1. Where can I get hold of your book?

Your local bookshop can order it for you direct from Cambridge University Press, who published it in Sept.1999. ISBN 0-521-65960-4 Teachers' Resource Book - ISBN 0-521-65961-2 OR you could contact the Hellenic Bookservice in London 91, Fortess Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 1AG, Tel : 0171 267 9499 Fax : 0171 267 9498. They usually have plenty in stock.

2. How much are the books ?

The pupil's book is £9.95 ; the Teacher's Resource Book costs £43.75, because it contains 35 photocopyable worksheets and one is paying for the copying permission.

3. What is the book about ?

A real family, which lived at Vindolanda, near Hadrian's Wall, at the beginning of the second century A.D. The cat & mouse are invented -all the other characters are historical !

4. Why did you write it ?

I was concerned that we expect secondary age children to learn modern languages when they don't know how to handle English grammar. It is a book teaching English grammar, and building vocabulary through derivatives, by means of simple Latin.

5. What if a school has no Classics teacher on the staff ?

You don't need to be a Classicist to teach Minimus. Anyone with an interest in languages can teach it ;the Teacher's Book translates all the Latin for you and gives lots of teaching tips.

6. How can the average State Primary school afford to buy Latin books ?

They can't ! They should apply for a grant to help buy a set of books. Schools are asked to contribute some of the cost, if they can. NB The grant fund is also open to Independent Schools.

7. How many books would a school need ?

One per pupil plus one copy of the Teacher's Resource Book.

8. What other materials would you need to start up a Minimus club ?

Nothing ! An envelope wallet file for each pupil is very handy for the worksheets. They like to decorate these.

9. Why should a school consider using your book ?

It ties in with what pupils learn in English and History at KS2 ; it will be a useful language awareness course for learning other languages later on ; it will sort out their English grammar and build vocabulary ; it fits in with work in the literacy hour ; it takes a wholly cross- curricular approach ; it is accessible to pupils of a wide range of abilities ; it is FUN !

10. What has been the response from parents ?

Wholehearted parental support. Pleased that their children are doing something different and which helps them to understand where we came from -historically and linguistically.

11. What about the children ?

Very enthusiastic -e.g. One set of children petitioned their headteacher to be allowed to carry on, when he was about to stop the Minimus club and give it to another year-group ; several schools report lists of children waiting to join the clubs; a little girl fainted at school. She had eaten no food all day " because Minimus club starts tonight and I was too excited... " I have many such stories.

12. What is the minimum amount of time needed per week ?

30 minutes.

13. How long would it take to complete the course ?

It could take from 6 months to 2 years -depending on the age and ability of the children, time allocation per week and the number of cross- curricular ideas which you follow-up. There is no syllabus -go with the pace which feels right for the children.

14. Why is there no general vocab. list ?

There is ! Because of lack of space it was moved to the Teacher's Resource Book. It is therefore photocopyable.

15. How can I train to use this book -my Latin is rusty?

Training days are arranged regularly on Saturdays, in central locations such as London, Bristol, Cambridge and Chester. See this website for details. Certificates are awarded to those attending. For those who need help with pronunciation, or a change of voice in the classroom, there is also an audiocassette, on which all the picture stories are recorded. ISBN 0521 005116, price £11.75

16. Would you come to our area and give a talk about the Primary Latin Project ?

Most certainly - just get in touch to fix a date.

17. Do you sell anything else to support the books ?

Yes -currently Minimus et cetera ( the name of the business ) sells pencils, pens, postcards and stickers, Minimus badges, notelets and T-shirts.

18. My school offered a club and 40 children wanted to learn Latin. How do we choose ?

No need - I have a database with the names and addresses of 1,100 volunteers. They are arranged by postcode. Please get in touch to find out those in your area who could work with you so that 2 clubs can run.

19. What book can they go on to next ?

Teachers tell me that pupils have happily made the transition to both the Cambridge Latin Course and the Oxford Latin course.

20. Will there be a second book ?

There is ! Minimus Secundus was published in March 2004 ( April 2004 in the USA.) The stories concern the same family, but 5 years on when they are packing up to leave Vindolanda and move to York. This book also has a Teachers' Resource Book, with photocopyable worksheets plus an accompanying audiocassette. Pupil's book - 0 521 75545 X, Price £9.95; Teachers' Book 0 521 75546 8, Price £42.75; Audiocassette 0 521 75547 6, Price £15

Barbara Bell e-mail: bmbellmini@aol.com (director of the Primary Latin Project) 82 Swiss Drive, Ashton, Bristol BS3 2RW