faster – way to Latin fluency.

I’ve talked about the importance of huge amounts of input before, so I’m not going to go into that in too much detail.

But the simple point is that we learn as human beings from huge exposure to whatever it is we want to learn.

In the case of Latin – that means we learn best by reading a lot.

And, as I’ve pointed out already this week, copying by hand is one of the best ways to put what you read into your long-term memory, and engage your unconscious brain at the same time.

So in this email I want to offer you a simple 5-step plan to creating a copy-based Latin self-study programme.

Step 1: Pick a Roman author you want to read

We all learn best when we’re interested, right?

Right.

So then you the best Latin to copy is the Latin you’re interested in.

Which means the first step is to pick an author or book you want to read.

Step 2: Find the Latin text on and a good translation

You can use Google for this.

Or you can buy something a bilingual book – whatever works for you.

But a word of warning: it’s best to find a translation that’s as close to the original as possible. The Loeb translations sometimes are too free, and combine sentences in English that are separate in the Latin (or vice versa).

Just be aware of that.

It means you’ll have to do some work and research to find a translation that’s good.

Step 3: Set aside 15-60 minutes a day for 30-90 days

Any time spent studying is useful – but because hand copying isn’t fast work, you really need to spend at least 15 minutes a day for it to be effective.

At the same time, don’t bite off more than you can chew – choose an amount of time that’s manageable.

Also choose a schedule – will you do it 5 days a week? 6? 7?

Again, it’s up to you – but I wouldn’t do less than 4, if you can help it.

Why set aside 30-90 days?

First, because having a definite number to move towards makes it easier to stick to it.

Second, because you want to do this for at least 30 days before you take stock of your progress – and more than 90 days is too long.

Step 4: Each day sit down and copy

You can go sentence by sentence.

Or you can go phrase by phrase, if you’re fluent enough to recognise them.

The copying is simple – but here’s the hard part:

Step 5: DO NOT ANALYSE OR STUDY

This is the hardest thing for most people.

We’re so used to working.

To studying.

To analysing.

But if you want the copywork to work – you have to STOP ‘working at it.’

Just copy – and let the rest happen.

Trust the process, and you’ll see real results in just a few weeks.

But only if you trust the process.

If you follow the steps above, you can encode Latin into your brain at a surprising rate. Depending on your current ability and your dedication to the task – that means you could find yourself understanding twice as much as you do now in a month or two.

I will stress – the simplicity can throw people. So can the lack of analysis.

Which leads to the obvious question – “Don’t I need to understand the grammar and syntax?”

I’ll answer that question tomorrow!

Talk soon,

Alexander

P.S. Here's some reading for you today:

Per portas latas viri ambulant.

through wide doors the men walk

Qui per portas latas ambulant?

who walk through the wide doors?

Viri per portas latas ambulant.

the men walk through the wide doors

Quid agunt viri?

what do the men do?

Ambulant viri per portas latas.

the men walk through the wide doors

Quales per portas viri ambulant?

through what kind of doors do the men walk?

Latas per portas viri ambulant.

the men walk through wide doors

Per quas res viri ambulant?

through what things do the men walk?

Per portas latas viri ambulant.

the men walk through wide doors