Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Excellent tool for commuters. October 21, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have an hour commute, one way, and this has been an outstanding tool for optimizing that drive time. I'm up to songs 8 and 9, and it's only been a few weeks. The songs are short, with most repeated just twice or three times.
Two thumbs up for the creative arrangements, which vary and build as the song repeats -- keeps them interesting to listen to. One minor complaint is the uneven recording levels, forcing you to raise or lower the volume per song while you drive. But since you are generally working on just one song at a time, it's not a big deal.
The CD contains a printable copy of the tables in the companion booklet, so you can keep copies in different places where you listen (in your car, by the bed, at your desk at work, etc.). You'll want the tables handy to refer to as you initially learn each song.
(For non-drive times, what I've done is put the songs on my iPod Touch, and then put a copy of the tables into the Photos section. When I listen to a song, I can then just switch to the Photos section and follow along with the table. Works great when working out!)
I also recommend Sing and Learn NT Greek to those who are pursuing NT Greek later in life and are finding (as I am) that the brain doesn't memorize things as quickly as it used to. Putting it to music really helps with that (at least, it helps me).
Excellent memory tool! October 20, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Dr. Ken Berding's "Sing And Learn NT Greek" is an excellent tool for the beginning Greek language student. Having learned the songs myself about 7 years ago, I can STILL remember them almost perfectly. They have helped me very much in both Bible study (parsing verbs, etc.) and in tutoring Greek students who have difficulty with the many paradigms and charts associated with an Elementary Greek class.
A revolutionary tool of lasting value August 13, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Dr. Berding has revolutionized not only the NT Greek learning process, but the ongoing process of retention as well. As a pastor, I have a minimal amount of time to devote to staying fresh in my Greek syntax, but I find the study of the Greek NT to be invaluable in various teaching venues. The paradigmatic songs that Dr. Berding has innovated are immensely useful to my personal endeavor to stay competent in Greek.
Very Helpful for Beginner May 21, 2008 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I first want to say that I am not connected with the author in any way and am not in his classes. I just downloaded the audio version of this with the accompanying PDF of the guide (thanks to Zondervan's great customer service in pointing me to it!)
1. I have taken overall 6 semesters of Attic and Koine Greek and I still find myself having problems remembering these paradigms. To have another sensory way of learning them is very helpful. The more ways the better! The songs cover most of the harder and most common paradigms. One problem is that sometimes the paradigm behind the songs are hard to follow because of the ordering of the words, but in general, the author has done a great job of making the songs accessible.
2. Having said that these songs are catchy and helpful, learning them is no substitute for spending time with the Greek text. The problem with learning a song is that you have to go through the whole thing to find a form and then you have to know the structure of the paradigm behind the song to locate the words proper form. This can be time consuming. So, this CD will not make you proficient at Greek, it will help get a good basis from which to build. Eventually, one should be able to recognize most of these endings and words without singing the songs.
3. Finally, as for the songs themselves, they are catchy but not the sort of thing you would want to listen to outside of studying. The author made them very passable and helpful by sticking to children songs and songs we are familiar with. By doing so, some musical pleasantness was probably sacrificed.
All in all I would highly recommend this CD/text for anybody who wants to refresh on their Greek paradigms and is sick of just sitting there with their text and drilling paradigms into one's head. Also it is great if one commutes.
Awesome way to learn Greek (Jared Cox) April 24, 2008 5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I'm in Dr. Berding's Greek class and his technique is the way to go. I'm horrible when it comes to learning new languages, but Dr. Berding's technique has allowed me to read a large amount of the New Testament after only two semesters. I would recommend this technique to everyone. Dr. Berding has taught me an ancient, dead, foreign language through music. I barely made it through High School Spanish. I'm tone deaf and have absolutely no beat. If this technique works for a guy who's brother punches him in church because he's singing off key and clapping off beat, it'll work for you.
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