by Dwane | Jan 27, 2017 | Motivation, Online Classes
I’m beat. I spent a very long, frustrating evening online last night. A few days ago, a friend recommended that I make some changes on my site. I took his advice. I made a simple change. No big deal, right? Soon after, I noticed that my site no longer...
by Dwane | Jan 26, 2017 | Education, Motivation
The other night, a friend reminded me of an old proverb. “The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago. The next best time is now.” My students often ask me, “How long did it take you to learn Latin, Mr. Thomas?” I have been studying Latin...
by Dwane | Jan 25, 2017 | Uncategorized
Inspired by the electoral race in the U.S., I decided to take a year off. A year off from media, that is. No television. No radio. No online news. As Tim Ferris puts it, I am on an “information diet”. I made this decision in November. By November,...
by Dwane | Jan 24, 2017 | Education, Motivation
Years ago, I read Dave Ramsey’s First Book, Financial Peace. I began to follow his advice. Then I made a foolish financial mistake. I became a teacher in a private school. Disaster followed. Eventually, my wife and I went through foreclosure. We ended up...
by Dwane | Jan 23, 2017 | Education, The Future
On Saturday, I sent out my usual “tip of the week”. This one received quite a response. Here is what I mean: “Thank you for this! Just read it to our son. Tear in my eyes.” “I may have put an edited version of this as my Facebook...
by Dwane | Jan 21, 2017 | Motivation, The Future, Tip of the Week
On Thursday, I drove to Birmingham, Alabama. There, my cousins and I carried my 92-year-old grandfather to his grave. This week was crazy busy. Visitors, travel, and a funeral. I am ridiculously behind in my work. But, I haven’t been thinking about work this...
by Dwane | Jan 20, 2017 | Latin
In the following helpful video, a native Italian speaker shows us the differences between the several Latin...
by Dwane | Jan 18, 2017 | Motivation, The Future
Tomorrow, I’m heading to Birmingham Alabama. My family and I will be saying our final goodbyes to my grandfather. He died Sunday. I am sad. I am very sad. But, I don’t see tomorrow as an overwhelmingly sad day. He lived a good, long, and happy life. ...
by Dwane | Jan 17, 2017 | Motivation
I received this email: We are going to be canceling our monthly payments for Henle 1 latin class. We weren’t satisfied. I agree that Henle is not a great book, but it is the book we choose and the constant negativity about the book as well as the constant...
by Dwane | Jan 16, 2017 | Motivation
by Dwane | Jan 14, 2017 | Education, Motivation, Tip of the Week
This week I received this note: Hi! Just wanted to let you know how we LOVE visual latin – my two older kids do it with me. : ) Are you planning to ever do a video series for visual greek? We would buy it. You probably don’t need any more things about goals but...
by Dwane | Jan 13, 2017 | Uncategorized
I have decided to offer a National Latin Exam preparation class. During this class, we will practice taking the National Latin Exam together. Students will have the opportunity to ask specific questions during class. Classes will meet once a week during the spring...
by Dwane | Jan 12, 2017 | Vocabulary
As I blog my way through my study of Italian, I am considering bring the “Word of the Day” back. For several years, I posted consistently. Then, in the craziness that was for me 2016, I dropped the ball. But, I miss it. I am going to attempt to resurrect...
by Dwane | Jan 10, 2017 | Greek, Italian
In church last Sunday, the pastor quoted Samuel Johnson. “People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed. ” If you hang out on my blog at all, you know that I like DuoLingo. I have explored many, many language sites, and have...
by Dwane | Jan 10, 2017 | Greek, Latin, Online Classes
If you are in one of my online classes, and if you are wondering… yes. Classes resume today. There are no scheduled breaks between now and May. We have a long road in front of us. However, I may be adding unscheduled breaks. My family and I are considering a...
by Dwane | Jan 9, 2017 | Motivation
by Dwane | Jan 7, 2017 | Motivation, Tip of the Week
Like you, I subscribe to several “tips of the week.” This morning I received one from Bill Meyers. I was already working on my own “tip of the week” when his showed up. It’s good. I am going to postpone mine and share his. You really...
by Dwane | Jan 6, 2017 | Motivation
This note made me happy: Let me start by telling you how happy I am to have found your website!! You have totally revolutionized the way we study Latin in my home. 🙂 This will be my 4thyear being a Challenge director for Classical Conversations, therefore 4 years of...
by Dwane | Jan 6, 2017 | Education, Latin
I received this question: I am planning out our 2017-18 school year. We have been involved in Classical Conversations for seven years now. Due to some changes in our family, we will be taking the year off from CC. I am looking into online Latin classes for our son and...
by Dwane | Jan 6, 2017 | Education, Italian, Latin
As many of you know, I’m studying Italian. This year, I hope to blog my way through the language. I am going to attempt to post something about Italian, or about my trip through Italian, every day. For starters, let me explain why I am starting Italian even...
by Dwane | Jan 5, 2017 | Vocabulary
I received this question: I have a few of questions about Beyond Word Up: Is it in the same format as Word Up? How many lessons are there? Since it’s not a live class, do you have to sign up for a year or just a couple months? Here is my reply: No....
by Dwane | Dec 31, 2016 | Tip of the Week
Many people make fun of New Year’s resolutions. Not me. I’m a fan. Of course, I don’t always refer to them as resolutions. I call them goals. Today is the last day of the year. On December 31st of every year, I print my resolutions/goals for the...
by Dwane | Dec 31, 2016 | Motivation, The Future
I majored in History in college. I never heard any of this. Did you hear any of this when you were in college? I doubt it. https://youtu.be/-ilFbbk9jw4 Author Douglas Wilson comments on this same subject in a post from 2011 entitled, Seven Memes for Keeping...
by Dwane | Dec 30, 2016 | Motivation
One of my favorite living authors is Bob Bly. His writing is full of practical, no-nonsense advice. I usually leave his articles with an idea I can use right away. Today, this showed up in my inbox. I found this inspiring. Perhaps you will as well....
by Dwane | Dec 29, 2016 | Italian, Latin, Uncategorized
I received this question: So what do you recommend after we have completed Latin 2?? Here is my reply: Ah. What a question. This rant may help: https://dwanethomas.com/world-world-winning/ And, this page may help: https://dwanethomas.com/?s=after+Visual+Latin There...
