Part I covers the essentials of Latin grammar and introduces a basic vocabulary of some 1600 words. In addition, factual information is given in the margin. Here, too, all new words and structures, if not immediately intelligible from the context, are explained by marginal notes or illustrations.

While reading this story and learning facts about the Roman life and traditions, the students pick up the vocabulary and grammar that will enable them to go on, in Part II, to read a representative selection of Latin literature, both prose and poetry. To meet these demands the chapters of Lingva Latina I form a continuous narrative, a sort of Latin novel, which captivates the students so that they look forward to reading the continuation of the story. This demands a carefully graded text, but in order to make learning efficient the content should stimulate interest and curiosity and make it easy for the reader to visualise the scenes and situations described. In the text every sentence is intelligible per se, or self-explanatory, because the meaning and function of all new words and grammatical forms are made clear by the context in which they occur, or if necessary, by illustrations or marginal notes using vocabulary already learned. The direct method is based on the inductive principle of learning.

II: Roma Aeterna - the advanced course, with Indices covering both parts.

It consists of two parts: I: Familia Romana - the fundamental or elementary course. The Latin course is written entirely in Latin.

Lingua latina per se illustrata familia