kizolk
Indecisive 
Posts: 5,711
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Post by kizolk on Jun 25, 2023 19:37:19 GMT
A forum needs content to attract new members; here's a thread to gather and discuss ideas.
I've thought about making a collaborative Latin textbook. The whole deal: grammar lessons, important vocab, exercises, short stories/dialogs, etc. Making a conventional textbook wouldn't be that interesting, but that's the point: we could go for creative, original and fun. That's not to say other textbooks were done the wrong way, or that they were none of those things, but ours could be more or differently so.
It could be a multimedia thing -- with readings/acting, music/singing, illustrations, etc. -- and have some specialized chapters, e.g. on poetry. Games, riddles, puns; etymology (both to and from Latin); interesting bits of history/culture; etc.
Would we have the time, motivation and creativity to do such a thing, I have absolutely no idea, not to mention I would definitely not be one the main contributors, at least in terms of pedagogical material, but there's plenty of other ways to contribute to such a project.
Even if we don't embark on that journey, maybe some of those ideas can be saved. Maybe not for "content that would attract new members", but at least as games. I'd really like to find a good game that would involve collaborative creative writing in some shape or form.
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Post by Pacifica on Jun 26, 2023 21:49:41 GMT
The textbook thing isn't a bad idea per se, but it's rather ambitious and would demand a large amount of work. Being already engaged in a big Latin-material project (paid work, that is) plus a few other things, I'm not sure I can find the time and energy to write a textbook on here.
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Post by Pacifica on Jun 26, 2023 21:58:13 GMT
Collaborative creative writing could be fun, though I totally suck at coming up with plots. We had a few games like that on LD. The stories mostly didn't end up anywhere, but I guess that isn't really the point.
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kizolk
Indecisive
Posts: 5,711
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Post by kizolk on Jun 27, 2023 3:38:42 GMT
Maybe we could come up with rules that would make the stories end up somewhere. Like maybe a player could specify some of the things the next player should touch on.
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Post by Bitmap on Jun 30, 2023 8:46:20 GMT
The textbook thing isn't a bad idea per se, but it's rather ambitious and would demand a large amount of work. Being already engaged in a big Latin-material project (paid work, that is) plus a few other things, I'm not sure I can find the time and energy to write a textbook on here. I was thinking the same ... it sounds like a great idea, but it is extremely ambitious. |
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kizolk
Indecisive
Posts: 5,711
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Post by kizolk on Jun 30, 2023 8:56:33 GMT
It certainly is extremely ambitious. FWIW, I was more thinking of it in a "the journey, not the destination" kind of way.
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Post by Bitmap on Jul 1, 2023 6:37:23 GMT
I'd be happy to make any contribution as long as I am not in charge :>
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kizolk
Indecisive
Posts: 5,711
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Post by kizolk on Jul 1, 2023 8:38:56 GMT
I'd be happy to make any contribution as long as I am not in charge :> But we can all be in charge! |
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Post by LonginusNaso on Jul 13, 2023 8:05:46 GMT
It's a good idea; I generally like those textbooks where most every chapter/segment is piloted by a different author (provided, of course, that the scholarship is worthwhile). It keeps the reading fresh & therefore more engaging & conducive to retention.
But the hugeness of such an undertaking demands more than I think we're capable of (and I would say the same of LD, even at its greatest floruit). Still, as you say, we can generate material first & then see if there's anything to be done with it.
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Post by terentiusfaber on Jul 17, 2023 18:00:57 GMT
Somewhere on some forum, I don't remember which one, a poster asked whether there was a secular equivalent of the Roman Breviary, a book of memorable, poignant passages of Latin prose punctuated by poetry and song, to keep the reader engaged several times a day on a yearly cycle. Would the compiling of such a thing be of interest to anyone here? Apart from intimate knowledge of the Roman Breviary I doubt if I'd be much of a help.
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Post by Etaoin Shrdlu on Jul 17, 2023 22:01:38 GMT
Intimate knowledge of the Roman Breviary would be a great help, if that's going to be the model. I think it's fairly safe to say you're going to be the expert here. It sounds intriguing, so how do you envision it?
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Post by terentiusfaber on Jul 17, 2023 22:27:38 GMT
I doubt very much if I'll be the expert! The OP's idea seemed to be to provide a select anthology of the very best passages to provoke thought, uplift and encourage Latin readers by the aforementioned mixture of prose and poetry. It's something that could be turned to several times a day for the sheer pleasure of it. IF it were to be based on the Roman Breviary it would run on a Northern hemisphere annual cycle of seasons, the passages chosen reflecting the time of year. Then there are the memorable feasts, no doubt the anniversaries of great events in Latin/Roman history. Each day has a medium length "session" for the morning and again in the evening. There is a lengthier section with longer readings that can be read at any convenient time of the day. There are three short "sessions" for the forenoon, noon and afternoon (approx. 5mins each) and something short, soothing and undemanding for just before bedtime. The real effort would be put in by those with good taste - especially for poetry and song - and an extensive knowledge of Latin literature. Because it runs on a cycle, the bulk of the passages chosen ought to be of a depth that the reader would find something new(ish) with each rereading.
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