HOW TO BE AN EXPERT AT CERTAMEN · Summer 2022 · Torch: U.S.
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Championships in 2017, 2018, and 2020. Although he enjoyed learning the rules of Latin Grammar, Dante learned to master Latin by reading primary sources. While he was reading, he routinely thought of Certamen questions that could be asked. “I still memorized lists (of rules and exceptions), but I found that less rewarding than reading and applying that knowledge.” Even in mythology, for which Dante created thousands of flash cards, he still read as many primary sources in their entirety as he could, including the Iliad, Aeneid, Odyssey, and Ovid’s Metamorphoses. When memorizing was necessary, he used Anki, a program which utilizes spaced repetition.
Kyle Jain, an all-around expert in Certamen who led Wisconsin to a National Championship in 2018, also advocates for spaced repetition with Anki. Kyle was lightning fast on the buzzer and absorbed knowledge at a remarkable pace. Although he did not start learning Latin until nearly half way through 9th grade, Kyle quickly progressed from a “vocabulary expert” to a “walking encyclopedia” in just a few months. “I didn’t have a superior memory. I just used superior methods,” Kyle remarked to me, referring to his use of spaced repetition. Having watched Kyle play chess blindfolded, I would have to say that he has also developed a superior memory. Furthermore, Kyle developed resilience second to none. Whether you are doing well or having a bad round, Kyle notes, “It is important to refocus your mind after every question. Resilience is key.”
Aspen Bombardo, a recent graduate from Florida, prefered to use Quizlet Learn to help her master material in Certamen. “It’s fun, and it is set up well for Certamen players,” Aspen commented. Also an all around expert, Aspen
felt her best category was Latin Literature. In addition to Quizlet Learn, she spent countless hours making her own detailed study guide from Conte’s Latin Literature: A History. “The process of making your own guide, rather than using someone else's, really helps you master material.” Regarding mental preparation for rounds, Aspen states, “You just have to get out of your own head and play your game.” Aspen’s Florida teams won National Championships in 2015 and 2017.
Whereas the difficulty and style of questions may have changed over the last thirty years, what hasn’t changed is that it takes hard work and long hours to become an expert. Expert players today routinely spend at least 2-3 hours/day studying for Certamen. There needs to be a mix of reading, memorizing, creating your own study guides, writing your own questions, and practicing. Plus, you need to be mentally strong, work well with your teammates, and develop resilience. Although suggested by Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers, it may not take 10,000 hours to become an expert Certamen player in high school, but it certainly takes a long time. With hard work, “superior methods," strategy, and practice, the everlasting Certamen glory may just be a few buzzes away.
Read the first two articles by Dr. Roessler:
Part I:
The Magic of Certamen
Part II:
How to Prepare for Certamen