by Dwane | Feb 4, 2017 | Motivation
I love stories like this. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/04/508213332/105-year-old-cyclist-rides-14-miles-in-an-hour-en-route-to-a-world-record So what’s his secret? Marchand’s coach and friend Gerard Mistler told the AP it’s simple:...
by Dwane | Feb 4, 2017 | Tip of the Week, Travel, Van on the Run
I drive some beat up old cars. In fact, not long ago, one of my daughters quickly found my car in a crowded parking lot. I asked her how she did it. She replied, “It was easy, Dad. I just looked for the rough among the diamonds.” Heh. The odometer on...
by Dwane | Feb 3, 2017 | Education, Latin, Motivation
Every so often I receive emails from parents who are rather concerned. Usually, their sons (it’s almost always their sons) have no interest in Latin. For that matter, their sons usually have no interest in school at all. They email me. They ask me what they...
by Dwane | Feb 2, 2017 | Uncategorized
I am posting this link for myself, mostly. I would post it happily for everyone. But, naturally, modern scholars can’t seem to help themselves. They have included one section on Roman debauchery. This one section takes a rated G post and turns it into a...
by Dwane | Feb 2, 2017 | Education, Latin in Literature, Motivation
Every year, I used to take students through Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars. Before I say anything else, let me point something out… something that I point out all the time. The New Testament is under constant attack by scholars. It withstands all attacks....
by Dwane | Feb 1, 2017 | Motivation
by Dwane | Jan 31, 2017 | Education
I enjoy TED talks. I have watched many. But, this…? This just made me...
by Dwane | Jan 30, 2017 | Education, Latin, Online Classes
I have removed the grading option from my site. There is a chance I will open this option again in the future, but I am not sure. If you do not know what I am talking about, I will explain. On my site, I teach a series of Latin classes. Any family who subscribes to...
by Dwane | Jan 28, 2017 | Travel, Van on the Run
Many of you know that I was born and raised in Europe. My family moved back to the U.S. when I was 18. For years, I wanted to go back to Europe. By 19, or 20, I was planning my return. Last year, after a wait of 26 years, I returned. There are many, many reasons it...
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
