Visual Latin

Foreign_languageGrades 5–12

About This Curriculum

A video-based Latin curriculum taught by Dwane Thomas featuring engaging, humorous instruction with three videos per lesson covering grammar, sentences, and reading.

What makes it unique: Makes Latin enjoyable and accessible through humor-filled video instruction that gets students translating immediately without heavy memorization

Visual Latin: Video-Based Latin Curriculum with Humor and Engagement

Visual Latin is a video-based Latin curriculum featuring instructor Dwane Thomas who teaches through humorous, engaging lessons. Each lesson includes three short videos covering grammar, sentences, and reading, with corresponding worksheets and quizzes for independent study.

Best for

Homeschool families seeking an engaging, self-directed Latin program for grades 5-12, particularly those wanting video-based instruction with Christian content and teacher independence

Evaluation Criteria

2 strengths · 1 concern · 4 neutral

Explicit GrammarStrength

Visual Latin provides strong explicit grammar instruction with clear explanations and structured practice. The program is described as 'grammatically-based' with dedicated grammar videos in each lesson.

Described as 'a challenging, grammatically-based Latin program' with videos titled 'Grammar' that introduce grammar concepts on a traditional green chalkboard

Direct InstructionStrength

Visual Latin excels at direct instruction through its video-based format with clear explanations, structured lessons, and explicit teaching of grammar concepts and vocabulary.

Each lesson has three structured videos with worksheets, quizzes, and clear grammar instruction. Teacher's guides include scope and sequence with answers to all materials

Speaking Listening BalanceConcern

The curriculum heavily emphasizes reading and grammar with minimal attention to speaking skills. Latin is taught primarily as a reading language rather than for conversational use.

Review states 'Visual Latin is not intended to be a conversational approach since Latin is generally read rather than spoken' and focuses on reading Latin texts including the Bible

Teacher TrainingNeutral

Visual Latin provides adequate teacher support through guides with answer keys and scope/sequence, designed for teachers without Latin knowledge. However, deeper pedagogical training is limited.

Includes teacher's guides with 'scope and sequence, helpful tips, and answers to all worksheets and quizzes' and 'doesn't require that the teacher know Latin'

Cultural KnowledgeNeutral

The curriculum incorporates Christian cultural content through Scripture-based reading passages but appears to lack broader Roman cultural and historical context.

Reviews note 'significant Christian content in its reading passages, most of it reflecting the beginning chapters of the book of Genesis' and 'all translation passages based on Scripture portions'

Retrieval PracticeNeutral

The curriculum includes some retrieval practice through quizzes, Quizlet flashcards, and recommendations for re-watching videos, though systematic spaced review could be stronger.

Includes 'quizzes, vocabulary sheets' and 'online flashcards are provided through Quizlet' with teacher guides recommending students 're-watch the video segments at least once'

Comprehensible InputNeutral

The curriculum provides some comprehensible input through its three-part lesson structure that moves from grammar concepts to sentence practice to reading exercises. However, the focus appears more on explicit instruction than immersive comprehensible input.

Reviews mention the three-video format moving from grammar to sentences to reading, and use of nearly identical sentences that differ only in small ways to practice concepts without new vocabulary

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, benandme.com