Students, EC employees, and community members gathered Feb. 5 for the inaugural meeting of a Latin study group, hosted by professor of natural sciences, Vincent Lloyd.

The group, which meets Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Physics 117, is an informal study group. Members neither have to register nor pay, and there are no tests.

“We’re using the ‘natural method’ of Hans Oberg’s ‘Lingua Latina: Familia Romana,’ where Latin grammar is learned through reading actual Latin in context, the way children learn language,” Lloyd said. “You start out with very simple sentences. The very first sentence is ‘Roma en Italia es.’ ”

Lloyd sees the method as an engaging alternative to dry, grammatical lessons.

“We used to use a popular textbook on Latin that’s been around for years, but it’s heavy on the grammar,” he said. “The natural method works better for most people because most people are not that interested in learning grammar, so reading works better.”

According to Lloyd, the approach is similar to conversational methods used in modern language classes. They read from texts that tell the ongoing story of a Roman family and their trials and tribulations.

“I must have begun studying Latin in middle school,” he said, “so it was quite a while ago. I’ve studied it from time to time on my own since then.”

EC had an instructor named Charlie Donavan who taught Latin for a while back in the 1980s as a formal class, Lloyd said. Then there were budget cuts or low enrollment, so Charlie just decided he would invite some people into his office and study Latin informally. So, I joined his group.

More recently, an astronomy student, who is now a classics major at Long Beach State, asked if Lloyd would start a Latin study group.

“Students will be able to read some Latin literature and even understand more about English words,” he said. “A lot of history is written in Latin, and a lot of mottos are in Latin such as MGM’s motto: ‘Ars Gratia Artis,’ which translates into ‘Art by grace of art.’ ”

“My goal is to be able to read Latin, and if all goes well, to be able to speak it,” Jeff Gass, district buyer, said.

“I used to go to the Latin masses,” Judy Castillo, assistant buyer for the EC bookstore, said, “I hope to understand the meaning of the language; it’s not as common today. Who do you come across who really speaks Latin? But there are some priests who understand it.”.

“By using the ‘natural’ method, students will learn the basics of Latin grammar and will be able to read simple Latin texts such as ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Winnie the Pooh’ that have been translated in to Latin,” Lloyd said.

“It is informal and there are no fees,” he added, “Students can learn at a comfortable pace and practice,” he said.