Writing, Poetry, and Latin Classes

 
 Please scroll down the page to enroll securely online.

We are offering the following online writing, poetry, and Latin courses for the 2009/10 academic year:

• Writing Workshop  Fridays at 8:00 Pacific Time.  First class is September 4.

• Poetry: Education by the Muses  Mondays beginning at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 14.

• Latin I: Introduction to Latin  Tuesdays beginning at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 1.

• Latin II: Further on the Latin Road  Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time.  First class is September 3.

The course descriptions are below. 

Please note that class sizes are limited to 14 students.  The exception is Poetry, which is limited to 20.

Writing Workshop   Click here to enter

Students begin crafting complete sentences – clear, concise and interesting – as the first exercise in becoming familiar with the natural movement of a beginning, a middle and an end, thought-to-written expression lessons. This concept is expressed in concrete details and with attention to correct grammar and usage so that the next step, the paragraph, appears also with a beginning, middle and end. It is the natural extension of the sentence. When the students begin to master the paragraph, they are set to write full essays for any subject in the curriculum.

Conversation about style and le mot juste (choosing the best word), and the “musical notation” of punctuation, will be a significant part of the writing experience. This class will inspire and enrich both academic and personal writing.

Open from age 13 on up.

Specifics for Writing Workshop:

• There will be 28 hours of class time each semester. Each class will be 2 hours long and will take place in one of our online classrooms.  There will be 14 weeks of classes.
   
• The classes will be on Fridays beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 4.
   
• Tuition is $395 per semester.  If you register for both semesters you will receive a 10% tuition discount.  Tuition will be $711 rather than $790.
   
• Family discounts are available for those who would like to enroll two or more students. The discount is 10% for all students after the first one.
   
• To take advantage of these family discounts you may enroll by mail sending the appropriate payment.  You can also enroll with us by phone at 800-331-6071.  Or you may simply enroll your students here online and send us an email at info@greatbooksdiscussions.org requesting your family discount.  We'll promptly mail a check to you in the amount of the discount.
   
• The course will continue with a second semester of 14 two hour classes to begin in January.
   
• Class size limited to 14 students.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Writing course feel free to write to Dr. Taylor at jamesstaylor22@gmail.com .

Please scroll down the page to enroll securely online.


Poetry: Education by the Muses

What is this class?  Here's Dr. Taylor to tell you:

Why don't poets say what they mean? I answer, they do, we just need to listen closely and learn to read poetry in the spirit of the Muse.

Do you hate poetry? I would too if I had been taught by teachers who cut, chop and dissect the poor defenseless poem until it dies a brutal death. And too often such a manner of "teaching poetry" kills something in our souls, as well. Millions of students graduate from high school, and from college too, having a keen distaste for poetry and the poetic way of seeing life. It was never thus in the past -- and the remedy is here and now, following the natural way of reading poetry before the academics and specialists got hold of it and ruined one of the greatest experiences of a good education.

I say let the poem be your teacher and let me be your guide.  We will read and talk about selections from the huge treasury of British and U.S. poetry.

Open from age 13 on up.

Specifics for Poetry: Education by the Muses

• There will be 28 hours of class time each semester. Each class will be 2 hours long and will take place in one of our online classrooms.  There will be 14 weeks of classes.
   
• The classes will be on Mondays beginning at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 14.
   
• Tuition is $395 per semester.  If you register for both semesters you will receive a 10% tuition discount.  Tuition will be $711 rather than $790.
   
• Family discounts are available for those who would like to enroll two or more students. The discount is 10% for all students after the first one.
   
• To take advantage of these family discounts you may enroll by mail sending the appropriate payment.  You can also enroll with us by phone at 800-331-6071.  Or you may simply enroll your students here online and send us an email at info@greatbooksdiscussions.org requesting your family discount.  We'll promptly mail a check to you in the amount of the discount.
   
• The courses will continue with a second semester of 14 two hour classes to begin in January.
   

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Poetry course feel free to write to Dr. Taylor at jamesstaylor22@gmail.com . 

Please scroll down the page to enroll securely online.

 

Latin I: Introduction to Latin   Click here to enter

The instructor will be Mrs. Anne Van Fossen.  She has a master’s degree in Classics and has 8 years of experience teaching classical languages.

The course will use the Oxford Latin Course [OLC] – a series  commonly used in both high schools and colleges in  the United States.  For Latin I we will be using Part One of the OLC.  Half of the book will be covered each semester.  The OLC offers a good mixture of both inductive and deductive learning.  It includes a clear and systematic presentation of grammar with the regular use of extended readings so students can begin to absorb the patterns of a new language. The narrative passages detail the life of the Roman poet Horace and help students to develop an understanding of a critical point in the history of Rome – the transition from the Republic to the Empire during the times of Cicero and Augustus.   

The text will be supplemented with chants, games, online activities and drills. Online class time is spent in reading Latin aloud, translating with the help of the teacher and the class, and going over homework as a group. Intriguing word histories (etymology) are discovered along the way.

Students will have the option of taking the National Latin Exam in the Spring semester.

Course  Requirements:
Students should expect  to work 30-45 minutes a day to complete homework assignments.
  
Latin I is open to students with little or no previous Latin.
Open to grades 7 to adult or with permission of instructor.

Specifics for Introduction to Latin:

• There will be 28 hours of class time each semester. Each class will be 2 hours long and will take place in one of our online classrooms.  There will be 14 weeks of classes.
   
• The classes will be on Tuesdays beginning at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 1.
   
• Tuition is $395 per semester.  If you register for both semesters you will receive a 10% tuition discount.  Tuition will be $711 rather than $790.
   
• Family discounts are available for those who would like to enroll two or more students. The discount is 10% for all students after the first one.
   
• To take advantage of these family discounts you may enroll by mail sending the appropriate payment.  You can also enroll with us by phone at 800-331-6071.  Or you may simply enroll your students here online and send us an email at info@greatbooksdiscussions.org requesting your family discount.  We'll promptly mail a check to you in the amount of the discount.
   
• The course will continue with a second semester of 14 two hour classes to begin in January.
   
• Oxford Latin Course Part One will be the student text.  The Oxford book may be purchased from our bookstore here.
   
• Class size limited to 14 students.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Latin course feel free to write to Mrs. Van Fossen at annevan@west.net .

Please scroll down the page to enroll securely online.

 

Latin II: Further on the Latin Road   Click here to enter

The instructor will be Mrs. Anne Van Fossen.  She has a  master’s degree in Classics and has 8 years of experience teaching  classical  languages.

The course will use the Oxford Latin Course [OLC] – a series  commonly used in both high schools and colleges in  the United States.  For Latin II we will be using Part Two of the OLC.  Half of the book will be covered each semester.  The OLC offers a good mixture of both inductive and deductive learning.  It includes a clear and systematic presentation of grammar with the regular use of extended readings so students can begin to absorb the patterns of a new language. The narrative passages detail the life of the Roman poet Horace and help students to develop an understanding of a critical point in the history of Rome – the transition from the Republic to the Empire during the times of Cicero and Augustus.   

The text will be supplemented with chants, games, online activities and drills. Online class time is spent in reading Latin aloud, translating with the help of the teacher and the class, and going over homework as a group. Intriguing word histories (etymology) are discovered along the way.

Students will have the option of taking the National Latin Exam in the Spring semester.

Course Requirements:
Students should expect  to work 30-45 minutes a day to complete homework assignments.
  
Latin II is open to students with previous Latin experience.  Open to grades 7 to adult or with permission of instructor.

Specifics for Latin II: Further on the Latin Road

• There will be 28 hours of class time each semester. Each class will be 2 hours long and will take place in one of our online classrooms.  There will be 14 weeks of classes.
   
• The classes will be on Thursdays beginning at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The first class is September 1.
   
• Tuition is $395 per semester.  If you register for both semesters you will receive a 10% tuition discount.  Tuition will be $711 rather than $790.
   
• Family discounts are available for those who would like to enroll two or more students. The discount is 10% for all students after the first one.
   
• To take advantage of these family discounts you may enroll by mail sending the appropriate payment.  You can also enroll with us by phone at 800-331-6071.  Or you may simply enroll your students here online and send us an email at info@greatbooksdiscussions.org requesting your family discount.  We'll promptly mail a check to you in the amount of the discount.
   
• The course will continue with a second semester of 14 two hour classes to begin in January.
   
• Oxford Latin Course Part Two will be the student text.  The Oxford book may be purchased from our bookstore here.
   
• Class size limited to 14 students.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Latin course feel free to write to ____Van Fossen at annevan@west.net .

 

Enrollment is Easy

Step 1 - Provide Information
Enrollment Information Form - Language/Poetry Classes

Step 2 - Make Payment
Tuition may be paid securely with a credit card online below or by phone at 800-331-6071. You may also send a check to:

Great Books Discussions
P.O. Box 756
Morton, Washington 98356

Before making your tuition payment please visit our Policies page.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call us at 1- 800-331-6071.  We are happy to speak with you.

All you need is your credit card.  PayPal processes our online tuition payments but there is no need to have a PayPal account.   
 

Writing Workshop - First semester, $395

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Writing Workshop - Both semesters, $711

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Poetry: Education by the Muses - First semester, $395

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Poetry: Education by the Muses - Both semesters, $711

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Latin I: Introduction to Latin - First semester, $395

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Latin I: Introduction to Latin - Both semesters, $711

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Latin II: - First semester, $395

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Latin II: - Both semesters, $711