Blog

I received this note: some people say visual latin is sufficient for high school credit and others say it is not, and I am not very smart in this area as I took French many many many years ago. So, I feel pressured to do something in addition to visual latin to make...

Guys.  You know how much I hate canceling classes.  I apologize for what I am about to do. There will be no classes tomorrow morning.  My house has been surrounded by peasants waving pitchforks and firebrands.  I offered them some cake, but that seemed to make things...

Dr. Gary North wrote this article for LewRockwell.com in 2003.  His advice survived the last recession, and I suspect it will survive the next recession. The original article is here: https://www.lewrockwell.com/2003/01/gary-north/how-to-succeed-in-america/...

There is a little swearing in here.  I am sorry. But, if you are an Apple fan, or if you are a fan of infectious laughter... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XSC_UG5_kU

I've been a reader of Dr. Gary North for a long time.  Personally, I don't think it's a bad idea to listen to our elders. He wrote this in 2003.  I doubt it has gotten much better.  The original article is...

I received this question: Also, with the pronunciation, it seems a little random. In 2C you had iratus pronounced eye-ray-toos, rather than more like ee-rah-toos. Also Lie-toos for laetus, which at least makes sense from a classical pronunciation. My kids seem pretty...

As some of you know, I am in the middle of a rather extensive demolition project these days. Long story short... I bought a house for my family ten (or so) years ago.  The county refused to accept the old septic tank and refused to allow me to add a new one.  After I...

Years ago, I bought a small, run-down house in the country.  The plan was simple.  I was going to fix the place up and we were going to move into it. But, I was a house-buying rookie.  And, I made a rookie mistake.  The seller lied about the septic tank.  He said it...

A friend of mine is an expert in dyslexia.  He has dealt with it all of his life, has studied dyslexia professionally, and has even written a book on the subject. On Wednesdays, he is offering a free series of classes.  If you have dealt with dyslexia, or if you know...

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...

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...

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 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. ...

https://youtu.be/GT86iWiH2mI

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...

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...

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...

https://youtu.be/p4mbk59rbjE

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...

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...

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...

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...

"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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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......

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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...

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...

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...