Latinitas Animi Causa is the initiative of Andrew and Ilse to make more Latin and ancient Greek classes and resources available to more people. LAC’s focus is inclusive, engaging, and equitable pedagogical practices. These practices are at the heart of what we do. We do our best to keep up with language acquisition research so that we can offer our participants an effective, engaging, and fun learning experience. Most of the courses we offer are spoken Latin or ancient Greek, but we might offer some translation courses now and then. For us, speaking these languages (to which we’ve devoted so much time and effort) not only makes the learning environment more enjoyable but also more effective because we’re all more attentive to the details of the language.
The wonderful and talented Claire joins the LAC fam as co-host on the podcast!
What makes Andrew and Ilse's Latinitas Animi Causa stand apart from other businesses like it, is their connection to the community. They truly teach from the heart, whether it be in their podcasts, during Twitch livestreams, or in individual classes. Inclusivity and promoting diversity is a way of life for them; even when I was barely able to speak a word of Latin, they found ways to bring me into their classes and chats with grace and encouragement. They connect with popular culture as much as with the ancients to bring in students -- and do so with flair. I look forward to growing my knowledge of the Latin language (alongside its culture) as LAC continues to expand. Vivat LAC!
- Elizabeth Howell, Science and Space Journalist
Andrew and Ilse have vast experience bringing people, who are in many different places in their journey with the Latin language, to new levels of reading and speaking proficiency. I recommend them highly for their pedagogical practices.
-Teresa Ramsby, Professor of Classics at UMass Amherst
Andrew is the consummate professional. Whether in an online class or doing private tutorials, he is always “on” encouraging me to make connections and to let go of my fears. His lessons are tailored to his students, and he is flexible about changing midstream if the need arises. Having been trained as a G-T teacher, I am not finding it easy to make the switch to the communicative approach, but Andrew is patient, positive, and inspiring. He has also been helpful in my own creation of lessons – from editing the Latin to modelling how it can be used in the classroom. His enthusiasm for the language and literature is infectious, and I know that what I am learning can only improve my students’ experiences and my own understanding of Latin and the nature of language acquisition in general.
-Kathryn Ford, High School Latin Teacher
As a Latin teacher, I am grateful to LAC for providing an incredible professional development experience. Andreas is immensely knowledgeable and offers tons of great linguistic and pedagogical insights, many of which I absorb simply by participating in his classes as a student. This aspect of the experience is invaluable for anyone interested in building their own active Latin classroom.
Personally, I can’t say enough about the authenticity and energy that Andreas brings to his classes. The vibe that he cultivates makes even the most anxious Latin novice feel comfortable. He takes time to get to know his students and works really hard to make sure that each person is supported according to their specific learning goals. Taking classes with Andreas has pushed me to refine and improve my own spoken Latin, changed my perspective on language acquisition, and set me up with many new tools and perspectives for innovating in my own classroom.
-Thomas Drescher, Middle School Classics Teacher
I've been lucky enough to know Andrew for several years now, and I don't think I can praise him highly enough. He is an empathetic teacher, he is funny and clever, he has the best interests of everyone he knows in mind, and he's genuinely dedicated to everyone growing and doing their best, whatever that means. He is a considerate, creative, hugely talented human being, and every time I've worked with him, I've gotten to learn something new, as well as being inspired and pushed to become better myself. He reminds me that there's a lot that's possible if you're willing to reach for it, and he makes me a better teacher, a better Latinist, and a better person. If your question is whether taking classes with Andrew is a worthwhile choice, the only possible answer is yes.
-Arianne Belzer-Carroll, High School Latin Teacher
I think I've known Ilse for half a decade now, and I count myself lucky. Aside from being a dear friend, Ilse is a warm and kind teacher, a talented Latin speaker, and invested in her students' growth. Ilse is incredibly open in a way that I admire: I'm often self-conscious about learning because it's hard to admit when you don't know something. Ilse has become as talented as she because she doesn't have that problem, and she gives the same respect to her students. She is so creative: she finds ways to express ideas and connections between ideas it never occurs to me to teach, and her ideas have improved my own teaching. She is enormously there for her students, and her generosity and dedication mean that all of her students are able to bloom. I grow from her as a teacher and a person every time we talk. If you have the option to learn from her, please give yourself that gift.
-Arianne Belzer-Carroll, High School Latin Teacher
I am so happy that I finally get to sing the praises of Andrew Morehouse, whom I first met in February 2018 at a SALVI Rusticatio. Since the summer of 2018, I have been taking conversational Latin classes with Andrew on a continuous basis. Let me tell you why:
Andrew is a veritable walking Latin dictionary: his ability to turn even the most obscure or idiomatic English phrases into Latin is astounding. From talking about my beloved Boston fern to kayaking on the Delaware River and anything in between, including current affairs, Andrew has a ready phrase that fits or can find it easily. For each lesson, he prepares useful phrases to help his students move beyond the most common ones and add some variety to how we express ourselves. During conversations, he asks questions in such a way that allows us to keep the conversation going and brings in everyone in the group, even those who are shy.
Andrew is a gregarious and energetic teacher, who very obviously is passionate about learning, teaching, and speaking in Latin. One of the most important things for me is that he never makes me feel small, silly, or stupid for making mistakes or asking questions! According to the principles of comprehensible input teaching, Andrew doesn't explicitly correct me when I make a mistake and instead, very subtly models the correct word/phrase and allows me to express my need for correction if I want to; if I just want to talk without being interrupted, he welcomes it! The classroom environment he creates is supportive, affirming, and comfortable, and I feel completely at ease to focus on the material and learning to converse in Latin.
Andrew is compassionate and caring, and deeply invested in his students' progress. He is generous with his time and energy, both during and after class, and always willing to help students discover new reading and listening materials that will help them in their learning. Since I've been taking lessons with Andrew, my Latin has improved by leaps and bounds, allowing me not only to become a more effective teacher but also to grow up my inner child that always was afraid she would make a mistake in Latin class. And for that, I will be forever grateful. If you get a chance to take classes with Andrew, do it :)
-Tina Chronopoulos, Associate Professor of Classics and Medieval Studies, Department of Classical and Near Eastern Studies, Binghamton University
Reading Latin alone can sometimes be a bit of a struggle. In the class, Andrew was such a fantastic communicator that I realised how much Latin I actually do know and am able to understand. Each hour flew by, full of laughter and interest. I found myself growing in confidence and learning a lot. I thoroughly recommend these courses to everyone, they truly bring Latin alive.
-Russell Dewhurst, PhD student
Studying spoken Latin and Greek with Andrew has improved my language skills by leaps and bounds. I am so much more confident and able to express myself in Greek and Latin, and have gained a deeper appreciation for ancient languages. Andrew is patient, supportive, passionate, and very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend him as a language teacher.
-Lilia, Graduate Student of Classics
I enthusiastically recommend taking a class with Andrew. I'm a Latin teacher, and I signed up for a class because I was interested in developing my use of spoken Latin in the classroom. I was comfortable enough with reading Latin, but I had very little experience with speaking it. My class with Andrew was a wonderful opportunity to gain experience, skill, and confidence in speaking Latin. It was also a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the pedagogical theory and classroom approaches for using spoken Latin. If you're a teacher interested in learning more about active approaches, I highly recommend a course with Andrew.
-Tom Hendrickson, Stanford Online High School