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What is Classical Education?

This week I received an email that included this question: What are your thoughts on Classical education? Well... Here are my thoughts on Classical education.... I am still a fan of Classical education.  I think.  Still working through this one myself.  Although......

Tip of the Week #198: How much is your time worth?

I recently stumbled across an astonishing quote by Derek Sivers, an author I know nothing about.  Or, didn’t know anything about until yesterday.   Here’s the quote: “I hate to waste a single hour.  I feel the precious value of time, most of the time.  I imagine my...

Hey, teachers. Leave them kids alone.

Hitherto the plans of the educationalists have achieved very little of what they attempted, and indeed we may well thank the beneficent obstinacy of real mothers, real nurses, and (above all) real children for preserving the human race in such sanity as it still...

It’s me against the world, and the world is winning.

I used to take students through Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars. Every year I would ask myself, "Why am I doing this to these poor students?  And, Why am I doing this to myself?" I personally am quite interested in Caesar's romp through France, Belgium, and Britain.  But,...

Getting ready for Second Year Latin by Robert Henle

I received this question: My son is a rising sophomore in Classical Conversations.  He has gone through Henle First Year and is about to start Henle Second Year.  We are pretty sure we want to get a membership to your sight.  My question is: do you offer any grading...

How did you teach Latin to your own kids?

People often ask me, "How did you teach Latin to your own kids?" This is such a tough question to answer. It may be easier if I tell you what I wish I had done with my own kids. I started my kids out in Latin, but this was before I had discovered Lingua Latina by Hans...

Is this a joke, or no? I can’t tell.

Local Christian Parents Pay University $100,000 To Totally Destroy 18 Years Of Their Hard Work May 25th, 2021 - BabylonBee.com BOSTON, MA—According to sources, local parents Dale and Cherie Woodall are shelling out over $100,000 to send their son Dillan to college and...

All the pronouns in Lingua Latina chapter 8.

A few weeks ago, I received this email: I’m befuddled and hope you can offer some suggestions.  Up through chapter seven of Lingua Latina, I was making myself flashcards of new words. Plus, I’ve also got six cards showing endings for the six cases.  With review, I’m...

How to learn multiple languages as an adult

I received this question: Comment: Hi! I am curious how many languages you are actively learning at one time, and then also how much time you spend every day maintaining the languages you’ve already learned. You have so many languages on your site; do you work on all...

Tip #146

When I was first making the transition from classroom teaching to online teaching, I designed my own website.  And, it looked like I designed my own website.   That's okay.   I recommend doing the same thing if you are just starting out.  Do as much as you can on your...

Before you learn Latin, count the cost.

I received this question: Hi!  We are LOVING Visual Latin 1. However, we are considering homeschooling our almost-10-year-old son as well and I am curious: what Latin program would you recommend using before Visual Latin 1? Thanks so much!   Here is my reply:...

Visual Latin and the National Latin Exam

The National Latin exam is a tricky thing.  Imagine taking thirty students, and teaching them to work on cars.  Each student is trained only on one car.  One student learns to repair Hondas.  One student learns to repair Jeeps.  One student learns to repair Volvos,...

Tip #145: How to learn faster

Over the next few months, I am compiling the old tips of the week.  Here's another.  This one is from August 10, 2019. ================================================= If you are trying to learn something new, and if you are using audiobooks or videos to do so, you...

Spanish 2?

I received this question: Hi there.  My son has taken and Spanish I class and would like to take a Spanish 2 class starting next fall.  Are you going to be offering a level 2 Spanish class?   Here is my reply: The short answer is, yes.   It’s a little...

She didn’t take my advice. 🙂

Pretty much every day, I get the same email.   Essentially, it goes like this: "My kids are struggling with Henle Latin, and they are bored.   Is there anything else we can do?" I usually recommend switching to Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg. This mom chose another...

Tip #144: Money back.

I am in the process of loading lost "tips of the week" into my site.  I sent this one out in August of 2019.  It may no longer apply. ================================================= Remember some time ago, when the guys in charge of our credit scores, Equifax,...

Tip #195: Free Courses

I am not a big fan of social media.  But, I do like to use Instagram for research.   Since Instagram knows what I am interested in (scary, I know) it sends me suggestions. One of my interests is generating extra income online. Instagram is always suggesting I check...

Tip # 194: CityData.com

Over the next few months, I am compiling (and archiving) the past "tips of the week".  About 40 are missing from my site. Here is the latest: ================================================= This week, I was reminded of a site I had forgotten about.  A reader from...

Why you absolutely must go to college

Just in case you needed reminders, here is why you must go to college.  No questions asked. This is from the Babylon Bee.  It's satire, my friends.  And, it would be funnier if it weren't so true. ================================================= We did the research,...

Tip #143: Commit publicly.

This summer, I am archiving the missing "tips of the week".   I sent this one on July 27, 2019. If you are having a hard time getting something done, commit to it publicly.   This can be pretty risky, so, careful with this one.  You might commit to something you later...

Tip #142: A Good Life

Tip #142.  I sent this one out on May 31st, 2019: I know it has been a while since you heard from me.  I haven't sent out a weekly email in months.  There are lots of reasons, mostly technical.  I think I have solved the problem... with the help of my friend Jeremiah...

Tip 141: Don’t text google back.

Quick note this morning.  I am about to get on the road to head to Birmingham, Alabama for a bit. Evidently, there is a pretty popular scam out there right now.   "Google" will text your phone asking for a verification code.  Don't respond!  Google does not ask for a...

Tips of the week

I have been posting a "Tip of the Week' since January of 2015. I try to send one out every Saturday morning.   From time to time, I miss the deadline. Anyway, there are now about 190 "tips" archived on my site.  They are here:...

From Henle Latin to Lingua Latina

I received this question: Hi Dwayne. I've tried to read thoroughly through the FAQ below, but still have a couple of specific questions for you. (Also, we are currently members of your website and have used it as my son works through Henle 1 via CC this year.) 1. I...

Help me pay my taxes.

Guys, I need help paying my taxes. And, it turns out Compass is having a sale this week. So, if you need help homeschooling your kids, and you want to do it at a discount, and you want to help me, then you know what to do. Check out the sale by clicking here: Compass...

Master the morning

If you struggle to get to work, or school on time, this may help. This tip is easy to understand, but tough to implement. Here it is:  Get ready the night before.   Take a look at all the things that slow you down in the morning when you are trying to get out of the...

Should you memorize all those Latin pronouns?

I received this question: My daughter is a freshman taking your Visual Latin I course.  She was wondering if you have any tips for memorizing the "qu" pronouns in Lesson 14.  She is really good at memorizing things, but is struggling with these because they're so...

Two new tests

For those who are in my online classes, Spanish Test 10 (All Spanish Method by Guillermo Aviles), and Test 9 for Third Year Latin by Robert Henle are now up.  Please let me know if you find any mistakes.

French test 14 is up.

Test 14 for Le Français par la Métode Nature is now up on my site.  If you are taking the French "class" with me, and you spot any mistakes in the test, please let me know.

After Latin? AP Latin? A new language?

I received this question: My tenth grader is about to finish Roma Aeterna this year, and I was wondering your recommendation for what should come next? I'd love to find an AP Latin prep course, but they all look prohibitively expensive. Do you have other...

Letter of the week

This made me happy: I cannot thank you enough!  You have reinvigorated our love for learning and our perception of time and difficulty. You are a shining example to my children and I. Thank you for sharing of yourself and skills so willingly. Last fall was our third...

Errata: Visual Latin, Test 35, Question 15

I received this question: Dear Dwane, Could you help explain the quiz answer for #15? Alii puero   A) the other boy B) of the other boy C) to the other boy D) with the other boy A dear child is sure that the correct answer is A) the other boy and not C. Help!  ...

I messed up

Guys, The month crept up on me. (I think this happens every February). Anyway, the class expired. You will need to re-register. Just go here and click on the link for the classes marked “connect now”: https://dwanethomas.com/live-classes/ Unfortunately, as a student...

And, here we go again.

Still not internet service where I teach, guys.  Still no word, no updates from AT&T. So, three things. First, no classes tomorrow.  🙁 Second, just keep reading.  Maybe use this as a time to catch up. Third, if you have snow where you are, go sledding! Hope you...

Sigh. No classes on Tuesday, February 16 either.

Still no internet at the office I use to teach.  Middle Tennessee is covered in ice and snow, and I guess AT&T just wasn't prepared. I hate cancelling classes, guys, but here we go again.  Maybe Wednesday. Hope you are having a great day!  And, if there is snow...

No classes on Monday, February 15, 2021

Guys, the internet is down at my office.  It's neighborhood-wide. We are in the middle of an ice storm, and Tennessean's don't handle ice storms well.  I guess AT&T doesn't either. Anyway... no class in the morning.  If you get this in time, maybe you can sleep...

Flash cards for Lingua Latina

I received this question: Hi there!  At the beginning of the school year, we found digital vocabulary flashcards for Lingua Latina lessons on your site that we could flip through on the computer or print out.  They had pictures. We can not remember where they were,...

Free coffee and a new ‘class’!

Each weekday, on my site, I upload four new videos.  Two for Latin.  One for Spanish and one for French. I also try to load one new test a week for each course.  Writing tests is a time consuming, tedious process.  It also tends to be pretty boring. To change things...

Consider dropping out.

College, for me, was a waste of time.  I naively did what I was told.  I did what every high school graduate was supposed to do.  I went to college. It was a four-year delay of game. At least that's all it was.  I have friends and family who are now strapped with...

When High-School and College-Drop Out Does Not Equal Dumb

I found this short article very encouraging.  I don't know how it is where you live, but in the South... it's all school, school, school. Where did you go to school?  Where are you going to go to school?  Where are you going to go to college?  Where did you go to...

It all adds up…

Good and evil both increase at compound interest.  That is why the little decisions you and I make ever day are of such infinite importance.  The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to...

A schedule change for the live classes.

I am extending the holiday break just a bit, everyone. Spanish and Third Year Latin by Robert Henle classes will resume on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. French and Exercitia Latina classes will resume on Thursday, January 14, 2021 Second Year Latin by Robert Henle...

The Economic Optimism of A Christmas Carol

Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.'' "Many...

There is hope.

The sun need not set on the West.  Europe and America can be revived again.  Light can again shine on nations that have been confused and misled by Western universities and media.  -The Book that Made Your World by Vishal Mangalwadi, Prologue, page XXI

How to find tests and grades on this site

About a month ago, the most important page on this site went down.  For too long. Everything is fixed now, but now and then I discover a few holdout problems. Yesterday, a subscriber asked how to find tests and grades.  The link she had was sending her to the wrong...

Where do I jump in?

Do you join a live class?  Do you watch class later?  What if you are joining in the middle of the year?  What do you do? This video may help:   https://vimeo.com/489900314

Visual Latin: Test 23 Mistake

I received this question: Just a quick question: The answer key for Visual Latin 1, Quiz 23, Question 26 gives the correct answer as C) quod. 26. The animals that you see running are horses. We thought the answer ought to be quae. If it is not a typographical error,...