Understanding Latin from the Inside Out

Much of Latin seems counter-intuitive to English-speaking students. Seemingly arbitrary and very difficult features of the language like cases, word order, and the incredible number of verb forms not only make the language difficult to learn, they also take a major toll on student motivation.

This course will tackle those issues by considering the weird aspects of Latin grammar from the standpoint of the fundamental goal of all language: communication. As we answer the many “why” questions about Latin that often go undiscussed in the regular course of study, students will discover a love of Latin and of language in general that will make them excited to continue in their study.

This course extends and develops the principles presented in the Latin Boot Camps.

(This course is supplemental to a normal course of Latin study; it does not replace it.)

  • The Speak Like a Roman course was incredibly fun and informative. It was super exciting to apply the concepts that I had learned in other Latin courses to speaking in Latin. Dr. Junius made speaking in Latin not terrifying by helping us have discussions amongst ourselves. My favorite part was listening to him speak in Latin and trying to figure out what he was saying. He would describe and give hints about a Latin word in order to get us to understand it without having to hear an English definition. It was like sneaking a game of charades into a school day, except it was even better because it was in Latin.

  • Mr. Junius is a treasure trove of Latin knowledge. He loves the subject and knows it intimately. He oozes that love and his students will pick it up. His class was fast-paced, engaging, and a ton of fun for my son!

  • Mr. Junius has a contagious love and appreciation for Latin. He held my attention, was funny, and very knowledgeable.

  • With humor, intelligent discussion, and deep insights, Junius Johnson gives you more than an overview or introduction to Latin, he inspires you to keep learning hard things while giving you a vision and much fuller picture of Latin.

  • Junius has such a robust understanding of the language, and his passion is contagious. His approach invites parents, educators, and students to re-imagine how they think about Latin, moving from merely transactional to experiential. He’s also not afraid to address many of the “why” questions that all too often go unanswered. Highly recommend!

  • Simply put, Junius Johnson is the best Latin teacher I have ever experienced in my many years of supervising education. He is a true scholar of the Latin language from the classical period to the neo-Latin present; he has success teaching every age and skill level. Junius is compassionate with those who are less gifted than he, but still manages to stretch his students in a friendly and inviting manner. I wholeheartedly recommend him to you as your teacher. Trust me, the encounter will be memorable.