The Vestibule of Comenius

(3)

Latin words will stick more easily if they are joined to the native words original: "vernaculis." This refers to the student's mother tongue, such as German or Czech. everywhere. [ What is handed down here by the Author concerning the placing of native words before their Latin equivalents—as also on the following page in section 4 regarding the method of drilling Declinations: The way nouns, pronouns, and adjectives change their endings to show their role in a sentence (like "he" becoming "him"). into the boys—should be taken with a grain of salt original: "cum grano salis." Even in the 17th century, this idiom was used to suggest caution or moderation.: for just as this advice has its place only in reading (and not in the formal explanation of the text), so in what follows, the common method of declining using the technical names of the cases is more safely preferred. ]

III. Once the little book has been gone through twice in this way, let them proceed to the exercise of memory. Therefore, let them learn two or three little sentences every hour, and at the end of the hour, let them recite them from memory.

IV. At the same time, let an exercise in declining be added: the first chapter will supply the material for this, provided a simple method is followed: namely, that,

1. The noun Substantive: A noun that stands on its own as a person, place, or thing. alone should be taken.
2. It should be declined together with an Adjective, and at first indeed those of the same Declension: starting from the first: (as Latin Language, Beautiful Language, Lowest Earth, Nearby Cloud, Wide Courtyard, etc.) then the second (Eternal God, Temporary World, Highest Heaven, etc.) then the third (Mortal Man, Heavy Weight, etc.) mixed declensions will follow afterwards, (Elegant Language, Lowly Hut; Deep Valley, High Tower, Easy Middle, Opportune Time, Spirit)