Help with learning Greek

[TheologiaCrucis]

This is a question specifically directed to all you seminarians or pastors out there. I just got my new schedule for college today (I am attending CU-AA) and will be starting Greek in the fall as a freshman. I have had no previous experience with learning a language that would be helpful during this process, so I am wondering if there are any good books you could recommend so I can get a jump start. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

God Bless

[filosofer]

This is great news! God's blessings.

If you want a self-directed approach, then Read It in Greek by L. William Countryman, Eerdmans, 1993 is a good tool.

In any case, if you can pick up Machen, Whitaker, Voelz, or any other intro book, try going through the first couple of chapters to get familiar with the letters, and simple words. Practice writing the Greek as well. If you have time, begin memorizing the basic verbs forms (standard ways of memorizing).

[RedneckAnglican]

watch "My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding"?...

Join a College Frat?...(This is how I learned the alphabet)...

post a bunch on the Orthodox boards?...

get a copy of the "Idiots guide to Greek"?...

I'm not much help, am I?...

[C.F.W. Walther]

watch "My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding"?...

Join a College Frat?...(This is how I learned the alphabet)...

post a bunch on the Orthodox boards?...

get a copy of the "Idiots guide to Greek"?...

I'm not much help, am I?...

That's a novel approach. You have so much insight :)

[RedneckAnglican]

hey...I try...actually I've wanted to know this as well...I, hopefully, will be starting seminary myself in a couple of years and to be honest "summer Greek" scares me to death...

[KagomeShuko]

watch "My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding"?...

Join a College Frat?...(This is how I learned the alphabet)...

post a bunch on the Orthodox boards?...

get a copy of the "Idiots guide to Greek"?...

I'm not much help, am I?...

I like that last suggestion. . .
That or "Greek for Dummies" right?

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[KagomeShuko]

I'm not a pastor or a seminarian, but seriously, maybe you'd be interested in any of the following?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0310250870/qid=1122429498/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-2698773-9844166?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0310250862/qid=1122429498/sr=8-13/ref=pd_bbs_13/102-2698773-9844166?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0310205824/ref=pd_sim_b_1/102-2698773-9844166?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0310259878/ref=pd_sim_b_3/102-2698773-9844166?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0310226953/ref=pd_sim_b_5/102-2698773-9844166?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Then check the "customers who bought this book also bought" links.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[Music4Hym777]

Hey TC, make sure you are taking Classical or Kione Greek. That is by far different from modern Greek. My college offers both and I as well will be in Classical Greek (Biblical) 101

Youre gonna love college, I wouldn't worry about getting a head start, they will teach you all of it when you get to class!

[MORTANIUS]

The University book store should also offer some "teach yourself" language kits.

A dictionary will become your best friend in expanding your knowledge of words.

If I were not to disconnect my internet in the upcoming month I could have corresponded with you over the internet if you should have encountered problems.

Good luck to you.

[Protoevangel]

I have checked out a few free online resources, but none that I like. You get what you pay for, right?

Does anyone know of any (at least halfway decent) online resources for learning the most basic of basics of Koine?

[TheologiaCrucis]

Hey TC, make sure you are taking Classical or Kione Greek. That is by far different from modern Greek. My college offers both and I as well will be in Classical Greek (Biblical) 101

Youre gonna love college, I wouldn't worry about getting a head start, they will teach you all of it when you get to class!

Thanks again and God bless to all of you!! I think college will be a great experience and I thank you all for your support. Thanks also for all the links and the wonderful suggestions! I think I am going to try the books by Mounce as a start and take it from there. I ask for your prayers at this time in my life.

James K.

[Music4Hym777]

Thanks again and God bless to all of you!! I think college will be a great experience and I thank you all for your support. Thanks also for all the links and the wonderful suggestions! I think I am going to try the books by Mounce as a start and take it from there. I ask for your prayers at this time in my life.

James K.

Prayers are heading up! If you have any questions at all about college in general, I am around and I have been through that terrifying freshman year already! Dont worry too much about it, in a 101 class they teach you the very basics. I know mine starts with the alphabet and goes very slowly (so I've been told).

[RedneckAnglican]

try this site:


www.kypros.org

they have a section on learning ancient Greek...

[filosofer]

http://www.ibiblio.org/koine/

http://www.ibiblio.org/koine/greek/lessons/

http://www.victoria.tc.ca/~ub608/greek.html

[mnphysicist]

I liked the little Greek vs Big Greek comments on that first website!!! That was cool and all too true. I'm a big time little Greek, add in it was 14 years ago when I took the classes, and I'm even smaller today.

I also second practicing writing. However, you must practice correctly.... Learning something wrong is very difficult to undo, so if you do practice writing, get a guide which shows the proper strokes for letter formation.

One other thing, Greek, like many languages requires a foundation. One can certianly jump right in like I did when I worked in Italy, and learn by immersion. Despite the fact that I could work with a high tech crew, and muddle through the language, including making embarrasing statements, my knowledge was so low, I could barely talk to a man on the street, as the foundation was not there. Fortunately, most of the guys were multilingual, but it still was a challenge.

With Biblical Greek, its tempting to jump into scripture before the foundations are set. It may be useful as a motivational tool, but the primary focus on the first semester is to build the foundation. Nouns, verbs, language constructs etc. You will be so tired of conjugating this, and messing around with accents your head may spin, but its a foundation, and it needs to be solid, before the house goes up.

Lastly, anything you can do to prep is a good thing. Biblical Greek classes are not unlike learning from a fire hose. If that was the only class, it would be fine, but when one juggles them with other coursework, and a job, it makes for an interesting time.

Ron

[Protoevangel]

try this site:

www.kypros.org (http://www.kypros.org)

they have a section on learning ancient Greek...
I signed up to check it out. Thanks!

---


http://www.ibiblio.org/koine/

http://www.ibiblio.org/koine/greek/lessons/

http://www.victoria.tc.ca/~ub608/greek.html (http://www.victoria.tc.ca/%7Eub608/greek.html)

The ibiblio site is one of the ones I have already checked out. It was organized well, maybe I was already frustrated by the time I found it, and didn't give it the attention it deserved.

The canadian site, though, looks like it may be promising. Thanks!

---

TheologiaCrucis,

Sorry for hijacking the thread for my own purposes. Maybe you can benefit from some of these sites as well?

[TheologiaCrucis]

TheologiaCrucis,

Sorry for hijacking the thread for my own purposes. Maybe you can benefit from some of these sites as well?

That's not a problem at all. I have enjoyed many benefits from all of these sites and am going to purchase a book today and get started tomorrow on the alphabet.

[BBAS 64]

Good Day,

I am a bit late but this site has helped me.

William Mounce (http://www.teknia.com/teknia)

http://www.biblicaltraining.org/classes/greek/greek_f.html

Peace to u,

Bill