On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
193,969 Self Improvement Resources
Find the Right One for You
Brett Brunner BS, MA
Brett Brunner Quick Facts
Main Areas: Acquisition of English Vocabulary; Greek and Latin roots of the English language; Classical MythologyBest Sellers: Word Empire III: Clarity
Career Focus: Teacher, Speaker, Business owner
Affiliation: American Classical League, UW Madison Alumni Association, Star Nemeton EI, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Green Mountain Club
Brett Brunner has been teaching Latin and English vocabulary in college-prep schools for seventeen years, as well as summer courses targeting the verbal section of the SAT. He spent eleven years at Saint Mary’s Hall in San Antonio, TX, where he presided as the chair of the Language Department, overseeing the Spanish, Japanese, French, and Latin programs; in addition, he taught Latin, etymology, philosophy, and world history. He designed a course in Greek and Latin roots to build vocabulary in the mid 90s, from which he had the idea of creating his own comprehensive Greek and Latin roots textbook, Word Empire, which is now used by numerous schools and individuals, and includes distribution through the American Classical League. He spent the academic year of 2000-2001 on sabbatical, finishing Word Empire, and recently completed Word Empire III: Clarity; he also wrote a book on teaching methodology, entitled Chaos Motivation, which describes his unique, infrastructural motivational methodology--he finished the second edition of Chaos Motivation in the fall of 2006. He holds an undergraduate honors degree from UW Madison, and an M.A. in English from the University of Virginia; he has continued his studies in Latin at the University of Georgia at Athens. He was awarded the prestigious Master Teacher's award at Saint Mary's Hall in the fall of 2003 for his success in motivating students at the middle and upper-school levels. In June of 2005, Mr. Brunner was named Teen Ink’s Educator of the Year. Mr. Brunner regularly presents his learning English vocabulary methodology at conferences, the most recent being at Vanderbilt University for the American Classical League. He currently teaches Latin at Tandem Friends School in Charlottesville, VA, where he writes a Latin roots SAT word of the day column on the school's web site, and also frequently contributes to his Greek and Latin roots blog.
The beauty of Word Empire III: Clarity is that anyone can learn vocabulary using Greek and Latin roots, even with no knowledge of Greek or Latin. However, for those who wish or feel they need the guidance of an expert, I also offer an online learning English vocabulary course that is fully tailored to the individual's current level of vocabulary knowledge.
A Greek and Latin root words poster that is available as well highlights not only the power of Greek and Latin roots, but also the beauty of lexicoaesthetics, or artistic arrangement of words into their common word roots.
The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for. (Ludwig Wittgenstein)
I think most of the world’s problems can be eliminated if people could communicate more effectively. Language is the primary tool of humans, and the better we can employ that tool the better a world we can all build. Think about that, our primary tool is language, but how do we employ it? Think of the power of that tool. The sharper and more complex the tool, the more we can do. It's the foundation of how we function. Brett Brunner
One forgets words as one forgets names. One's vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die. (Evelyn Waugh)
The wise weigh their words on a scale of gold. (Bible)
Language is the dress of thought. (Samuel Johnson)
By words the mind is winged. (Aristophanes)
In a nutshell, and fully explained at www.wordempire.com, probably the single most effective thing you can do to increase your vocabulary is read, read, read, and industriously look up definitions of words in the dictionary; this process can take a lifetime. However, if you are willing to spend about 15 minutes/day learning the basis or code of the English language, that is, learning English vocabulary via Greek and Latin root words, you can not only learn a great deal of vocabulary, but you will also gain the ability to recognize words that you haven't yet seen. For a good introduction to this highly effective and powerful methodology for learning vocabulary, please read this Introduction to learning English vocabulary; in addition, for fascinating commentary on classical word origins, check out my Greek and Latin roots blog and my Greek and Latin roots SAT word of the day.
Brett Brunner
154 Warren Ferry Rd.
Scottsville, FA 24590
434-960-9657
