Here are the links to our discussions on Plato's Republic! https://youtu.be/k4BUxFQmlMk https://youtu.be/lZXHd0uzh94 https://youtu.be/4r_p-jzhFEo https://youtu.be/WGPblTRP0qI

Hey All! Quick reminder that we're going live on Augustine's Confessions!

Great class yesterday Sean. There’s so much in Augustine. It gave me insight into my students and myself through the years. Thank you. I’m glad our class is making you enjoy it even more. You’re a good guide. Mark

For those looking to undertake studying Latin (or just as a refresher), here are some good resources for starting points: Ecce Romani, Volumes 1-3. These are the volumes I was taught with in high school, although they can be very jejune. Personally, volume 1 and a breeze through of volume 2 should be a sufficient enough grasp on the basic concepts of the language. I don’t think this is the best, but they are easy to follow. Cambridge Latin Course, Volumes 1-5. I’m not very familiar with these texts, but they’re widely considered the top entry point for Latin learning students. Content-wise, they’re similar to Ecce Romani. For dictionaries, I’d recommend The New College Latin and English dictionary by John C. Traupman. This dictionary includes mythological names, geographical landmarks, and historical figures and events. Latin writers used a fair amount of Greek in their works as well, so this dictionary reflects certain words that tend to be written in Greek or spelled alternatively. Additionally, this dictionary contains pronunciations, Late Latin/Neo-Latin terms and forms for modern usage/alternative translations, and a distinction between Latin words that have similar meanings and opposing meanings. For example, argitus is a word that may mean bright or smart when referring to a person, rustling leaves, chirping birds, or a pungent smell. The definition is entirely dependent on the syntax around the word, which happens often in Latin. Having a dictionary to account for this is a great resource. I’d advise to stay away from Wiktionary as the online definitions of Latin words are very imprecise and often combat the context of specific Latin text. Once the basics are covered and you have a good grasp of the fundamentals (gender, number, case, voice, mood, etc.), the rereading of your stories in the beginner volumes of your choosing are very helpful to practice identifying words and phrases. It’s nearly impossible to read a Latin sentence correctly without a dictionary because of the sentence structure, so there’s no harm in having a dictionary readily available. There are also tons of Latin vocabulary quizzes online, which give you an opportunity to test yourself on definitions and endings from the root. I’ve found fill in the blank quizzes to be most beneficial.

Sean, Thank you for guiding us through the Republic. I am blown away on how real and relevant this book is. Your facilitation of our group and learning is excellent. Mark