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Rating: 
Summary: Learn it the Old Fashioned Way!
Review: Language must be mastered with the proper grammar. Grammar teaches logical thought, grammar makes a person aware of the content of ideas. Furthermore, a grammar based system of instruction aids older students. Childern may be aided by the use of Pestalozzi style sink or swim learning, but older students are aided by the analyitical approach of Wheelock.
Rating:
Summary: Mrs.
Review: The Wheelock series gets better every year as new anciallaries are developed. Dr. Grote's Comprehensive Guide make it accessible to students who lack the background presumed by the textbook itself, the workbook's graded exercises provide abundant reiforcement to the grammar and vocabulary, and now the new reader promises to assist in bridging the gap between "textbook Latin" and "real Latin." Those who criticize the traditional pedagogical methods miss the point of studying ancient languages. Classical langugages are not studied with the goal of conversing in the language, but with the twofold goal of gaining a reading knowledge of our culture's foundational texts and of developing orderly, logical thinking. These goals are most effectivly reached through learning highly inflected languages in the traditioal manner; this is not opinion -- it has been well documented by studies conducted by the American Classical League (which has no financial interest in promoting any one textbook). Having taught Latin for over ten years, from junior high to university, using a wide variety of textbooks, I say with conviction that the entertainment value of trendy texts is no match for the profound intellectual pleasure students (and teachers) derive from mastery of the difficult. If you want to keep students in your Latin program and simultaneously provide them intellectual tools that carry over into other disciplines, set them a reasonable challenge. The Wheelock is one of the best means of stretching students without breaking them. Hats off to Drs LaFleur, Comeau, and Grote for their splendid contributions to the Wheelock tradition.
Rating:
Summary: Mrs.
Review: The Wheelock series gets better every year as new anciallaries are developed. Dr. Grote's Comprehensive Guide make it accessible to students who lack the background presumed by the textbook itself, the workbook's graded exercises provide abundant reiforcement to the grammar and vocabulary, and now the new reader promises to assist in bridging the gap between "textbook Latin" and "real Latin." Those who criticize the traditional pedagogical methods miss the point of studying ancient languages. Classical langugages are not studied with the goal of conversing in the language, but with the twofold goal of gaining a reading knowledge of our culture's foundational texts and of developing orderly, logical thinking. These goals are most effectivly reached through learning highly inflected languages in the traditioal manner; this is not opinion -- it has been well documented by studies conducted by the American Classical League (which has no financial interest in promoting any one textbook). Having taught Latin for over ten years, from junior high to university, using a wide variety of textbooks, I say with conviction that the entertainment value of trendy texts is no match for the profound intellectual pleasure students (and teachers) derive from mastery of the difficult. If you want to keep students in your Latin program and simultaneously provide them intellectual tools that carry over into other disciplines, set them a reasonable challenge. The Wheelock is one of the best means of stretching students without breaking them. Hats off to Drs LaFleur, Comeau, and Grote for their splendid contributions to the Wheelock tradition.
Rating:
Summary: The way to learn Latin
Review: The Wheelock Series is simply the best. After being a Classicist for well over 20 years, I still use them myself and recommend them to anyone who is SERIOUSLY interesting in the language. Experience has shown that the traditional methodology of learning grammar and syntax is still the best. Don't waste your time or money on the New Age warm and fuzzy propaganda of 'see and say'. Learn Latin the correct way, and it is a treasure which you will have for a lifetime.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This is an excellent intermediate reader. The selections (From Cicero, Livy, Ovid, Pliny and various Medieval sources, including the Vulgate) are quite long, so one gets a feel for the style of each author. The readings are all engaging, the four selections from Ovid in particular.
There is a complete vocabulary list in the back, and there are facing-page notes that gloss less common words or forms or provide grammatical or historical information. The level of help feels just about right--sufficient, but hands-off enough to allow the student to take the initiative.
Incidentally, some of the reviewers here seem to have the original Wheelock's Latin in mind. This book, again, is a reader, suited for those who have completed that beginning Latin book or its equivalent.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't use the Wheelock series ....
Review: This is the "Old Fashioned" way of learning a language. Full of rules, grammar, etc. How many of us learned the grammar, rules, etc before we learned to speak it? I've been against this way of learning language since I was in high school many years ago. It comes with a workbook, but you have to write for it and Harper Collins won't send it. I'm not the only one who has asked for this answer book and not received it. I was totally ignored, even thought I wrote on school letterhead from the principal's office, and wrote them a note explaining that I am a teacher and need it right away to prepare for the Fall class. They couldn't care less. There is no cassette or CD. How can you learn a language without listening to pronunciations? Even in the books it says read aloud, or listen, etc. I gave it one star only because I can't give it minus 5 stars. Transparent Language has a program called "Latin Now!". It is available everywhere. They get to the point immediately, and you are speaking Latin with the proper pronunciation immediately. Take my word for it, unless you are a serious professional, such as a teacher or professor who will eventually teach Latin the wrong way, stay away from this method.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This is the greatest Latin reader ever written. It includes every single important work ever written in latin, including poetry.
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