[B-Greek] Learning approaches
Laura Bush
laurabeanct at gmail.com
Mon Feb 15 11:43:13 EST 2010
I was--a little--interested in the recent discussion on the use of
interlinears; as a new group member, it was not a repeat for me. That
discussion prompts this question, though I am not at all sure it's an
appropriate question for this group and will not be hurt if I'm ignored or
redirected or answered off-list.
I am an adult with a year of college-level ancient Greek under my belt--25
years ago. I have over the past couple years been reviewing by teaching my
children basic Koine Greek, using curricula for homeschooled children as
well as Machen and Mounce. I have also recently read Black's Intermediate
Greek text. I have made it a goal for myself to read through the New
Testament in 2010; I am currently around Mark 12.
My approach to the reading is to use a Reader's Greek New Testament with
glosses at the foot of the page for words used fewer than 50 times and some
tricky verb forms. I try to sort the Greek without reference to the glosses,
but if I don't know the word, I use the glosses. I also keep handy an
interlinear for reference; there are a few words that are not glossed that I
do not yet have memorized, and using the interlinear is quicker and handier
than using a lexicon. I am doing only a quick and dirty translation as I go,
and often my knowledge of the text in English is a big help. My goal is not
deep study but reading, and I am hoping for increasing fluency as I move
through the text.
Are there significant weaknesses to this approach? Is it the opinion of the
experts here that the interlinear, used as I describe, is a bad idea? If my
goal is gradually improving facility in reading the Greek New Testament, are
there other things you would add to my current regimen?
And finally, if this kind of question is not appropriate to this group, do
you know of a better list or forum for the autodidact with merely
intermediate Greek skills? (Most of your discussions have been well over my
head, I confess.)
--
Laura in CT
http://www.honeypotrambles.com
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