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Which class do I join?

I received this question: Hello, I would like help "placing" my daughter in your classes. 15 YO, CC Ch II. We have struggled through Henle 1 in Ch A-I. She loved the learning in Ch A but interest has dropped since. I was very involved in Ch A (I was a first year...

Why I do not celebrate Federal holidays.

Yesterday was Labor Day.  I don't celebrate Labor Day.  Or the fourth of July.  Or President's Day.   A student emailed me, "Just curious, why do you not celebrate government holidays?" Here is my reply.  (Sent on Labor Day): Oh.  Lot’s of reasons.  Some of them good...

Challenge one and Latin 3?

I received this question: My son is in Challenge 1 with Classical Conversations.  Would he be ready for Latin 3 live class? Here is my reply: It depends.  I am not entirely familiar with the breakdown Classical Conversations uses, but here is how I break it all down. ...

Links for the live classes…

Links for the live Henle classes and the live Lingua Latina classes are good to go.  Feel free to register for the live classes.  Use this page: https://dwanethomas.com/live-classes/ I am still working on the early morning classes and some possible Thursday classes. ...

Snort.

https://youtu.be/GT86iWiH2mI

Another note from my wife Gretchen.

A follow up to last week…here are some photos of what I did while Dwane was away.  He got home around midnight last night, driving almost straight through from Colorado to here, so he is taking the morning off again.  Hope you don’t mind if I share another thought...

Sorry. There is only one option.

I am often asked, "Can I pay for an entire year of your classes up front?"   I used to offer this option, with a discount. Unfortunately, I no longer offer the annual payment option.  I was shocked by how many people took advantage of the annual payment option (with a...

Oh, English.

I received this question: I can not figure out why mons is masculine. please explain. I googled and can not find my answer. from the rules I understand is that nouns ending in "s" are from the S-O-X rule and are feminine. Thanks,  A Home School Mama who is TRYING to...

How to type with Macrons… if you want to.

It's no secret.  I am no fan of Latin macrons.  Silly stumbling blocks, in my opinion. I am not alone in this thought.  Cheryl Lowe of Memoria Press doesn't care for them either.  Read her thoughts in this excellent...

I’m back (with a brand new invention).

I'm back.  But, honestly, I don't have a brand new invention.  I simply cannot think of the phrase "I'm back" without automatically thinking "...with a brand new invention."  One of the many curses of growing up in the '80's.  Don't know what I am talking about?  Just...

Can I join the Lingua Latina class at 12 years old?

I received this question: Can I join the Lingua Latina class at 12 years old? Here is my reply: Generally, I do not allow kids into class unless they are at least 13.  But, that is not a rule.  That is more of a parental recommendation.  Actually, it’s probably...

A schedule question

I have been quiet this week. It's not you.  It's me. I have been in a bicycle maintenance school in Manitou Springs, Colorado. The experience has been great, but it has been intensive.  I love bicycles and now know how to build one.  I don't have the tools at home to...

Imperium by Robert Harris

A few hours ago, I finished the book Imperium by Robert Harris. I started listening on Scribd, but then Scribd took it away.  Oh well.  Scribd giveth.  Scribd taketh away. I finished the book on Audible. I give the book five stars. But, I have to warn you.  I know...

Letter of the week. 🙂

"We don't write to you much, knowing how busy you are, but would like to take this opportunity to let you know how grateful we are for your classes!  We follow a rather intense classical education program. The Latin portion, by the time our oldest got to high school,...

Reform is coming. Any day now.

This time of year, I get the same question.  A lot. "Do your classes count as high-school credit?"  Short answer.  Yes.  They do.  To find out exactly how... read this excellent article: https://welltrainedmind.com/a/how-to-assign-high-school-credits/ And now, brace...

Scribd – One of my most powerful secret weapons

It's been a while since I have sent out a "tip of the week".  For the last few months, I have been on the road.  At first, I tried to keep up with my online schedule.  But, after a few weeks, I gave up.  There was just too much flux in my life.  I lost my routine.  I...

Is there anything like Visual Latin for Spanish?

I received this question: You are a language guy. My 5th grade son LOVES Visual Latin, and I can see that he has an aptitude for language learning. However, he is a very visual-spatial learner (like, he had an educational profile done b/c he was struggling so much in...

Memorizing the Latin pronoun charts

I received this question: We are going to be memorizing the pronouns this year and I have a question about how best to memorize. The text we use has us memorizing singular mas, fem, neuter across then plural was, fem, neuter across. Students who have learned it this...

High school credit.

I received this question: My son is transferring schools this academic year ('18-'19) and his new school does not offer Latin.  He used Lingua Latina for Latin I during his freshman year at his old school and I have been searching online for a suitable course.  Your...

Jenny’s Latin and Visual Latin?

I received this question: I’m looking for an online Latin course that is somewhat comparable to Jenney’s First Year Latin. Would your Visual Latin compare at all? My daughter is going into the 7th grade and has had two years of Grammar Latin at a classical school. She...

The class schedule… YELLOW

Back in February, I posted this: https://dwanethomas.com/schedule-2018-2019-red/ That was the RED schedule.  Subject to a lot of change. I am sitting at Panera working on the schedule for next year's classes.  (The internet at our house isn't working so well these...

Stuck

I am in a Starbuck working right now. Our home internet has been sluggish at best since we returned to the U.S.  Thanks AT&T. We live in a populated area.  We are not rural.  I don't get it. I tried to teach the daily vocabulary class this morning.  It didn't go...

I’m back.

Okay.  I'm back.  After avoiding my computer for over a month, I am back at work. During my month away from my computer, I discovered that I didn't miss it all that much.  Unfortunately for me, I earn an income on my computer.  So, there is really no escape.  Ergo......

Update from Dwane

Hi, Everyone, Dwane asked me to relay a message that he won't be able to respond to emails until after he returns to the States around the middle of July. Hope you're enjoying your summer. Thanks much, JP

A quick update…

I've been trying to keep up with email lately, but I am not sure I will be able to for the next few weeks. For the last few weeks, we have been traveling with an organized tour.  This means that we have been staying in hotels with good wifi. The tour ended a few days...

Going off the grid… kind of.

Today, I finished the last of the grading I had.  Also tried to catch up on any urgent emails. Starting tomorrow, I will be on my site very little.  June is the lightest month of the year on my site anyway, so it is likely no one will notice. Tomorrow, in Rome, I am...

Could I see an example class?

Visual Latin is a professionally filmed series.  I do not personally sell it.  It is available here from Compass Classroom. Once they have completed Visual Latin many of my students want to further their Latin studies.  That's where this site comes in. Every year I...

After Henle 1?

I received this question: Hi, my daughter pulled out of Ch. 1 mid-year this year and in the process of completing Henle 1. We moved and took quite a bit a time off but are planning on finishing the book this summer with the help of your classes. I’m actually making...

A student is confused about infinitives.

I received this question: Dear Mr. Thomas, I am having some trouble understanding infinitive verbs. As I have learned, an active infinitive such as audire translates as to hear, whereas a passive infinitive such as audiri translates as to be heard. Oddly, I have seen...

An online Spanish class

A good friend of mine is offering an online Spanish class.  Since so many of you have asked me to teach Spanish, I knew you would be interested. I am not planning to teach Spanish anytime soon.  And, even if I did offer a class, it would have to be more of a "Learn...

After Henle Latin… Visual Latin or Lingua Latina?

I received this question: My son trudged through Latin this year for the first time in Classical Conversations Challenge 1. As you know, they use Henle. We’re not continuing with CC, but would like him to get his second year of Latin. He definitely learned some Latin...

A little help for a friend.

If you have ever thought of moving to North Carolina, and if you are looking for a job as a Latin teacher... this could be your big opportunity. A friend of mine is helping her husband track down just such a person for the coming school year. Check this out:...

Letter of the week. 🙂

Thank you so very much for teaching Latin! Although Lingua Latina is tough, I'm glad I can actually read Latin! I love the information and history you provide for me, as well as information on where our English words come from. It's so exciting to be able to read...

Comic books and Kaizen.

I turned 45 yesterday. I am currently in Greece attempting to master Greek.  No language yet has challenged me the way this language has.  I just don't feel like I am winning. Yesterday, one of my girls bought a birthday present from a Greek newsstand.  It was a...

Which case do I use with prepositions?

I received this question: Mr. Thomas, I have a question about something Henle teaches even though that isn't the Latin program I use. It's a concept that is used frequently on my tutorial days and I never understood it. Henle Latin teaches a bunch of different...

Feeling lost and needing some help…

I received this email: Hey there Mr. Thomas, you may remember me I have sent a couple e-mails in the past. I went through your entire visual Latin course in order to learn Latin as my highschool language credit, and in doing so discovered a deep love for Latin and...

An ancient fort on an ancient hill.

My family and I are currently on the Greek island of Paros.  While we are here, I am attempting to video blog (vlog) for the first time. My son, who has been vlogging every day for years, is trying to help me learn this strange new skill.  I turn 45 on Sunday.  He is...

Yes. Yes. Yes.

I think I may have located the world's slowest internet connection.  Since I am currently in Greece, I won't complain.  Much.  Doing my best to stay caught up, but I am falling behind. I am not extremely worried about the situation, though I certainly feel bad about...

Henle Latin, Lingua Latina and the AP Latin exam.

I received this email: Hi Mr. Thomas, I'm planning to sign my older two children up for your classes for next school year. They'll be in Challenge B and A in Classical Conversations, but after reading everything I can on your website, I think I'd prefer them to do...

Do you offer the National Latin Exam?

I received this email: Hi!  We have thoroughly searched your website, and I am wondering what you mean by offering the National Latin Exam?  How would we take that exam? We have taken it with a coop that we have been a part of, but are switching from that and doing...

Lucky?

This is a repost.  I wrote this in January of 2017.  It still applies.  Especially since we are back to Greece. ======================================================================================= My family and I are very likely moving back to Greece in March.  If...

Greek in a grocery store.

I am reading everything I can in a desperate attempt to learn as much Greek as possible during our month here. Yesterday, my wife and I shopped for groceries.  The grocery store is a good place to learn vocabulary, as it turns out. Since English is such a...

Jet lag and Greek pronunciation.

We have been in Greece a few days now.  We are fighting jet lag... and so far, we are not winning. My girls and I have been waking up off and on at about 2 am and are unable to fall asleep again.  I am using the dead time of the morning to study Greek. This morning, I...

Safe in Athens.

After a long day, or night, or both... I am not sure what day it is, my family and I have arrived safely in Athens. As I said in a previous post, I am back over here to study Greek.  I have not used it much yet. I was able to use other languages I have studied,...

On the road again.

Good morning, everyone! I have not posted anything in a few days, and may not post much for a few more days.  I am also behind on emails. My family and I are on the road.  We are currently in Chicago.  We drove up yesterday. From Chicago, we are making our way back to...

No early morning class on Friday, May 4, 2018

Guys, my throat is killing me.  I am going to skip class in the morning and give my voice a break.  We will try again on Saturday. I hope you all have a great Friday! Dwane

Can your kid do this?

One of my students sent their homework to me this week.  Check this out: ==================================================================================================  How are you doing? Thank you for teaching class. This is my homework for Chapter 32. Thank you...

Bread for dinner?

A student asks: I have had this question for over a year.  How do you translate this: I am eating bread for dinner. Is it: Edo panem cenae? "For" is a hard word for me to translate; in this context should 'dinner' be in the dative? Here is my reply: Your question...