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CO 83.3 [Spring 2006], pp. 112-114: Logos Bible Software releases electronic/CD version of Liddell & Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon (LSJ), announces pre-publication offer for complete Oxford Latin Dictionary on CD; Transparent Language, Before You Know It (BYKI) for Latin; J-PROGS' Pompeii program & Pompeii Photo CD; CIRCE Manual launch in London; ACL committee calls for "successful scenario" case studies.
Logos Tackles More Greek
In my last column I let out the word that Logos Bible Software, in concert with
Oxford University Press, had released an electronic version of Liddell and Scott’s
Greek-English Lexicon (LSJ). This is the full ninth edition, with the 1996 supplement
fully integrated into it ($145). Since then, they have also released more Greek
grammar “e-books” for the New Testament and Koine Greek.
Their electronic version of the hallowed lexicon is quite easy to use (Figure
1). There is a handy hierarchical index which can be kept in one pane of the
lexicon window and adjusted for depth of detail, all the way down to specific
words, for quick “thumbing” through. An ever-present search tool
sits prominently at the top of the window, when you know what you’re looking
for. The text pane is a continuous scroll, so you can move as gradually as you
like up or down through the lexicon and get plenty of context, much like a printed
version and unlike some electronic versions that only show one entry at a time.
Linguistic connections between entries (variants, related stems, etc.) are highlighted
in red as cross-links, and source abbreviations in green can be quickly expanded
with a rollover caption and referenced in the “Authors & Works List.”
Like all of the Logos materials, this lexicon is based on and designed to be
used with the Libronix Digital Library System, which is included with it; however,
there are no real obstacles to using it on its own with your own texts and other
tools in various windows. All in all, it’s a pretty slick way to access
that magnificent reference work.
Just as a reminder, too: Logos is still doing a “pre-pub” promotion
to drum up support for putting the complete Oxford Latin Dictionary (OLD) on
CD. For more info, contact Logos Bible Software, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham
WA 98225; tel. 800-875-6467; web: www.logos.com.
Learn Latin Words Before You Know It
Transparent Language has been a long-term player in the field of foreign language
software. While they work with an immense variety of languages, they included
Latin in their offerings almost from the beginning, due to some strong interest
and prodding from the late Ed Phinney, a former ACL president and Classics professor
at the Univ. of Massachusetts—Amherst. Though their range of hypertext
versions of classical texts has changed over time, Transparent Language have
always maintained a strong presence in Latin pedagogy with their main Language
Now series.
Recently they have released a new program line called Before You Know It, which
appears to be an updated and expanded version of some of the vocabulary drills
which they have previously offered as tangents to the Language Now program.
This program focuses entirely on vocabulary acquisition and uses the now characteristic
Tranparent Language style of multimedia support, including textual, visual and
aural cues. It is helpful to have your computer equipped with a microphone and
speakers in order to take advantage of these facilities.
BYKI comes with a built-in set of word lists which are not tied to any particular
text but provide a fairly basic range of vocabulary, organized by part of speech.
The real power of the program comes from its editing options, which allow a
user to create their own lists, complete with images and sound files attached
to each word in the list. The program is very careful about keeping things well
organized, and its interface is fairly intuitive, so that you don’t have
to spend hours reading the help files before getting started.
The other impressive side of BYKI is the way it maintains an ongoing record
for each user of how well they “know” a list, by keeping a running
progress score on each word until a proficiency level is reached.
A clear methodology is laid out for learning each list. First, it is reviewed
in basic flash card format, with or without the audio files. When you’re
ready, you start quizzing yourself, using the same flashcard process and giving
yourself credit (or not) when the answer side is revealed. Then, it gets more
interactive, as you are required to type in your answers, and let the program
correct them (simply right or wrong). You can do either of these quiz types
in either direction--Latin-to-English or vice versa.
Once you feel you’re ready for more challenge, there are several other
activities to test your proficiency level in multiple media: multiple choice
drills in either direction, dictation (typing the Latin after hearing it), and
pronunciation (mimicking the sound file and getting judged on your proximity
electronically).
Obviously, it might take a lot of work to create data files to match your class
textbook, but the ones that are built-in may be quite useful to intermediate
and advanced students who have some vocabulary under their belt. The chance
to practice their pronunciation and hear more Latin aloud may be the most valuable
part of this program for most school and college students.
For more information, contact Transparent Language, 12 Murphy Dr., Nashua NH
03062 USA; tel. 1-603-262-6300 (toll-free US 1-888-245-1829); web: www.transparent.com.
Take a Virtual Tour of Pompeii
After creating a very comprehensive photographic tour of Rome in his Rome the
Eternal City, Julian Morgan has now gone on to the next most popular site for
tourists of ancient Roman ruins, Pompeii. Using his persistently accurate eye
for the best compositions and most illustrative presentation, Morgan has put
together a Classics teacher’s perfect guide to that most well-preserved
Roman town. Taking advantage of the timely presence of a archaeologist friend
working on the site, he was able to get many choice shots without any tourists
intruding!
All locations can be accessed through a map or an index, organized broadly into
Contexts, Focal Points, Buildings, Houses, and Art. Much like the Rome publications,
there is both a programmed tour and a photo CD, which can be purchased either
separately or together (program $125 site license, $40 single user; photo CD
$95 site only; suite of both $195 site only). The Pompeii Photo CD contains
over 900 high-quality JPEG images from the program, which can be used as a digital
slide collection for presentations, handouts, or even web sites (with proper
crediting for any public display).
For more info, in the US contact Centaur Systems Ltd., 407 N. Brearly St., Madison
WI 53703; tel. (toll-free) 888-236-8287; web: www.centaursystems.com. In the
UK and elsewhere, contact J-PROGS, 65-A St. Helen’s Gate, Pocklington,
E. Yorks YO42 2JW; tel. +44-(0)7986-584867; web: www.j-progs.com.
CIRCE Manual Launched in London
I have tried to keep you all up-to-date on the ambitious work that Julian Morgan
has also been doing with the CIRCE Project in Europe (CO 82.1 Fall 2005, p.26,
and CO 81.3 Spring 2004, p. 114). While Morgan teaches Latin part-time at Derby
Grammar School, publishes software under the J-PROGS label, and conducts computer
workshops for Medusa and other training organizers, he has lately been a partner
of this unique EU partnership with Latin teachers across Europe to create a
“Classics & ICT Resource Course for Europe”—hence, the
acronym, CIRCE. After several years of meetings in all 6 participating countries,
their work is now starting to bear concrete results.
On April 21 (the birthday of Rome, no less), at the IBM headquarters in London,
Morgan conducted a day-long launch of the new CIRCE manual and announced the
offering of their first 5-day training course, to be held this summer at Oxford
University. The launch included a wide variety of speakers, including teachers,
students, industry representatives, and members of Parliament. Due to its high-profile
location and sponsorship, the event received a substantial amount of mainstream
press coverage. Rarely does Classics get right out there in front of the public
eye, but this was certainly one of those times, and the anachronistic combination
of Classics and computers turned out to be the hook. Morgan and all of his colleagues
on the organizing committee should be congratulated on reaching their goal and
providing such an impressive model for others to follow.
Copies of the new CIRCE manual can be obtained by contacting Morgan at the J-PROGS
address above. For more info, you can also refer to the very well-designed,
official CIRCE web site, www.circe.be.
Show Off Your Own Successful Scenarios
One of the most useful parts of the CIRCE manual for teachers anywhere will
be the collection of “case studies” from teachers in the field,
documenting their own successful applications of computer-based tools in the
classroom. In a blatant attempt to expand on this model, the ACL’s Committee
on Educational Computer Applications would like to solicit similar stories from
ACL members or any other readers of this column. There’s nothing more
useful and inspiring than hearing directly from your colleagues what they are
up to, how they manage it, and why it works for them .
So, please, if you have found any particular “scenario” involving
computer tools, both online and off, take a moment to jot down the essentials
of what you and your students are doing, along with any feedback from you or
them about why it’s “a good thing” or how it might be improved.
Please send them to me at the addresses above. Our committee will select some
of the best ones for publication in this column, and they may also get added
into the ACL Software Directory for the Classics. Your colleagues will thank
you, and you may very well learn a few fun things from them at the same time.