Erick the Red: No Zero Days

[Erick the Red]

Erick the Red: No Zero Days

 

I've done a few of these challenges over the past few years, and had some pretty good successes.   Also failed more than a couple times.

 

This round I am starting slow and simple.  Two clear-cut daily goals to solidify daily habits.  I plan to check in daily or near-daily to update my progress, and maybe go over some details.  I appreciate feedback and positive peer-pressure.

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.  I am glad to have a job, but working from home has meant that I sometimes go two or three days without stepping out my front door.  I plan to throw on my weighted vest or a backpack with a ruck plate about three times per week.

 

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook.  My COVID lock-down hobby has been learning Latin.  The textbook I have is called "Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata", which is great, but I get distracted easily with other Latin language resources.  I need to focus more on making steady progress on formal training.  My other resources are free apps like Duolingo or Xochi, Latin Language Youtube channels including Magister Craft and Luke Ranieri's Scorpio Martianus, and a series of fun novellas by Lance Piantaginni. 

 

In both cases I am working towards bigger long-term goals, but for now I need to establish a foundation.

[Erick the Red]

Background:

 

Friday, 1 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I put on my pack with the 20-pound weight and walked about 4 miles around the neighborhood with my wife.

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. I worked on Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata (LLPSI) Chapter 16.  I read through the whole chapter while listening to the text from a Youtube video.

 

Saturday, 2 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.  Walked for over a mile (frankly don't know how far) at a zoo where we are members, about an hour and a half drive from here.

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. I worked on LLPSI Ch. 17.  I read through the whole chapter while listening to the text from a Youtube video.

[Elastigirl]

Nice goals. Back when I was homeschooling my son, we used Lingua Latina. It was a really good textbook. Don't ask me to read any Latin now though. Saly, I've forgotten most of it

[Erick the Red]

3 minutes ago, Elastigirl said:

Nice goals. Back when I was homeschooling my son, we used Lingua Latina. It was a really good textbook. Don't ask me to read any Latin now though. Sadly, I've forgotten most of it

 

We homeschool as well - my oldest is 19 and just completed his second year of university.

My wife and I have both worked as English language instructors.  I am comfortable with the method, and I am using various tools to overcome acknowledged weaknesses that each invariably has.  But I need to buckle down and focus on the basics.  It is too easy to just watch a tour of the Roman Forum built in Minecraft and think I am making progress.

[Aquarii]

I love your goals. Last challenge I kept my goals really simple, and I found it extremely helpful for getting me back in the swing of things after a few unsuccessful attempts at challenges.

 

Did you just start learning Latin this year? I am wanting to learn some Latin in 2021, and I am looking for some good resources for complete beginners. I have zero background in Latin, but I have studied a few other languages, so I am good with learning language concepts. 

[Erick the Red]

Sunday, 3 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I put on my pack with the 20-pound weight and walked 2.1 miles in 40 minutes, 17 seconds (40:17) around the neighborhood.  Tracked using Runkeeper app.

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. I worked on Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata (LLPSI) Chapter 18.  I read through the first two-thirds of the chapter while listening to the text from a Youtube video.  I wasn't focusing very well, so I stopped.  I'll go back and work on this chapter again tomorrow.

 

2 hours ago, Aquarii said:

Did you just start learning Latin this year? I am wanting to learn some Latin in 2021, and I am looking for some good resources for complete beginners. I have zero background in Latin, but I have studied a few other languages, so I am good with learning language concepts. 

 

I started with Duolingo in January 2020, but didn't get the textbook until March.  Before that, I had taken a year of Latin in high school.

 

Both Duo and Xochi are meant to be used by beginners, as well as LLPSI. 

 

Duo is much more professional of the two apps, and is an immersive program.  You learn some words from pictures, and they slowly walk you up to complete sentences.  Lessons are based around different topics, like "things in the home" or "jobs".  Eventually you get to do listening and typing out sentences.  There is still a lot of translating between English and Latin.

 

Xochi (the app is available from a company called Aztecworks, https://aztecworks.com/Xochi) has an English instructor that introduces each new word in English, and carefully explains each new bit of grammar.  This seems like a good idea, except it forces you into always just translating into Latin what they are giving in English.  It's still useful though.

 

Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata ("the Latin language explained by itself") is as the name suggests completely in Latin.  It is also intended to be used by a new beginner.  I can't explain it as well as show you what it is like.  Here is a link to someone reading the first few minutes of the first chapter, which uses maps to introduce the words.  Try it out and see if it makes sense.

 

Cap. 01 – IMPERIUM RŌMĀNUM – Lēctiō 1

 

I prefer the LLPSI chapter videos on a Youtube channel called Scorpio Martianus, but the one I linked above is shorter.

[Aquarii]

4 minutes ago, Erick the Red said:

 

I started with Duolingo in January 2020, but didn't get the textbook until March.  Before that, I had taken a year of Latin in high school.

 

Both Duo and Xochi are meant to be used by beginners, as well as LLPSI. 

 

Duo is much more professional of the two apps, and is an immersive program.  You learn some words from pictures, and they slowly walk you up to complete sentences.  Lessons are based around different topics, like "things in the home" or "jobs".  Eventually you get to do listening and typing out sentences.  There is still a lot of translating between English and Latin.

 

Xochi (the app is available from a company called Aztecworks, https://aztecworks.com/Xochi) has an English instructor that introduces each new word in English, and carefully explains each new bit of grammar.  This seems like a good idea, except it forces you into always just translating into Latin what they are giving in English.  It's still useful though.

 

Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata ("the Latin language explained by itself") is as the name suggests completely in Latin.  It is also intended to be used by a new beginner.  I can't explain it as well as show you what it is like.  Here is a link to someone reading the first few minutes of the first chapter, which uses maps to introduce the words.  Try it out and see if it makes sense.

 

Cap. 01 – IMPERIUM RŌMĀNUM – Lēctiō 1

 

I prefer the LLPSI chapter videos on a Youtube channel called Scorpio Martianus, but the one I linked above is shorter.

 

Thanks for the links! I am familiar with Duolingo. I have used it a little for German and Spanish in the past. I will definitely have to check out the LLPSI you mentioned, it sounds like an interesting approach. 

 

Just curious, what inspired you to get back into studying Latin this year?

[Erick the Red]

Just now, Aquarii said:

Just curious, what inspired you to get back into studying Latin this year?

 

I have always been a history nerd.  I just want to read Julius Caesar's The Gallic Wars the same way that he wrote it.  Until then, I am reading about a boy who falls out of a tree and hurts himself (that's a spoiler from LLPSI ch. 10). 

 

I also happen to be a part of a living history group called the SCA, so I happen to know more than one person who is an "enabler" in my odd linguistic hobby.

[Aquarii]

6 minutes ago, Erick the Red said:

 

I have always been a history nerd.  I just want to read Julius Caesar's The Gallic Wars the same way that he wrote it.  Until then, I am reading about a boy who falls out of a tree and hurts himself (that's a spoiler from LLPSI ch. 10). 

 

I also happen to be a part of a living history group called the SCA, so I happen to know more than one person who is an "enabler" in my odd linguistic hobby.

 

Nice! I remember learning a little about the SCA. They recruited every year at my university during the intro week when all the clubs and organizations were trying to recruit. My interest in Latin is two-fold. I love history, academia, and philosophy, and Latin has always held a special place in that realm. And, I eventually want to master Spanish, French, and maybe Italian, and Latin is a nice base for the romance languages. 

[juliebarkley]

The language nerdery here has won me over. And the homeschooling. And SCA. And hiking. It's all just *waves hands*. Here to cheer for you!

[Erick the Red]

Monday, 4 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I was busy all day, but squeezed in 1.01 miles in a little over 15 minutes right before dinner.  Glad for this challenge to motivate me to get outdoors for fifteen minutes today.

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. I finished LLPSI Chapter 18 main reading and grammar.  Yay, adverbs!

[Erick the Red]

17 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

The language nerdery here has won me over. And the homeschooling. And SCA. And hiking. It's all just *waves hands*. Here to cheer for you!

 

Thanks for stopping buy.  I hope that something is inspiring.

[Aquarii]

I am glad to see your challenge is going along well. I need to get outside and walk more. I really hate the cold, so it is always a whole lot harder for me to get out and walk. But I love walking; it gives me a chance to clear my mind and get some fresh air.

[Erick the Red]

31 minutes ago, Aquarii said:

I am glad to see your challenge is going along well. I need to get outside and walk more. I really hate the cold, so it is always a whole lot harder for me to get out and walk. But I love walking; it gives me a chance to clear my mind and get some fresh air.

 

I live in Southeast USA, so it was a "chilly" 52 degrees F (11 C).  I had to wear a hooded jacket.

 

I listen to books when I am out by myself, walking or driving.  I hardly ever sit down and read a real book anymore.  I blame the ease of picking up the phone and opening a game or the internet.  I am nearly finished with Stephen Dando-Collins' "Caesar's Legion".  I am trying to get the courage to start Brandon Sanderson's Rhythm of War.  57 hrs and 26 mins is  somewhat intimidating.

[Aquarii]

6 minutes ago, Erick the Red said:

 

I live in Southeast USA, so it was a "chilly" 52 degrees F (11 C).  I had to wear a hooded jacket.

 

I listen to books when I am out by myself, walking or driving.  I hardly ever sit down and read a real book anymore.  I blame the ease of picking up the phone and opening a game or the internet.  I am nearly finished with Stephen Dando-Collins' "Caesar's Legion".  I am trying to get the courage to start Brandon Sanderson's Rhythm of War.  57 hrs and 26 mins is  somewhat intimidating.

 

I live in the Midwest USA. It was actually pretty warm for January here at a high of 42 F. I suppose I should just be happy it wasn't below freezing today like it was a few days ago...but I would much rather be in a warmer state right about now.

 

Oh nice. I have never been able to get into audiobooks. Now that I have a morning commute again, I am considering trying it out again. I just always found it harder to stay focused listening instead of reading. Or I get too caught up in what I am listening too and end up too distracted for whatever task I am trying to do at the same time. 

 

Somehow I just glanced over your post about homeschooling. That is awesome! I was homeschooled through my sophomore year of HS. I only went public my junior year so I could do dual enrollment (all my classes junior year, and all but one class for one semester my senior year were done at the college).

[Erick the Red]

19 minutes ago, Aquarii said:

Somehow I just glanced over your post about homeschooling. That is awesome! I was homeschooled through my sophomore year of HS. I only went public my junior year so I could do dual enrollment (all my classes junior year, and all but one class for one semester my senior year were done at the college).

 

My oldest dual enrolled his senior year for a couple classes, which gave him a head start with his degree but also eased him into traditional classroom instruction.  And now he is taking all his classes online, like tens of thousands of other university students all over the world.

[Erick the Red]

Tuesday, 5 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   2.75 miles in 48:08, pace was 17:29 min/mile.  I want to get the pace to 15 minutes per mile with a 20 lb rucksack by the end of the year.  I got to watch the sun go down.

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. I finished LLPSI Chapter 19 main reading, and I will get to the grammar lesson tomorrow.  The book introduced past tense for the first time.

[Erick the Red]

Wednesday, 6 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   After work I put on the 20 pound weighted ruck and did 1.69 miles in 30:33, pace was 18:03 min/mile.

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. I worked on the grammar lessons associated with LLPSI Chapter 19.  A bunch of past tense verb endings to memorize, while I had been trying to keep up with noun cases.  Oh well, I knew what I was getting into.

[Erick the Red]

Thursday, 7 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   Miserable, chilly, wet and rainy.  I walked the bare minimum one mile in my neighborhood in 19:23, hampered by a work call that came in about 3 minutes after I started and lasted the entire time.  I'm glad that my phone has a waterproof case. 

Also, my jacket turns out to be water-resistant, rather than water-proof.  This is a good lesson to learn early on, and near home. 

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. First two-thirds of the reading for LLPSI Chapter 20.  Aemilia wants a new baby girl, but Julius doesn't want the baby to sleep in their bedroom.  I'm 80% sure that's what is going on anyway.  I'm starting to wade into deeper waters again, and I might need to back up and go over some more material to make sure I can follow along.  

[Erick the Red]

Friday, 8 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   Just overcast, windy, and chilly this time.  2.66 miles in 46:42, pace was 17:34 min/mile.  I should have stretched after I got back home, but I got distracted with making dinner. 

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. Completed main reading for LLPSI Chapter 20.  We have past, present, and future tense markers on the verbs now, so that's something.  I'm going to spend some time going over the help pages for each of the recent chapters in the Student Manual (Latine Disco, or "I am learning Latin"), which is in English and was written by the same author as the main LLPSI text, Hans Ørberg.

[Erick the Red]

Saturday, 9 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I spent about 2 1/2 hours this afternoon helping a neighbor family who are friends to pack up a moving van, and then unpack at a nearby storage unit while they wait to get into their new house.  I walked well over a mile, a lot of it outdoors.  I had intended to do my regular neighborhood walk afterwards, or even go geocaching with the website/application that I found through jarlaxetherogue.  But I twisted my ankle coming off of a step, and it still feels a little off a couple hours later.  I think I will have to be content with what I have done so far today, to make sure I can do more tomorrow.

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. Completed grammar lesson for LLPSI Chapter 20.  Read through the LLPSI student manual for chapter 13 and 14, trying to work out what I am not getting.  It turns out I had not been understanding participles, in English the -ing words that are verbs in adjective clothing, like the sleeping boy or the watching girls.  So that's been helpful. 

[Erick the Red]

Sunday, 10 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   Walked 2.28 miles this afternoon in 39:20, pace was 17:16 min/mi.  A different route along the main road and through a different nearby neighborhood. 

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. Completed main reading for LLPSI Chapter 21.  I have now been exposed to the perfect and imperfect past tenses.  One is like "He ran" and the other is like "She was running".  I can follow based on the verb, but it'll take a little while to get both past tenses straight. 

[Aquarii]

Way too go on a very solid first week! You are doing an awesome job with your challenge. I am glad your ankle injury wasn't serious enough to slow you down for more than a day  

[Erick the Red]

Monday, 11 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   Walked 1.21 miles after work this afternoon in 21:11, pace was 17:27 min/mi.  I thought I was going faster than that.   We had some snow this morning, but it melted by the afternoon.

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. Completed grammar lesson for LLPSI Chapter 21. 

 

23 hours ago, Aquarii said:

Way too go on a very solid first week! You are doing an awesome job with your challenge. I am glad your ankle injury wasn't serious enough to slow you down for more than a day  

 

Thanks.

 

In hindsight, the ankle was twisted a little but I think the main issue was that on Saturday morning I had gone to the gym and lifted heavy for the first time since before Christmas, and then that same day I lifted and carried around a bunch of heavy furniture and boxes. 

 

It seems I have a routine now, or at least the beginnings of one.  Complete work, and then in the time I would have had a commute home, I go on a walk instead while it is still light outside.

[Erick the Red]

Tuesday, 12 Jan 2021:

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   Walked 1 mile after 8pm, so a little cold, dark and lonely.  I worked late, and my wife was out this evening with her job, so this was really the first time I had free.  It was something I wouldn't have done without this format, so that's nice.

2. Complete at least one page in my Latin language textbook. Reviewed in the LLPSI student manual for chapters 15, 16, and a little from 17 before I had to get dinner going.