[B-Greek] How to Progress from First-Year Grammar to Reading?
Carl Conrad
cwconrad2 at mac.com
Sun Feb 22 21:11:39 EST 2009
Jarrett, you've raised a number of alternatives. Fortunately or
unfortunately, you're not going to get a single response but probably
several responses that will run counter some to others. Of the
traditional NT Greek primers, I think Clayton Croy is one of the
better ones. More B-Greekers probably swear by Mounce, but I'm not one
of those. I'd take your Option #1 and go with Rod Decker's Reader; for
Biblical Greek grammar in a more-or-less traditional didactic
approach, I don't think you can find anything more thorough and
precise; if you go through it carefully in its own order, I think
you'll develop very nicely the skills that you want.
I myself am a now-long-retired teacher of Greek, having taught more
classical Attic than Biblical Greek, and I used the JACT Reading Greek
course myself for the last ten years or so of my teaching career. I
would recommend working through it, but perhaps AFTER you consolidate
the Biblical Greek with something like Rod Decker's book. If and when
you get around to it, I might have some more suggestions for its use,
including a supplement that I prepared for my own students and which
is accessible as a PDF file on my own web site.
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
On Feb 22, 2009, at 4:26 PM, Jarrett Cohen wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> I am a new member of B-Greek and am writing to seek advice on how to
> progress from studying “first-year” grammar to reading the New
> Testament, and perhaps the Church Fathers, in Greek.
>
> My
> background: I just finished working through Clayton Croy’s “A Primer
> of
> Biblical Greek” (just over half in an online class, the rest on my
> own). At this point, I’m studying independently but may have a study
> partner/mentor in the summer.
>
> It would be great to get feedback on two options I’m considering.
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Option #1: Work Through One or More Biblical/Koine Greek Readers
>
> Several Greek readers are listed at:
> http://www.archaicchristianity.com/Blog/Archives/2008/4/28/Greek_AndAFewLatin_Readers_AGallery.aspx
>
> The reader I’m most attracted to is:
> Rodney Decker’s “Koine Greek Reader”
> It ties into intermediate grammars (e.g., Black, Wallace) and
> explains how to use the BDAG lexicon.
>
> Another reader of possible interest is:
> S.M. Baugh’s “A First John Reader: Intermediate Greek Reading Notes
> and Grammar”
>
> Questions
> 1. Is working through a Greek reader a good next step after learning
> grammar basics?
> 2. Do readers work well for independent learners?
> 3. Which reader(s) do list members recommend? I would particularly
> value input from those who have studied with one.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Option #2: Use Multiple Approaches to Language Learning
>
> An intriguing (although intimidating) learning program is suggested
> by Greg Kane at:
> http://www.pocm.info/good_books_read_greek.htm
>
> Kane advocates three passes through Greek using multiple approaches
> to language learning, summarized below.
>
> Step 1: Learn by doing introduction.
>
> Study John Dobson’s “Learn New Testament Greek” (inductive text).
>
> Do Chapters 1 to 19.
>
> Step 2: Memorize the forms.
>
> Study William Mounce’s “Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar” (deductive
> text).
>
> Step 3: Fill in the gap.
> 3a: Practice with many Greek sentences.
>
> Complete Dobson’s “Learn New Testament Greek.”
> 3b: Read simple Greek stories.
> Study JACT “Reading Greek” or “Athenaze” (graded reading text).
>
> Notes and Questions
> 1.
> I happen to have followed a similar path to Kane’s Steps 1 and 2:
> trying to learn with Dobson but giving up around Chapter 21, and then
> finding the online class and working through Croy’s deductive grammar.
> 2.
> Has anyone on the list tried this approach or something similar? Did
> you find it a good sequence to follow, or was it too time-consuming
> and/or tedious to sustain?
> 3. Would pieces of Step 3 be worthwhile
> to get practice in reading longer passages? For example, the 2008
> edition of “Reading Greek” looks outstanding in previews (check Google
> Books), but might I get confused by the differences in Classical
> Greek?
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Well, I hope that I haven’t prattled on for too long and that
> starting this discussion will be helpful to others on the list.
>
> Thanks in advance for the advice on the options and any other ideas
> you might have!
>
> All the best,
>
> Jarrett
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