So you're starting Latin with Familia Rōmāna—good choice. But before you dive into declensions and Roman family drama, let me give you a few tips on how to actually use this book. Because trust me: if you use it right, you'll learn Latin for real.
What Makes Familia Rōmāna Different?
It's not like your average textbook.
The whole thing is in Latin—from start to finish.
It’s written as a continuous story (a Latin novella!)—you follow a Roman family and their servants through everyday life in ancient Rome.
This book uses the Natural Method, or what’s also called the Inductive Method. That means:
No vocab lists. No charts of rules. No English explanations.
You learn Latin in Latin, by context, intuition, repetition, and images.
Sounds intense? It is—but it works.
How to Actually Study with Familia Rōmāna
Let me walk you through some real talk tips that will make a huge difference in your progress:
Tip 1: Go Slow, Really Slow
Don't binge-read the chapters.
Read each chapter at least 3–5 times—once a day for a week is perfect.
Don’t move on until you’ve really absorbed the grammar and vocab.
Tip 2: Use the Images First
Before reading a chapter, study the illustrations.
They’re there to help you decode the story and vocabulary.
The whole book is “illustrated language”—hence Lingua Latīna per sē illustrāta.
Tip 3: Read the Margins (Don’t Skip!)
Every page has notes in the margin (marginalia). These are mini-lessons—pay attention!
They explain grammar, show antonyms/synonyms, and even introduce new forms.
All in Latin—but don’t worry, they make sense once you get used to them.
Tip 4: Don’t Translate
Avoid the temptation to scribble English above the lines.
Instead, try to understand Latin in Latin.
Trust your brain to adapt—you’ll be surprised how quickly it does.
Tip 5: Trust the Context
Confused by a sentence? Keep reading. The next sentence usually explains the one before.
Everything in this book is written with purpose. If you don’t get it, it’s probably because you skipped something earlier—go back and check the image, the margin, or the previous paragraph.
Chapter Structure Breakdown
Each of the 35 chapters has:
3 readings (lectiōnēs) → Each one builds on the last.
A Grammatica Latīna section → Grammar explained in Latin.
A set of Pensa (exercises):
Pensum A: Fill-in-the-blank
Pensum B: Vocabulary
Pensum C: Open-ended responses — write long answers!
Bonus tip: Don’t do the exercises in the book. Copy them into a notebook by hand—it’s better for memory and learning.
Vocabulary: Learn It, Don’t Skip It
The book presents words in order of frequency and importance.
You’ll meet the most common Latin words first, and keep encountering them.
It’s like spaced repetition, but built into the story.
Companion Exercises
I highly recommend getting the Exercitia Latīna workbook too:
It’s got way more exercises.
They're aligned to each part of the chapter—so you can practice after each lectiō, not just at the end.
Final Thoughts
Familia Rōmāna is not your usual textbook—it’s better. But it demands more of you. It asks you to:
Be patient
Trust the method
If you follow these steps—read deeply, do the exercises, and don’t rush—you’ll find yourself reading real Latin without even noticing it. One day, you’ll get to chapter 34 and realize you’re reading Catullus. For real.
Ready to Learn Latin?
Join our online course Latin for Beginners! Get access to video lessons, quizzes, and exclusive resources. Check out the first lesson:
Share this post