How to Learn Latin by Podcasts
Vehicles for learning the Latin language include taking classes, reading books, ordering educational CDs, or full immersion into the language, but another option exists that you may not have considered--podcasts. Podcasts are online audio recordings similar to radio broadcasts that can be downloaded on the Internet and accessed on your computer or transferred to an iPod or MP3 player. By using podcasts as teaching tools, you can learn Latin from knowledgeable and entertaining speakers as though you were enjoying your favorite talk show.
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Instructions
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Download a software program that plays podcasts if you do not already have one available on your computer. Popular examples include iTunes (.apple.com/itunes), Doppler (dopplerradio.net), gPodder (gpodder.org) and Juice (juicereceiver.sourceforge.net).
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Search for Latin language podcasts within the software you've downloaded or online, and find one that resonates with you. Popular options include "LATINUM," "Latin Stories" and "Latin and Greek." These podcasts and others are free for download in the iTunes Music Store and at websites like PodcastAlley.com and Podcast.com.
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Subscribe to your favorite podcast(s) if regular updates are available. Just click the "Subscribe" button on the podcast page and send it to your chosen podcast software.
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Download the archived episodes of your favorite podcast(s). This will give you something new to listen to each day.
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Listen to one Latin podcast every day. This will give your brain enough new information to process while allowing it to keep past content fresh in your memory. Since Latin no longer exists as a conversational language, you cannot turn to television and popular music to hear the words as you can with other languages. Therefore, these podcasts are a rare opportunity to hear the language spoken on a regular basis. Take advantage of that opportunity.
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Take notes on important key concepts and write down new Latin vocabulary words as the podcast plays.
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Speak the words along with the instructors in the podcast. Though Latin words have a variety of pronunciations, you should nevertheless practice speaking aloud as pronunciations in Latin can prove complex. Unlike English, Latin words have no silent letters.
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Use a Latin dictionary while listening to the podcasts. This will be especially useful for visual learners, as it will allow you to physically see the words discussed, increasing your retention rate while allowing you to learn how a word is written, its origin and different meanings behind each key word.
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Tips & Warnings
If you transfer your podcasts to an mp3 player such as an iPod or a Zune, you can learn Latin on the go, whether you're at the gym, in your car or anywhere else.
While podcasts seek to entertain, be careful to not lose sight of the educational value.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit green mp3 player image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com
