By Harvey Bluedorn
Trivium Pursuit
www.triviumpursuit.com
PMB 168
139 Colorado Street
Muscatine, Iowa 52761
309-537-3641
Vocabulary Bridges from English to Latin & Greek is a 104-page workbook created to help students connect their knowledge of English words to the Latin and Greek roots of those words. It is intended to be used alongside a good English dictionary that includes word derivations. This workbook is designed for homeschools and will work well with adults, high school students, or even younger students who have an extensive vocabulary. Students will improve dictionary skills, increase their vocabulary, and gain greater accuracy in their word usage.
The first half of the workbook covers Latin vocabulary, and the second half covers Greek vocabulary. (The author begins with Latin because it is closer to English than Greek is.) The Latin half of the book covers the Classical Latin alphabet, common Latin diphthongs, Latin prefixes, and Latin Roots in English vocabulary. The Greek half covers the Greek Alphabet, Greek prefixes (including numerical and quantitative), and Greek roots in English vocabulary. Each half begins with brief historical comments regarding the language and its connection to English. The alphabet for each language comes next, with sample words for each letter of the alphabet. The lessons themselves are clearly explained; students use a dictionary to fill in word definitions, Latin or Greek roots, prefixes, or words made from the given roots. Students may work at their own pace or at a pace determined by an adult (perhaps five or ten words per day).
Students interested in languages will thoroughly enjoy this book, and it may even improve their results on pre-college exams, such as the ACT or SAT. Although the author did not stress this area, I used the study to emphasize the connection between all races and languages--we were all created by one God.
This is a wonderful workbook. Vocabulary Bridges from English to Latin & Greek will improve my students' vocabulary, help them do well on pre-college exams, and, best of all, increase their understanding of the world of language for the rest of their lives! The workbook is well written, thorough, easy to follow, and affordable. My college student and my high school student both love it. I would recommend this book to any homeschooling family.
Product review by Donna Campos, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC, October 2006
|
|
|
|
