Following on from my previous thread, I have shared a lot of advice given with my daughter.  As she really can’t speak Latvian, both her and my son-in-law really want to learn as they are still very keen to move to Latvia.  Can anyone recommend any good resources to learn Latvian.  I also probably need to learn to write Latvian, again any ideas of how best to do this.  We are positive and excited at the thought of making the move in the next few years after some visits.

Sorry, to bother everyone again, but any suggestions would be very welcome.

Aija,

This book was the first one I bought, it came with an audio cassette. Not bad for starters, but the best one I ever bought was “Dialogs” (not sure if this is the full title), which I bought on one of my earlier trips to Latvia. Unfortunately, I can’t find any links to it.

Laimīgi,
Pierre

Thank you Pieree, a really good staring point.  Will follow up on these.

Aija

Some time ago, Līga Streips put together a book + cassette tape package called. “Easy Way to Latvian”. VERY useful. The main trouble - it has been out of print for some time and Līga herself has passed away.  Maybe you have beg, borrow (or steal) this.

Another option is right at your fingertips - google phrases such as ’ learn latvian ’ or ’ latvian for beginners’ and you will start to find all kinds of sites online.

Thank you Ilze,

Will google some but it always really useful to hear if things are really useful.  “Easy Way to Latvian” does sound good as well so will have to see if there are any second hand ones around.

Wish me luck,
Aija

If you live near to a Latvian weekend school, you might find a set of the books and cassettes for “Easy Way to Latvian” there.  Often the Latvian churches or community centers in the U.S. have many more books than readers.

The Bookstore at Saulaine, rural property of St. John’s Ev. Luth. Latvian Church in Toronto ( http://www.campsaulaine.com), about an hour north of Toronto, has:

EASY WAY TO LATVIAN (written by LIGA STREIPS): An Audio Course in Beginning Latvian, as described in the posting.

All books are DONATED by Saulaine supporters, all work is done by VOLUNTEERS ONLY and all donations go to support the camp.

We would ask for a minimum of $50 ( US or Canadian) plus mailing for this 6 cassette ( 45 minutes each) and manual set. I have played all the cassettes and they are in perfect shape. As well, each cassette has a traditional Latvian folksong by world-renowned folk ensemble KOLIBRI from Boston.

Check would be made out to St. John’s Church in Toronto.

Write:
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Thank you all, this has really helped me.  Wish me well.  AijaM

Hi,
Strongly recommend ‘‘A Grammar of Modern Latvian’‘. It is of three volumes and is a superb course. I used it to relearn my Latvian. There ARE a numerous number of other books but none matches this set. It is pricey but well worth it. My set was a present from my father many years ago.

http://www.degruyter.de/cont/fb/sk/detailEn.cfm?id=IS-9789027979360-1

Authors: T.G.FENNELL & H.GELSEN
ISBN: 90 279 7936 7
PUBLISHER: MOUTON
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1980

Also available as a e-book (see link above).
There is a limited dictionary in volume three so I suggest you use free on-line dictionaries.

The way I started to learn words was to make a list of related ten words and keep them in my pocket. During the day I would recite and write the words and their spelling, mixing up the order, both Lat/Eng and End/Lat, then compare to the list carried in my pocket. This way I learned then new words each day.

Good Luck
Romāns Sēja

It’s an 8 week, expensive, intensive language course, but if one is serious, this might be a better “immersion” than listening to CD’s or tapes…  Check the web site:  http://www.slavic.pitt.edu/sli/programs/ceeu/index.php
Last year it was held at the U of W in Madison…

I found some apps. On my Droid smart phone that I’m using

I’m finding the combo of book and tapes quite helpful in relearning;
“Colloquial Latvian - The Complete Course for Beginners” by Christopher Moseley.
Pub 1996.
Bought it from a local bookshop ... it can be bought online though ... Amazon I think.

Another avenue of learning - online I believe:

http://baltic-review.com/2012/02/facebook-teaches-how-to-flirt-in-latvian/

The Bookstore at Saulaine, Ontario, Canada has another set of EASY WAY TO LATVIAN by Liga Streips with a book and cassetes, all in a strudy plastic binder.

All books are donated by Saulaine and book lovers, all work is volunteer and all proceeds support Saulaine, rural property of St. John’s church in Toronto.

Make an offer—check or MO will be made out to St. John’s Church in Toronto. We can mail anywhere! Last set went to Australia!

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http://www.campsaulaine.com