This course, taught live by a real teacher in an online web conferencing classroom, is an excellent choice for homeschoolers, people studying in an academic setting where Latin is not offered, people who do not have access to a Latin course where they live, or those for whom the online classroom is more convenient. This Latin course is rigorous and results-oriented, but at the same time there is a built-in flexibility. The live online format makes it possible for those who would not otherwise have the opportunity, to learn Latin, an interesting and highly useful language. This course provides the opportunity for live interaction with the instructor and the other students along with the benefit of the imposed discipline provided by a live teacher, with the accompanying homework and rigid schedule, but in a more convenient online format.

The Carmenta Latin course is distinguished from other online Latin courses by its being identical, in every important way, to a very good non-online Latin course. It meets three times a week (the minimum number of sessions necessary, I feel, to allow most students to excel) and comes as close as is possible on the internet to replicating the traditional face-to-face classroom environment through real-time audio/video web conferencing. The instructor and every student are able to hear and speak to every other person in the Web classroom simultaneously, while every student sees live video of the instructor as well.

This course focuses on the grammar, basic vocabulary, and idiom of the Latin language. Students are taught through frequent repetition of vocabulary and forms as well as daily translation of contrived sentences and, in time, historical texts. They are also gradually introduced to spoken Latin, and by the second semester conversation is an important part of the class. The structure of the course allows the student to gradually gain facility in translation and the speaking of the language while attaining a greater and greater knowledge of Latin grammatical rules and vocabulary and their relationship to English words and usage.

To the best of my knowledge there is no other internet Latin course that allows this level of structure, thoroughness, and essential instructor-with-student and student-with-student live classroom contact at a reasonable, learnable pace. If you are unable to take a Latin course in a physical classroom, or you just like the convenience of this type of online course, I truly feel that this is your best bet.

If you have any questions or comments concerning the course, please do not hesitate to contact me at instructor@carmentalatin.com. You can also visit the Contact page.