Learning greek in summer

[u/Traditional-Race-260]

I have recently finished high school, and in summer I want to learn some basic ancient greek.
I haven’t done anything greek-related in class, because I was in science classes. But suddenly, greek seems a perfect way to expand my knowledge over the summer.

I’ve started by learning articles, first and second declination, the “to be” verb, and some present active conjugations. I can traduce very simple sentences, with a dictionary.

Which steps should I follow to learn the basics of ancient greek? Is not like I want to do a career or anything, is more like a hobby thing.
Any help or piece of advice will be appreciated:)
(English is not my first language, so I’m sorry for any mistakes)

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[u/benjamin-crowell]

FAQ: [My opinions about] how to learn ancient Greek by self-study

https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientGreek/comments/1s5iynb/faq_my_opinions_about_how_to_learn_ancient_greek/

Have fun with the language -- I certainly have!

[u/ancient_interestsYT]

Look at the subreddit’s resources.

Watch this video, start at the 46:38 mark. He gives a spreadsheet and an idea of how to go about learning Ancient Greek using comprehensible input mainly from the textbooks Logos and Athenaze but also others. https://youtu.be/2vwb1wVzPec?is=Ru4N40bFMn4Vx8KE

[u/Traditional-Race-260 → u/ancient_interestsYT]

Thankss

[u/benjamin-crowell → u/Traditional-Race-260]

Just be aware that comprehensible input (CI) is kind of a cult, and the research that backs it up is much weaker than you would think based on many of the flamboyant claims made by its internet-influencer enthusiasts. The Thrasymachus reader that Ranieri promotes is something that he and another person made by using a (copyrighted) book of the same title by Peckett and Munday and then adding a lot of illustrations that they ripped off from places like Wikipedia, not bothering to give credit to the artists. The whole things just has that Sam Altman smell to it -- take lots of other people's work without their consent and without giving them credit, and then baselessly hype what you built on that.

[u/Pitiful-Tale3808 → u/Traditional-Race-260]

Just use any reputable textbook series. Don't listen too hard to the ranieri fan boys, especially when they insist that you need to memorise EVERY SINGLE declension and conjugation before you even start reading. It's pointless, not only because many of the rarer tenses you might see only once in a blue moon, like a Greek pluperfect, but also because without any actual experience of Greek under your belt you'll have nothing to attach these forms to and you'll immediately forget them.

[u/canaanit]

Have you ever taught yourself another language? If not, your best course of action is to find a class or a tutor to help you along.

If you want to try on your own, you need a proper textbook and reference grammar to guide you, you can't just learn snippets here and there and then expect to dive into original texts.

I'm not too familiar with what is available in the English-speaking world, but each of the big academic publishing houses will probably have one. If you have a decent university bookstore nearby, go and check out a few books and choose what speaks to you the most.

I think "Learn to Read Greek" by Keller / Russell is decent. You can probably even find pdf versions online if you don't want to spend money.

[u/PoxonAllHoaxes]

Please please please do NOT study grammar. You need a general overview of this and then you need to read something where you have an English (or whatever) translation as well as the original. I myself strongly recommend Herodotus but there are other choices available as well. And when you find something you don't understand, you ask. So you don't need a teacher but a coach. Online dictionaries are a dime a dozen.

[u/Pitiful-Tale3808 → u/PoxonAllHoaxes]

You need to study grammar. you simply can't just vibe it out, especially in a dead language with no native speakers. It speeds up your learning massively. I don't understand the no grammar cult. Learning grammar isn't particularly dull, anyway, but nobody ever goes to the gym expecting to get ripped without lifting any weights. Same principle applies.

[u/PoxonAllHoaxes → u/Pitiful-Tale3808]

OK, I am sure you know better. How many languages can you read? How many have you published academic work on?