[Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers] eLitterae No. 69, Nov. 2009

Welcome Letter
News
Links for Classicists
Specials
Pompeiiana Comic

LeaAnn A. Osburn, Executive Editor
Andrew Reinhard, Managing Editor
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
www.BOLCHAZY.com
eclassics.ning.com
Number 69, October 2009

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

In October, many professional organizations host a convention or meeting. Bolchazy-Carducci representatives have been at several conferences this month. Read on to find out about far-flung colleagues and the doings of the Texas Classical Association, the Classical Association of the Atlantic States, the Ohio Classical Association, the Illinois Classical Conference, and the Classical Association of the Empire State.

Did you know:

that the word iPodius is not just a made-up word for an iPod?
that there is a Latin app for the iPhone?
that a submission for the second annual Terence awards is due on or before May 10, 2010?
that Latin for the New Millennium workbooks are now in eBook format too?
that there are free, recorded lectures at iTunesU?

Find out about all of this and more in this issue of eLitterae. Read on and enjoy!

LeaAnn A. Osburn

(back to the top)


	iPodius, Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers’ downloads store, is now officially open for business. Like iTunes (but for Classics), customers can download entire albums of Latin and Greek music and recitation. One can also select individual MP3 tracks with which to build an audio curriculum as a complement to assigned readings of ancient authors. Obtain the unabridged reading of the Iliad in Homeric Greek by Stephen G. Daitz or download Catullus 64 as read by Robert P. Sonkowsky. Purchase the newly remastered Latin Music Through the Ages as an MP3 album. Create a combination of audio files that you can download onto any computer. Software can be downloaded at iPodius too. Cell phone and iPod flashcards for the vocabulary in Wheelock, AP Vergil, and Latin for the New Millennium, Levels 1 and 2 are available. iPodius users also can choose to purchase licenses for Looking at Latin Online and Review Latin Verbs. eBook versions of Latin for the New Millennium student workbooks will be made available soon, followed later in 2009 by the student textbooks. Other digital goodies will appear as they are created. In 2010, there will even be a space for teachers to sell their own material including (but not limited to) classically themed novels, classroom helps, and software programs. Visit iPodius today at ipodius.bolchazy.com. For those about to download, we salute you! (back to the top)
	On October 19th, Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers launched its first application on Apple's iTunes App Store. An app is a small computer program for use with Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. Bolchazy-Carducci's inaugural app, Latin Proverbs, contains 1,188 proverbs, aphorisms, mottoes, and more in Latin and in English from ancient authors, the Bible, and modern thinkers as well. A random proverb greets the user every time the app is launched on an iPhone or second generation iPod Touch. Users can then swipe the screen to read more. Users of Latin Proverbs can set their language preferences so that the proverbs appear in Latin with macra (long marks), English, Latin/English, or English/Latin. Users can also browse the database of proverbs by subject, by author, or by work. Over 90 authors and 125 texts appear in the app along with hundreds of keywords. Classical, Medieval, and Vulgate Latin are all used, following the scope of Latin from Classical giants like Cicero to the masterpiece of St. Jerome's Vulgate Bible. Later proverbs include those quotables both written and said by Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, Theodore Roosevelt, and more. Teachers are already using the app in class to generate a Latin phrase-of-the-day that can be put on the board for their students to translate and discuss as a warm-up exercise. The app is based on Latin Proverbs: Wit and Wisdom of the Ancients, originally published by Bolchazy-Carducci in 2003. Andrew Reinhard, Bolchazy's Director of eLearning and co-developer of Latin Proverbs, explained that for the first app, "I wanted to develop something for a general audience. Everyone can benefit from reading some of the greatest thoughts from some of the greatest thinkers in history. The fact that these are in Latin and in translation will appeal to teachers and students of the language as well as to those who love Classics and Classical civilization without knowing the language.” Future app development is likely and Reinhard is considering development of an app version of Artes Latinae, Latin flashcards and quizzes in support of Bolchazy-Carducci's textbooks, and a Latin game with contemporary graphics, sound, and gameplay. To learn more about this app, or to purchase it for your iPhone or iPod Touch, click this link to launch the iTunes App Store: http://tinyurl.com/yhonknc. The app retails for $1.99 and is available globally. (back to the top)
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers is pleased to announce the second annual Terence Awards. These cash awards and prizes will be given to those junior high, high school, and university students whose videos convey Classics in a way that is informative, entertaining, or both. Please read on for details: Prizes Cash prizes and free books will be awarded to the winning filmmaker or team in the following categories: 1 Best Picture, Junior Prize (junior high, high school, or homeschool student(s) ages 11–18 at the time the film was created) 1 Best Picture, Senior Prize (college or university students aged 18+ at the time the film was created) 1 Best Foreign Film Prize (all levels, students who are non-US citizens living outside of the United States and its Territories at the time the film was created) The Best Picture and Best Foreign Film prizes recognize excellence in student filmmaking which include exceptional creativity, superb writing, acting, and production of a movie with Classical themes including, but not limited to history, mythology, and/or culture. Movies may be set in any time period (past, present, future, or a combination thereof) and can be live-action, animated (including machinima), or a mix of live action and animation. The use of Latin and/or Greek is encouraged, but not required. Subtitles may be used. 1 Best Use of Latin in a Film Prize (all levels, Classical, Medieval, Vulgate, etc.) 1 Best Use of Greek in a Film Prize (all levels, Homeric, Classical, or Koine) The Best Use of Latin/Greek prizes celebrate excellence and creativity in the integration of Latin and/or Greek into a student-created film. To be eligible for these prizes, the films must contain Latin/Greek subtitles and/or Latin/Greek spoken dialogue or narration. A single film can win both a Best Picture prize and a Best Use of Latin/Greek prize. The Best Foreign Film prize-winner is also eligible to win Best Picture (Junior) or Best Picture (Senior). Winners will also have their videos featured on the eClassics homepage (eclassics.ning.com) for one month, and will be designated as a Terence Award-winner for all time. Special thanks to Excellence Through Classics (ETC) for a grant to fund cash prizes for the Best Picture winners (both Junior and Senior) and Best Foreign Film. Winners of Best Use of Latin/Greek will receive vouchers for free books from Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers. Winners will be announced at the American Classical League Summer Institute on June 27, 2010, and will be simultaneously posted on eClassics and on various Classics discussion lists. Winners will be paid either by check or EFT, or can have their winnings payable to their school's Latin Club, JCL, or NJCL chapter. Winners of the book vouchers will receive a special code for use with online purchases at www.bolchazy.com. How to Enter 1) If you (or all members of your film production team) were a junior high or high school student (grades 6–12) during the period of January 1, 2009–May 30, 2010, or if you were a homeschool student aged 11–18 during this same period, you are eligible for all prizes except Best Picture (Senior). If you (or all members of your film production team) were enrolled in a college or university during that same period, you are eligible for all prizes except Best Picture (Junior). 2) Videos must contain Classical (or Classically-informed/inspired) content. Videos produced for Latin or Greek class projects, videos on subjects from Greek and/or Roman mythology, videos on Greek and/or Roman history will be considered. Video submissions containing Latin and/or Greek (all or in part) are strongly encouraged. Videos may be live-action, animated, or both, and can include audio and video samples as long as those samples are credited. Videos should follow the MPAA ratings guide for "G", "PG", or “PG-13” content. Submissions containing profanity, nudity, graphic violence, or obscenity will not be considered. 3) Videos must be submitted in .avi, .mov, or .mpg format, or via a URL should the video submission be hosted on eClassics, YouTube, TeacherTube, or other online video content provider. Videos may be of any length. Videos must have been created during the period of January 1, 2009–May 30, 2010. 4) Submissions may be posted by students (or their teachers) on eclassics.ning.com and must include a tag/keyword or "Terence". Alternately, submissions may also be submitted on CD, DVD, or flash drive, mailed to: Andrew Reinhard c/oTerence Awards 15251 S. 50th St., #1066 Phoenix, AZ 85044 5) One submission per student (or student group if created as a collaborative project). 6) Submissions must be postmarked on or before May 30, 2010. Late submissions will not be considered. Submissions cannot be returned. 7) There is no entry submission fee. 8) Questions about the contest should be sent via email to areinhard@bolchazy.com. Good luck! Andrew Reinhard Director of eLearning Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers areinhard@bolchazy.com (back to the top)
Lou, Marie, and Allan Bolchazy and Andrew Reinhard attended the 2009 Illinois Classical Conference at Northwestern University on October 9th and 10th. It was a pleasure seeing our Illinois colleagues, catching up with Jim Chochola, Marilyn Brusherd, Judy Hayes, Mary Joan Masello, and others at the opening night reception. The book exhibit was open all day Saturday, and we enjoyed talking about our latest releases, namely Latin for the New Millennium Level 2, the Journey of Odysseus, A Terence Reader, not to mention eLearning products like the new Latin Proverbs iPhone app and Looking at Latin Online. The banquet was held on Saturday evening which included the traditional award ceremony. *Alice Mulberry* won the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Jennifer Jordt won Illinois Latin Teacher of the Year. Jordt was one of LeaAnn Osburn’s students at Barrington High School. (back to the top)
The Texas Classical Association (TCA) annual meeting was held at the AT&T Conference Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin on October 23–24, 2009. With over 90 delegates, it was the best-attended TCA in the history of the organization and featured one presentation on the 23rd and eleven on the 24th. Read the full program. Three presentations dealt specifically with classroom technologies for Classics, and one paper focused on vocabulary acquisition/retention, the results of which can be applied to digital helps. On the 23rd, Andrew Reinhard, Director of eLearning for Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, spoke to the group from about how to make responsible use of Web 2.0 technologies in support of teaching Latin, citing several teacher-created examples and working through strategies for encouraging acceptance by students, teachers, and school IT staff. We discussed the use of blogs, wikis, and social networks for Latin classes, learning how projects that implement these tools can succeed or fail. Students, teachers, and school IT staff have to have a mutually shared vision to ensure the success of using online platforms to facilitate and continue classroom discussion. On the evening of the 23rd, TCA arranged to have a concert by San Antonio-based indie rock outfit, Athens v. Sparta, whose 2008 album, The History of the Peloponnesian War, is a gem. From 8:00–9:00 the 7-piece band played out the historically accurate retelling of the 27year conflict through the words of Thucydides and Xenophon. The MP3 version of the album is available for free download here, and at just under one hour, can be played in class or made available to students via a link from your course management software. The lectures on the 24th began at 8:30 and featured a wonderful mix of talks from graduate students, university professors, and high school teachers. The eleven talks ran the gamut from classroom technology to a brand new archaeological discovery to the oratorical stylings of Demosthenes to the future of AP Latin. Below, I have detailed the talks that have a direct impact on eLitterae readers. Reinhard gave the keynote address, “Classics Classroom Computing: How to Take a Balanced Approach to Educational Technology”. In this talk, he gave a brief history of Classics eLearning followed by a tour of current technologies being used by Latin teachers with their students. These technologies included things for mobile platforms including iPhone apps, vocabulary cards, and Lee Butterman's NoDictionaries.com. The end of the lecture served as a caution to teachers not to completely avoid technology as students are using things like Facebook and YouTube to post commentary and videos featuring their Latin teachers. *Andrea Stehle* presented on “Recent Research in Latin Vocabulary Learning”. Ms. Stehle is a Ph.D. candidate in Classics and is interested in how students of foreign languages learn and retain new vocabulary. Her research (and the research of others whom she cites), have found the following to be true: The reading of authentic texts greatly assists students in learning and retaining vocabulary (when compared to made-up texts or just word-list study). Reading new words or reading the words while listening to them being spoken is much better for vocabulary retention than just listening alone. The student MUST have the text in front of them. Average students must hear a word spoken 20 times or must read it 12 times in order to retain the new vocabulary. When teaching new vocabulary, teachers should not have the students write anything about the word until after it has been practiced orally and recognized visually. When a student is given vocabulary to learn either before a passage or next to a passage, the student retains words at a rate of 72% when compared to the 47% of students retaining the same words just in a list without any accompanying reading. The passage is what helps the students learn new words. Showing a picture along with a word to learn is too much information. Retention actually goes down if a picture is used for vocabulary. Low-level (introductory) learners need graded readers to help with vocabulary acquisition. High-level (advanced) language students need a quick way to look up an unfamiliar word. Good readers will recognize 95% of words in a passage. When studying new vocabulary via flashcards, it typically takes 5–6 seconds for new learners to make the connection between the word shown and its definition. Self-pacing drills and exercises are perfect for students as each can go at their own pace. Derivatives make words easier to remember—include derivatives (if possible) on vocabulary cards. Bob Cape of Austin College gave a paper on “AP: Present and Future Prospects” and reported the following: The “V5” question is being dropped from the AP Vergil test (character-matching essay where students are asked to match characters from early and late parts of the Aeneid and explain how they relate). There will be a wholly new AP Latin test as early as 2012. The AP Latin development committee is seeking suggestions and comments for the exam, and these comments should be posted on Latinteach. No Caesar passages have been identified for the new AP Latin. Passages for both Vergil and Caesar could be publicized as early as the end of 2009. *Clint Hagen* spoke next on “Classics 2.0: New Directions in Computer-based Curricula”. Clint Hagen teaches Latin and is St. Andrew’s Episcopal School’s educational IT person (he's also an eClassics member). He has his own company called “A Third Way, Inc.”, which is dedicated to digital Latin pedagogy. His creations were designed to fill his own needs as a Latin teacher and hopefully the needs of other Latin teachers, operating under the axiom that “if a teacher does not like the software, then they won’t use it”. Hagen’s Glossa online site is based on the public domain dictionary of Lewis and Short. Users can search for a word and get a list returned that includes that word, plus other words that use it as a root. Clicking on a word in that list provides a definition, data about the word, and examples of how the word is used. Glossa shows the user’s 20 most recently viewed words. Users are able to comment on words used in reading passages. Authorized users can also add further definitions and examples word-by-word. The online version can also be downloaded for offline use. Hagen’s other programs allow students to type in their translation of entire passages. Students can complete worksheets online (including macra in their answers by way of a Quia-like push-button panel). Students can also scan poetry online that the teacher can review. The chorus of "wows" from the TCA delegates during Hagen's session was wonderful and seems to indicate that teachers are ready to use this kind of technology to help their students learn and to save time with preparation and grading. Next year's TCA is tentatively scheduled for November 6, back in Austin. (back to the top)
Bolchazy-Carducci Represented at Classical Association of the Empire State Conference 2009 *Lou and Marie Bolchazy* attended the 2009 Classical Association of the Empire State conference held Oct. 22–24 in Saratoga Springs, New York. The BCP exhibit had great traffic from the 55 attendees—a small but active group. Prominently displayed were the components of Latin for the Millennium, including the just-published TM for the Level II student edition. Other new and recent BCP books were also featured: A Lucan Reader and A Terence Reader from the BC Latin Reader Series, Aesop’s Fables, and the Wrath of Achilles and Journey of Odysseus from the Follow Your Fates Series. When in Rome: Best Cartoons from the Pompeiiana Newsletter provided a great surprise for one teacher, who was thrilled to find in it a cartoon created by one of her students. *Hans Muller, classics professor from Union college and author of BCP’s forthcoming Caesar AP book, downloaded on the spot BCP’s first iPhone app, Latin Proverbs. He sorted the proverbs by topic and author and later demonstrated his acquisition to Linda Fabrizio at the president’s reception. The BCP website is instantly available by tapping the company’s logo displayed on the app screen. Professor Muller gave a presentation at CAES on the importance of the defeat of the Varius in 9CE. Later at dinner, Professor Muller discussed with the Bolchazys the value of having Caesar as a part of the AP syllabus, and informed them that he will be concentrating on teaching Caesar next fall. There was strong interest among CAES conferees in having Caesar materials available before the new AP Latin test is launched, probably in 2013. At the Friday night banquet, Professor Dan Curley, chairman of the Classics Department at Skidmore College, delivered the keynote address on Ovid’s Lost Medea*. He compared various depictions of Medea in ancient literature with Ovid’s surviving descriptions. A highlight of the banquet came during David Pellegrino’s presentation to Linda Emanuel of the award for outstanding service. Linda’s husband and two sons surprised her when they entered the banquet room to watch the presentation. Marie and Lou were especially happy to attend CAES since they lived for nine years in nearby Saratoga. After the conference they were able to meet up with friends and relatives still in the area. (back to the top)
Editor *Don Sprague* represented Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers at the Classical Association of the Atlantic States held in Wilmington, Delaware October 8–10 where he met many longtime friends of BCP, David Murphy who has coauthored texts on Horace presided over the conference as his last act as president of CAAS. Thursday evening saw Don share the process of how a specialty publisher like Bolchazy-Carducci undertakes book and digital projects. The panel entitled “Pictures from an Exhibition” offered insights on the profession. The panel included APA Executive Director *Adam Blistein* (who was honored by CAAS with its award) who noted the economic impact on college classics budgets; *Martha Davis* (Temple University) who provided an overview of the classics honor society for college students, Eta Sigma Phi; and the written remarks of the Wiley-Blackwell editor which addressed trends in classical scholarship. Longtime BCP author Henry Bender (The Hill School) served as presider for the panel and led a spirited discussion among attendees and participants. CAAS honored Judith Hallett (University of Maryland), contributing editor to Latin for the New Millennium, for her ten years serving as program coordinator. The group also honored Anne Raia (College of New Rochelle) for her longtime service. Don also presented a paper “Developing Strong Readers of Latin” as part of a panel which saw editor Ronnie Ancona (Hunter College and the Graduate Center) discuss the new BC readers designed for colleges and upper level high school Latin classes while David Murphy explained the LEGAMUS transition readers focusing on the Horace text he and Ancona coauthored. Jane Shapiro of the Bamford-Nightingale School demonstrated how teachers can adapt and supplement a text to meet their classes’ needs. Two weeks later, Don attended the Ohio Classical Conference held in Cleveland, October 23–24. He had been invited to present Latin to the New Millennium series as part of a pedagogy session. Bolchazy-Carducci was the only publisher to send a representative to the conference and offered attendees the opportunity to peruse a broad selection of Latin texts. LNM consultant and ACL President Sherwin Little kicked off a panel that discussed the future of Latin in Ohio. Sherwin talked about the AP curriculum change which may not result in a new exam until 2013, about ACTFL’s survey of foreign language study which shows that language study overall is declining although Latin is not declining as significantly. Latin is showing growth in the pre-high school years and overall is the third most studied language in the country. As modern language experts work to create a set of oral proficiency expectations for teacher certification, Latinists are developing a set of reading comprehension expectations. CAMWS Translation Exam Chair *Robert White* (Shaker Heights High School) reminded attendees to file their applications. (back to the top)

iTunes is Apple’s storefront for digital downloads of audio, video, and “podbooks” for users of iPods as well as for Macs and PCs. Latin-language offerings abound. To begin browsing for Latin (and even Greek) for your computer, iPod, or iPhone, download the free iTunes client here.

Once iTunes is installed, visit the following:

App Store. Once logged into iTunes, click on the “App Store” button at the top of the window. Search for “Latin Proverbs” (no quotes needed) to find Bolchazy-Carducci’s Latin Proverbs app. Query for “Latin” (without quotes) to see a wide array of Latin-language apps, many of which are dictionaries based on either Whitaker’s Words or Lewis & Short.
iTunes U. iTunes U provides a collection of free, recorded lectures on a universe of topics including Classical Studies, Latin, and Greek. Once logged into iTunes, click on the “PowerSearch” link on the right, and then choose “iTunes U” from the drop-down list. Type “Latin” (without quotes) into the “Title” field and run your search. You can query for Latin and Greek authors or even for Classics offerings from specific colleges, universities, and even professors.
Podcasts and Audiobooks. Use iTunes’ PowerSearch tool to query for podcasts and audiobooks in Latin and Greek. When results return, double-click on them to listen or download to your computer for syncing with your handheld media player.

(back to the top)

Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers also invites its eLitterae subscribers to take advantage of a 50%, single-copy discount on the latest book from Latin teacher and author, Rose Williams:

The Lighter Side of the Dark Ages
154 pp (2006) Paperback ISBN 9781843311928, $23.00 $12.50

The Early Middle Ages of Western Europe, from AD 400 to 1000, was a boiling cauldron which bubbled over and impacted every corner of the world. Organized both by chronology and by geography, this lively book, with its tongue firmly planted in its cheek, dives fearlessly into that confused and confusing period, tracing the history of each century, beginning in North Africa and then proceeding around the Mediterranean Sea to Spain, Britain, France, Germany and the Low Countries, ending in Italy.

This whole period is usually considered to be the by-product of Rome’s decline; most Europeans and many North Africans were still calling themselves Romans while obliterating the Roman legacy on their turbulent journey toward the High Middle Ages and the Renaissance. This book, ironic though it may be, is meticulously researched, including extensive notes and quotes from contemporaries.

Chronicling the idiocies and occasional heroism of the energetic and star-crossed people who had the misfortune to live in these fractious eras and heralding the survival skills of those who actually made it through, The Lighter Side of the Dark Ages is an illuminating journey through a fascinating period of history.

One copy, prepaid, no returns, not available to distributors. Offer expires 11/30/09.

Make sure you mention that you are an eLitterae subscriber if you place your order by phone or fax. If you place your order via the Bolchazy-Carducci web site at www.BOLCHAZY.com, your discount price will be relfected in your online invoice.

Monthly Specials are available on our website, check our "Special Offers" link.

(back to the top)