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errare humanum est (to 'err' is human)

salve Reader! I recently shared a year-in-review carousel on Instagram, celebrating everything "2025–2006" has brought. This was not intended to be 2006 to 2025, but rather 2025 to 2026! Another time, I should write about what I did from 2006 onward, which truly was another life, but my recent post was meant for just 12 months, even though some people were impressed that I had done so much in 19 years! (offending post at the bottom) Typos aside, it has been an amazing year, and I think...

salve Reader! As a tutor, I take every opportunity to get back in the hot seat, and this week it came in the form of an invitation to participate in Nightschool with Geoff Lloyd, live on Virgin Radio. Let me tell you: it was not perfect, but it was SUCH a laugh. And that, to be honest, is the way forward in a world increasingly dominated by perfectly curated bland AI content. Click to listen to the show Are you camp Caecilius or camp Sabina? Ana Martin Founder & Tutor...

salve Reader! I thought I would send you a quick email to share that, following the most positive feedback on my A-Level Mastery Hub, I have decided to launch a companion programme featuring weekly live lessons. What does it mean for working with me at A-Level? Now there are 3 different ways to get my support: Joining the A-Level Mastery Hub, for weekly challenges, great resources and a monthly masterclass Joining the A-Level Mastery Academy, for everything in the mastery hub, plus weekly...

salve Reader! I hope this seething time of year is allowing you some fresh air and mental rest. I am not going to wallow in the drama of the season, but I would like to acknowledge a moment that can be equal parts heartbreaking and uplifting: saying goodbye to a set text. Yes, saying goodbye to a set text can be very hard (and yes, even if it is Cicero!). This week, I am teaching the 2026 Tacitus and Herodotus for the last time, and I am putting away resources in their files, making space for...

Ana Martin at her desk

salve Reader! I have recently noticed some people adding spelling mistakes in an attempt to make their AI writing look human. If it is you, I am sorry to say this, but it does stick out like a sore thumb! In the same vein, I have heard from students asking AI to make their AI crafted essays look more natural by imitating what a younger learner might produce. (OK, a confession: I love my dashes and I have dramatically reduced their use to ward off any AI suspicions, so we are all perhaps...

salve Reader! Some people believe that because AI can translate and write texts for us, the future of translation studies is a bit bleak. The opposite is true. Let me show you what I mean with an example: Right now, I am at the airport waiting to take a flight to Spain. I have been invited to the launch of a new publishing house. They specialise in beautiful literary translations from Mandarin to Catalan, in physical format. Now, before you ask what the link is between the launch and...

salve Reader! Who does not love spring? I guess whoever decided it was a good idea to place all final exams at this point in the year. The bees are buzzing, the plants are flowering, but our teenagers are going through knowledge organisers and sitting indoors revising for high-stakes exams. I do not have much time for a newsletter this week, but you can see below what I have been up to this month. However, I thought it would be a good idea to send a little reminder that breaks, walks, treats...

salve Reader, Did you know that my homeland's patron saint, Sant Jordi, is shared with England? I quite like the idea, although that does not stop me from missing the Catalan celebrations on the 23rd of April. You can read more about it in my book about the legend, but suffice it to say that we celebrate it by filling the streets with books and authors, and gifting each other roses. It is the perfect language lover's day! You may be wondering at this point what this has to do with Latin...

salve Reader! [For those wondering where my holiday photos are, just scroll to the bottom, where I have shared some. For everyone else:] A student has asked me today why Latin does not have an oral exam. Too right! Just what I had been thinking about in the last couple of days. It is not that I do not know why Latin does not have an oral exam... but if you are not weighed down by the burden of "traditionalists", it does not really make much sense, which is why younger students often ask. The...

salve Reader! I cannot wait to tell you all about my trip to Spain and the new ideas I have brought back with me, so please stay tuned, as that is coming very soon. In the meantime, I have been having conversations this week with parents who are unsure how to support their children in tackling their revision load effectively. I thought my revision roadmap would be helpful, so I have decided to share it with you all. This is the GCSE version (the A-Level one has more layers and requires...