Salve, amici.

A great deal has happened since I started this blog. It is too bad I did not keep up with writing about my writing, but probably for the best. Now, dissertation all but behind me, I have returned to the study of Latin. There was a lot of translating in my dissertation, and I read and translate much better than I did two years ago, but I still have not conquered the task of being able to to JUST READ and JUST WRITE in Latin. This is my goal. To be truly comfortable. I have that in German and French, and I speak them well. I am pretty comfortable in texts with Italian and Spanish. In comparison to many people, my Latin is fine, but in comparison with comfort, I am just not where I want to be. So I am going back to the beginning, using Adler's text and the aid of Evan Milner's Latinum podcast. In addition, one technique I have learned as both student and teacher of languages is aimed at the invaluble skill of writing. It is imperative to move the learned language from the left side of the brain to the right, and WRITING in it is the key to doing this. After that, the possibility of becoming a fluent speaker is attainable. I think, in the end, this is what I desire for Latin. To have speaking fluency. Why? I just want it. I just do. So many of the texts I want to read and work with are in Latin, why not be able to "converse" with the author and with other people who like such texts? While the days of my being able to go off to Latin groups or weekends is in the future because of my life and means, now is the time to begin to prepare. And whether or not I find a local Latin circle to connect with, beginning to write is Imperative. So for a while, this blog will be the recipient of my Latin, such as it is. Just like I did for German and French and Italian and Spanish, both as student and teacher, I assign myself a daily journal requirement. It will no doubt be ridiculous at first, but hopefully after a few weeks will get better.