by Dwane | May 19, 2015 | Education, Latin
I received this question: Ok, I know we haven’t actually finished this academic year yet, but I’m beginning to plan for next year now. I’d love for my daughter to take Latin 2 with you online, but we’ve got a time conflict with the Wed 4-4:55...
by Dwane | May 18, 2015 | Education, Motivation
For me, the school year ends on Monday. Well, it almost ends. I will still teach online for several more weeks. I have been in the classroom for nearly 20 years. During those years, I have discovered one of the best ways to learn another language. Skip class....
by Dwane | May 16, 2015 | Tip of the Week
For me, the school year ends on Monday. Well, it almost ends. I will still teach online for several more weeks. I have been in the classroom for nearly 20 years. During those years, I have discovered one of the best ways to learn another language. Skip class....
by Dwane | May 16, 2015 | Education, Greek, Italian, Latin, Vocabulary
Cognoscente: Someone possessing superior knowledge in a particular field, usually the arts; a connoisseur, an aficionado, a discerning expert. I get the feeling a “cognoscente” is likely a member of the Illuminati of the art world. Or, based on modern art purchases,...
by Dwane | May 15, 2015 | English, Latin, Vocabulary
Reconnoiter: to view; to survey; to inspect. Particularly in military affairs, to reconnoiter is to examine the state of an enemy’s army or camp. To survey the bad guys for military purposes. Reconnoiter comes from the French reconnaître, which comes from Latin...
by Dwane | May 14, 2015 | Education, Latin, Q&A
I received this inquiry: “Which of the two “Latin 1″ courses you teach would you recommend for a high school credit for a young man? Henle Latin or Lingua Latina.” Here is my reply: The short answer: Lingua Latina. The long answer: Two of my...
by Dwane | May 14, 2015 | English, Greek, Latin
Connoisseur: A person well versed in any subject; a skillful or knowing person; a critical judge or master of any art, particularly of painting and sculpture. From French connaisseur. The French word derives from the verb connoître (acquainted, to know). Father of...
by Dwane | May 13, 2015 | Education, Greek
One of my favorite students emailed me today just before class. Read it before you join the Greek class. Greek will eat your lunch. If ten of you sign up, three of you will make it to the end. I am not kidding. If you think Latin is tough…. You have been...
by Dwane | May 13, 2015 | English, Greek, Latin, Vocabulary
Cognizance: having knowledge of something. When you possess cognizance, you possess knowledge. As G. I. Joe says, “Cognizance is half the battle.” Or, something like that. Cognizance can also mean perception, awareness, the ability to notice things. Cognizance...
by Dwane | May 12, 2015 | Errata, Latin, Visual Latin
I received this comment: “We are on the test for lesson 30 and beginning in question 16 some of the sentences on the test and the sentences in the answer key don’t match. Number 16 on the test says: Illa lux clarrisima est and the answer key says: Illa...
by Dwane | May 12, 2015 | Latin, Motivation
I received this inquiry: “I know the Henle Latin class is going to carry over into the summer or Fall, which also leads me to the question: when do you plan to have the class which finishes the Henle Latin 1 book? How many weeks/classes will it be?” Here...
by Dwane | May 11, 2015 | Tip of the Week
Every now and then, some university, or some newspaper will remind us of our greatest fears. I am always thankful for such articles. After all, if I am having an excellent day, what I really need is for some staff writer at a newspaper to remind me that spiders...
by Dwane | May 11, 2015 | Education, English, Greek, Latin, Vocabulary
I’ve been silent for a few days. Have not posted the word of the day. There is a reason. It’s a good one. I’ve been hiding out. I was nervous. My anatidaephobia had flared up again. Anatidaephobia derives from the Latin word for duck, anas and the...
by Dwane | May 7, 2015 | Education, English, Latin
My First Year Henle students and I are finishing up a year-long online course. It’s been a slog. This just is not the most exciting Latin book. We were never really able to complete the English to Latin exercises. This summer, in preparation for next year, I...
by Dwane | May 6, 2015 | Education, Latin, Visual Latin
I received this inquiry: If we took VL 1 this year (30 lessons), can my student take the online Latin II or should we take online Latin I ? Just wondering because the chapters covered in LL Online I are fewer than those covered in in VL I. Hi! It all depends on the...
by Dwane | May 6, 2015 | Education, Greek, Latin, Motivation
Every year, about this time, I get tired. Weary. Blown. I’m going to be honest. I am no big fan of the educational system we have here in America. Sir Walter Scott once said, “All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their...
by Dwane | May 6, 2015 | Education, English, Greek
Prognosis: In medicine, the art of foretelling a disease; knowing beforehand the cause of a disease. We can also use the word prognosis to forecast. When it comes to the weather, for example, it is difficult to make an accurate prognosis. Prognosis is “pre-knowledge.”...
by Dwane | May 6, 2015 | Education, English, Latin
Acquaint: to make known; to make familiar Isaiah, prophesying the coming Christ, called him a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Acquaint comes from the Latin preposition ad (to, toward) and the verb cognosco (I know).
by Dwane | May 5, 2015 | Education, Latin
Learn to diagram participle and gerunds while translating from English to Latin! Oh, yeah. That is pretty exciting. For those of you slogging through Robert Henle’s First Year Latin, this video may...
by Dwane | May 5, 2015 | Education, The Future
I keep coming back to a common theme. I grew up with a very negative worldview. The world was getting worse. Crime was on the rise. Wars were on the rise. Poverty, famine, communism, socialism and even totalitarianism was on the rise. George Orwell’s vision...
by Dwane | May 5, 2015 | Uncategorized
The ancient Greek word γιγνώσκω (gignosko) means I know. From this word, English derives all kinds of brainy words. Gnostic, agnostic, prognosis, and diagnosis derive from γιγνώσκω. To say, “I know,” the Romans would use the Latin word cognosco. From...
by Dwane | May 4, 2015 | Education, Latin
I received this question: Which of your fall classes would you recommend that our daughter take next? Is she ready yet for Foundations & Fables? Sorry, I am still confused—I think I need to back up and ask what Latin level she is completing when she is done...
by Dwane | May 4, 2015 | Tip of the Week
Every now and then, some university, or some newspaper will remind us of our greatest fears. I am always thankful for such articles. After all, if I am having an excellent day, what I really need is for some staff writer at a newspaper to remind me that spiders...
by Dwane | May 2, 2015 | Education, Latin
I received this inquiry (It is multifaceted, and quite long. You have been warned): Thanks for offering these online classes–it has been a great experience for our daughter (Henle I, Wed. @ 3pm CST)! She has loved learning Latin with you, and would like to...
by Dwane | May 2, 2015 | Q&A
I am spending more and more time on my computer. I have five kids. I have forgotten the names of two of them. Yep. It’s getting bad. Why it took me so long, I will never know, but, I re-structured the Frequently Asked Question page this morning. Basically, I...
