Category Archives: Teaching

Better Than Science

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Kathy

In my Latin class today, I shared a reading about Proserpina and Ceres (Persephone and Demeter, in Greek). I find it necessary to debunk all that the scientific mumbo-jumbo about the seasons, relating to planets and stars and orbits. Forget, … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

A Collection of Choosers

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Kathy

I discussed the electoral college with my Latin students today, apropos of the Presidential election, of course, and described its Roman historical and etymological roots. As a break from our essential but enervating grammar explanations, such a lesson passes as … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Frustules, not Frustrating

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Kathy

My friend Jerry, a scientist who studies Lake Erie algae, visited the GED class where I tutor to talk about his work. I learned a lot about his research, and I also learned some new words, which I’ve had fun … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching | 2 Comments

Moby and Me

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Kathy

Howard Vincent, author of two books about Herman Melville, The Trying-Out of Moby-Dick (1949) and The Tailoring of Melville’s White Jacket (1970), was my favorite professor at Kent State University. He had, in my memory, an elfin appearance: white of hair, bushy of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Tootle Your Horn with Vigor

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Kathy

Many people will recognize “tootle your horn” as a weirdly wonderful translation, from Japanese to English, of an admonition to drivers. When one translates from one language to another, normal usage sometimes falls by the wayside, and screwy translations result. (Find more funny examples here.) In … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching | Leave a comment

Ad Astra Per Errores Multos

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Kathy

Caleb’s Crossing by Gwendolyn Brooks, a recent selection of my book group, concerns young Puritans in early America, growing up and getting educated. The Latin they were studying contained a number of errors, showing exceeding carelessness, I thought, on the part … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Teaching | 5 Comments

Measuring Education

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Kathy

I tutor once a week in a GED program in the Kinsman neighborhood of Cleveland, where my church used to be. I’ve been touched, the last two weeks, by my interactions with students. Touched, infuriated, sobered, and enlightened. Last week, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Teaching | 3 Comments

Finally

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Kathy

School’s out. A big perk of college teaching is the early end of the school year. We’ve had beautiful weather this week, and I’ve already planted tomatoes and flowers. I had a good school year with lots of wonderful students … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching | 1 Comment

Venting

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Kathy

To vent means to express a strong emotion. I am about to vent in the hopes of ending my perseverating. To perseverate, a psychological term, means to repeat a response after the cessation of the stimulus. In my case, right … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching | 5 Comments

That Soft Bastard Latin

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Kathy

A friend recently asked me, as people often do, why my students have signed up for Latin. (Her tone indicated this was a nutty choice in 2011.) I offered all the usual reasons. Some are interested in law or medicine and … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments