[B-Greek] Suggestions Please!

Louis Sorenson llsorenson at hotmail.com
Wed May 25 21:45:13 EDT 2011


Bob wrote:

I am looking for suggestions as to what two budding Greek students might
pursue next.


My Greek study buddy and I began by working our way through Mounce’s "Basics
of Biblical Greek." We are just about finished translating the verses in “A
Summer Greek Reader.”


What should we do next?

........Bob...

Two things:

1) READ, READ, READ. It does not matter what Greek you read. 
What matters is that it keeps your interests. There are some
really good secular Greek writings that parallel the New Testament
Koine, such as Epictetus, Chariton. You could read Papyri
(Colwell and Goodspeed's Greek Papyri Reader). You could read
some of the OT narratives in the LXX which you are not totally
versed in. The point is to read something that you don't know 
and which will make you learn Greek better.  Plutarch's lives
are very interesting. Some of the early Christian writings are
also good, as are the church fathers. The Didache is really easy
and you'll get a good feeling that you have read through one of the
earliest Christian manuals.

2) Write, Write, Write in Greek. How and Where? There's a site called
SCHOLE (http://www.schole.ning.com) where you can start talking (writing)
to other people interested in KOINE. Don't be scared. Just write a few
words. Everyone on that site knows it's hard to start writing. No one cares
if you spell something incorrectly or it is not gramatically correct, anyone
who started on that path had made all those blunders, they don't care about
making/reading mistakes, what they want/enjoy/are thrilled with is that someone
else out there is learning Greek better and is talking to them in Greek. 
It's what many of us on SXOLE live for. Once you start using Greek to communicate,
it soon becomes easier and easier, and more and more exciting. Soon you'll find
it is a really enjoyable endeavor. 

So READ, READ, READ (it does not matter what, even Homer would be fine - superb!) and
WRITE, WRITE, WRITE. The two activities together will do more for you than
reading through any grammar book. In time, you'll be ready to read those 
grammars, but for that to be a valuable endeavor, you need to feel comfortable
reading passages and not struggle with forms and vocabulary.

Louis Sorenson  [B-Greek Co-Chair] and enthusiast.

 		 	   		  


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