Learn Latin in a Few Easy Ways
If you want to learn Latin, there are many different ways you can do so. One way is to read classic texts such as Cicero and Virgil. Another way is to listen to Gregorian chants or listen to the Tallis Scholars. Learning Latin will also train your mind to be more detailed and organized.
Learn Latin by reading the speeches of Cicero and Virgil
If you want to learn Latin, reading speeches of the great Roman poets can be a great way to start. Cicero wrote speeches for the Roman Senate and Virgil wrote beautiful poetry. In addition to Cicero, other notable Latin speakers include Thomas Aquinas and a Spanish priest who wrote an epic poem set in eighteenth-century Mexico.
If you want to read Virgil’s Aeneid and Cicero’s speeches, you’ll need a good knowledge of Latin before you read them. The Aeneid is a pleasure to read, but the text is difficult for most students. However, reading it will help you learn more about Latin as you translate it.
Virgil and Cicero used rhetorical techniques to persuade people. Both authors used anaphora, alliteration, and praeteritio in their speeches. When reading Cicero’s Aeneid, you’ll be able to see how these authors used rhetorical devices to persuade their audiences.
Learn Latin by listening to the Gregorian chants
If you want to learn Latin, one of the best ways to do so is to listen to the Gregorian chants. These are beautiful religious songs from ancient Rome, and many people learn the language by listening to them. You can also download the audio files and listen to them on your MP3 player.
The chants are widely available on the internet. You can even download them for free. When listening to a Latin chant, however, you may notice that the pronunciation of the words sounds quite different from the original language. The choirs singing these ancient songs often have modern French accents, which makes them difficult to understand.
Depending on where you live, you can also find chat groups where people speak Latin. If you are lucky enough to live near a university, you may even find a Latin club that meets outside of classes. If you can find one, make sure to check if the Classics department you’re interested in offers classes. In addition to listening to Gregorian chants, you can also learn the language by reading Latin without translating it. If you want to become fluent in Latin fast, this is one of the best ways to do so.
Learn Latin by listening to the Tallis Scholars
If you want to learn Latin, you might want to listen to the Tallis Scholars. The chamber ensemble has been around for over 40 years and is one of the most respected in the world. Founded by Peter Phillips, the choir’s director, the ensemble is renowned for its superb performances of Renaissance choral music. The group performs in a beautiful and acoustically-sympathetic venue. At one of their recent concerts, they played for a packed house.
The Tallis Scholars’ performance of the Kyrie was especially beautiful. The choir’s voices blended with soulful precision in the church’s acoustics, revealing the distinctness of each voice. The second half of the concert featured Mouton’s “Ave Maria.”
