salve Reader! First things first: results are coming. I will be available for consultation all day on the 14th and 21st, and will be offering advice and support around those dates if needed, as well as celebrating before we all have a well-deserved rest in preparation for the new school year. But before I disconnect for my holiday (yes, even Latin teachers must rest, even if said rest includes archaeological sites!), I wanted to share with you some exciting news: I have been invited to be...
13 days ago • 1 min read
July Newsletter salve Reader, As I went on to write this newsletter, I realised there has been quite a gap since the last one. Oooops! Or, as the Romans would say: eheu! No excuse, but it has been far from quiet here: dedicated students kept me on my feet, and the work we have done together will shape my offerings for the summer and beyond. And you may have noticed a change in colours... and even the logo! But that's not all. My new website will be better and more organised for sharing...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
salve! I am often asked questions like "Why is Latin still being taught?" or "What is Latin for?" This is no wonder. In the past, plenty of people were taught Latin as if it were a game of Sudoku: here is a puzzle, here are some rules and off you go: figure it out. Indeed, why would one want to engage in that?! Languages are tools for communication, and people communicate through conversation and storytelling. Although some may love the challenge of solving puzzles, solving puzzles is often...
4 months ago • 1 min read
The last couple of weeks have been very busy getting everyone set up for revision, but I wanted to make sure I share my thoughts about how to succeed at this hectic time. Revision is not something you just sit down and start doing: revision takes planning, commitment and a whole lot of paper!!! Here is why: Without a plan, stress and exhaustion will quickly kick in. Without commitment, it is impossible to reach your goals. If you rely on quizzes and highlighters, the knowledge is going to...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Exploring new tech with Joanne Kaminski at Bett Last week, I attended the Bett festival of technology in education, and I was astounded by the new immersive technologies — I will leave my thoughts on AI for another week, but watch this space! This got me thinking about connecting with Latin and the world of the Romans in our modern lives: it is easier than ever, and you do not even need sophisticated technology to get immersed. But how do you motivate a teenager to practise some Latin and...
7 months ago • 1 min read
"felicem nativitatem et annum novum faustum felicem tibi exopto!" ("I wish you a happy Christmas and a happy prosperous new year!") Christmas greetings from Torre del Breny I will keep this email short, as today is the first day of Christmas celebrations in Catalonia, where I am visiting family and friends: I just wanted to send a quick email to let you know how much your support means to me: working from an office on my own could be a lonely job, but having dedicated and happy students, and...
8 months ago • 1 min read
(in this email: movie recommendations, course information and a pooing log!) I recently went to see Conclave, and let me tell you: this is a must-watch for Latin students! The movie is a 12Aa, which suits both GCSE and A-Level students. So, why should Latin students watch it? Watch the trailer, and then we can talk: The trailer does indeed do justice to this trepidant thriller: I was on edge for the whole two hours (which felt like 30 minutes anyway). And this is despite having read the book...
8 months ago • 2 min read
I have been sitting on this email for a while, and I really hope I have hit the sweet spot between Black Friday and the Christmas rush to make sure you open it! First of all, my apologies if I have been a bit slow getting back to emails recently. Between mock exams, Oxbridge interview support, career advice and (breath!) end-of-term preparations, this is a hectic time of the year. But it is also time to get ready for 2025, so here is some important information: Latin and Greek events:...
9 months ago • 2 min read
Exams are there to focus attention and showcase achievement, but it is necessary to mix exams up with lower stakes, fun projects. This is particularly important for students who want to apply to competitive universities and want to look at creative and appealing ways to stretch their skills. In this newsletter, I want to share with you a couple of currently open competitions. There are so many options that every student, both those in school or in a different setting, should be able to find...
10 months ago • 3 min read