The Wheelock Ignis Group
The Ignis group is an introduction to the Latin language. The group started in September 2008, but anyone may join the group at any point. Other beginner groups are listed in the LatinStudy Weekly Activities posting.
The main textbook is Wheelock's Latin. You may buy a copy of Wheelock's Latin online or in many large bookstores. It is the only required textbook. Starting with Chapter 3, you may want to supplement Wheelock by translating Latin passages from the textbook 38 Latin Stories.
Problems with grammar will inevitably arise during your study. A book which explains some of the more opaque issues of grammar found in Wheelock is A Comprehensive Guide to Wheelock's Latin: Newly Revised for Wheelock's 6th Edition. Other useful textbooks are discussed in the FAQ.
To understand how the Ignis group operates, read the LatinStudy overview, then the Beginner Group FAQ. Be sure to actually subscribe to the LatinStudy list.
The Ignis group will spend a week each on the first two chapters of Wheelock, then shift to a pace of two to three weeks per chapter. The collations will be of assignments from Wheelock plus the optional passages from 38 Latin Stories, as described in the Ignis syllabus.
To join the Ignis group, simply start sending in assignments to howardgilbert@btinternet.com. It is important that you follow the Wheelock formatting convention so I can quickly and easily collate everyone's assignment into one big email. Please send plain text and don't use attachments. If you can't finish an assignment, send in what you have. Newcomers may join the group at any point.
Assignments are due on Saturdays, London time. Sometime Sunday morning or afternoon I'll generate a collation and post it to the list. Templates for the next week's assignment will be posted along with this week's collation.
The Ignis group is coordinated by Howard Gilbert. I handle any administrative issues. If you have questions about Latin itself, send email to the LatinStudy list, putting our group tag "Ignis" in your subject line. Someone on the list will answer you, almost always quicker than if you sent the email directly to me.