Getting Started with Latin, with French, or with Spanish

The curriculum provides excellent support for non-expert teachers through detailed instructions, pronunciation guides, audio files with author explanations, and guidance specifically written for homeschooling parents. The materials assume no prior language knowledge.

Reviews highlight 'comprehensive preface,' 'detailed instructions on how to use the book with tips for teachers,' 'MP3 files with the authors' explanations for each lesson,' and materials that 'don't assume that the parent or teacher is fluent in the language'

The curriculum facilitates clear, explicit instruction through structured lessons with brief explanations and systematic progression. The approach is straightforward and doesn't assume prior language knowledge from teachers or students.

Reviews praise 'explanations that don't assume that the parent or teacher is fluent in the language' and note lessons have 'clear instructions' with 'easy-to-follow lessons' and 'simple knowledge progression'

The curriculum provides highly comprehensible input through its incremental approach, introducing only one or two new words per lesson and building very gradually. The free MP3 audio files with native speakers provide additional comprehensible input for pronunciation and listening practice.

Reviews consistently note lessons introduce 'just one or two words or phrases per lesson' and 'one sound or word at a time,' with audio recordings available for all new vocabulary and exercises

The curriculum includes some review elements and suggests backing up to previous lessons for reinforcement, but lacks systematic spaced repetition or formal retrieval practice activities. Most practice focuses on immediate translation exercises.

Authors suggest 'backing up to a previously completed lesson' for review and mention that lessons 'build on each other,' but no formal spaced review system is described in the reviews

The curriculum heavily emphasizes reading and translation skills with limited speaking practice. While audio files support pronunciation, the primary focus is translating from the foreign language to English.

Reviews indicate 'exercises for most lessons direct students to translate from the foreign language into English' and note the courses teach 'conversational sentences' but 'are not taught from a strictly conversational approach'

The courses include explicit grammar instruction organized in a systematic way, though coverage is limited compared to comprehensive high school programs. Grammar points are explained clearly without assuming prior language knowledge.

Cathy Duffy notes 'courses are grammatically based, teaching each language in an organized fashion and explaining points of grammar and structure' and that Getting Started with Latin covers 'first and second declensions for nouns and the first two conjugations for verbs'

The courses include some cultural elements through teaching common expressions and phrases used in real contexts. Latin and French courses feature dedicated lessons on cultural expressions.

Cathy Duffy mentions 'Latin and French courses intersperse occasional lessons on Latin Expressions and French Expressions' teaching phrases like 'magna cum laude,' 'bon appétit,' and 'c'est la vie'