Happy Saturday, Everyone!

These days, I am pushing myself to master Spanish.  As much as I love this language, mastery has eluded me.

I am doing everything I can think of to change this.  This week, I made a strange discovery.  In order to further develop my abilities in Spanish, I reset the stations in my car to Spanish radio.

And… it cheered me up.  I discovered that it is actually difficult to listen to Spanish music and remain grumpy.

So, there you have it.  If you are feeling low, listen to Spanish radio.

Okay, if that’s not your thing, cool.

Then, here’s a bonus tip.

During the lockdowns, Go deep on one thing.

If you find yourself with extra time, don’t use it to binge on Netflix.  Use this time to go deep on one thing.  That’s what I am doing right now.   I am trying to go deep on Spanish.  At the end of the lockdowns, I’d like to be able to say that I can read and understand Spanish on an entirely new level.

What I’m reading these days.
Speaking of going deep into Spanish, I am reading a lot these days.  Really, I am looking for the perfect Spanish textbook to use.  Haven’t found it yet.  Yesterday, though, I did finish reading an Easy Spanish Reader by William T. Tardy.  I really enjoyed it and found it very helpful.  Like any good language reader, the book started out simple and worked its way toward complex Spanish.  I recommend it.  I am going to try to figure out how to use it in some future online classes.

For a different, refreshing approach to Spanish, you might enjoy Spanish Through Pictures, Book One and Book Two.  The approach reminds me of my favorite Latin book, Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg.  If you are tired of the tired old grammar method of learning Spanish, you may enjoy Spanish Through Pictures.

What I’m working on these days.
Compass Classroom and I just finished up Word up! Volumes 2 & 3 about a month ago.  If you are into etymology (the history of words), and if you want to watch me make a fool of myself… just click here: Word up!

Now, as you can probably tell, I am off to work on Spanish.  I will be working intensely on that language for the next 10 months, or so, as Compass Classroom and I have agreed to work on something for Spanish that looks like Visual Latin.  Don’t get too excited, though.  At this point, it’s in the works.  Nothing is final yet.

There is something else I am working on, and I’d like your feedback.  Back in 2011, I started teaching online.  In 2014, I left the physical classroom and went completely online.  One of the most common questions I get is, “How did you do it?  How did you make the transition from the classroom to teaching online?”  Now, with COVID and with all of the uncertainty, this question comes up even more.   So, I am considering writing a “how to escape the classroom and go online” book, or course, or both.  To be blunt… would you be interested in that?

A quick correction
Last week, I recommended a facemask, when I meant to recommend an eye mask.  Actually, I recommended the eye mask, and just called it a facemask.  I guess I have facemask on my mind lately.  Anyway, if you have no idea what I am talking about, here is the eye mask: https://amzn.to/3grJu8c.  That’s one a reader recommended.  Here is the one my wife loves: https://amzn.to/3k4IXLB.

And, finally… something new I am trying.  
Whenever I send this weekly email out, I get a lot of emails back.  It’s actually fun to hear from you guys, and I do try to respond to everyone.  But, honestly, it’s getting to be too much for me.  And, as the school year ramps up, I am predicting complete overwhelm.  For me.  Not you guys.

So, instead of responding via email, let’s try this.  Could you respond via the comment section?  Just go here:

If you aren’t a member of my site, I am afraid you will be discluded from the discussion.  In that case, feel free to email me.

As usual…
the same thing I say every week…  Subscribers sometimes use my weekly emails as reminders to unsubscribe from my site.

I get it.  I should unsubscribe from quite a few websites myself.

But, keep in mind… I offer something no one else in academia (as far as I know) offers.  Stick with me for 3 uninterrupted years and you will have a lifetime subscription.

I know this is a pretty dumb business decision on my part, but I have heard from many of you that it is a huge help, so, for now, the offer stands.

Of course, if you are just starting out in Latin, you may be happier with Visual Latin.   Visual Latin is a full-blown Latin course.  It is rigorous, just not as rigorous as the classes on my site.  The classes on my site are more “next level” classes, really.

If you are into etymology (the history of words), and if you would like to see me make a fool of myself, you might enjoy Word Up.   Five years ago, or so, we launched this series just to see if it would work.  It did.  And, after years of listening to many of you beg for more, I finally gave in and agreed to make a fool of myself once more.  So now, Volumes 2 and 3 of Word Up are available.

As for live classes on my site, here is the schedule of classes I am currently considering: https://dwanethomas.com/upcoming-orientation-classes/?et_fb=1&PageSpeed=off.  You are welcome to join any of them or all of them.  There are also many other classes available on my site that you can watch anytime.  No reason to wait around for a live class!

For those of you new to my site, or new to online learning, or for those who just have questions about Latin (or, other languages) I am now offering free, weekly Q&A classes.  Times are subject to change, but for the moment, they are on Wednesdays.  Here is the link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2582112207172305936

Not sure which books to buy for class?  I’ve organized them for you here: https://dwanethomas.com/recommendations/.  You will also find my recommendations for the Latin Vulgate on the same page.

And… if you aren’t a member of my site and would like to join, click here: https://dwanethomas.com/join/.

I hope you had a very happy Saturday!
Dwane

P.S.
If someone forwarded you this email and you would like to hear from me every week, just go to this page: https://dwanethomas.com/
Scroll down a bit until you see my book, Via.  Enter your name and email and you will hear from me weekly.  You will also get a free copy of my book, Via!

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If you are learning Latin, I have written a book with all of my best tips and strategies.  It’s available as a free download here: https://dwanethomas.com/downloads/via-latin-lost/

If you are interested in learning Latin, you can go through the classes on my site 24/7.  I recommend the book Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg.  If you tackle the book and find yourself bogged down, you may find the classes on my site helpful.  To join, just click here: https://dwanethomas.com/join/

If you want a more professionally filmed experience, check out the best-selling DVD series: Visual Latin.

Or, if you want to skip Latin, and just jump right into learning English words from Latin and Greek roots, you may enjoy the series Word up!  Warning.   Word up! is a bit wacky.  You will learn a lot… but, you may find yourself rolling your eyes, too.