Welcome to SPACE, our adult continuing education program which offers interactive monthly courses for personal enrichment! Learn more here.

December 2025February 2026

January 2026 Modules

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Academic Writing, Research & Scholarly Publishing Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Struggling to express your ideas clearly? Wondering why your papers aren’t landing the way you’d hoped? Whether you're just starting out or preparing for publication, this tutorial is designed to help you write with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Our preceptors offer individualized support tailored to your goals—whether you're crafting a research paper, polishing a thesis, developing a conference proposal, or navigating the peer review process. We'll help you transform rough ideas into strong arguments, untangle writer’s block, and craft compelling prose that says exactly what you mean (yes, with grammar that sings).

Sessions may include guidance on structure and organization, revision strategies, citation practices (MLA, Chicago, etc.), research methods, and even engagement with literary theory. Our goal is to help you become the academic writer you want to be—ready to participate fully in scholarly conversations and share your work with confidence.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Advanced Old English Series: Readings in Poetry
 Confirmed

Meeting Mondays & Thursdays at 7:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29
For this month's module we will explore Cynewulf's Elena. In Early Medieval English literature, there are only two poets writing in Old English whose names we know: (1) Caedmon (technically he didn't know how to write, others wrote for him copying his oral compositions---almost all of which is now lost to us); and (2) Cynewulf.

Little is known of Cynewulf other than he had monastic training and was likely a monk. It is debated as to whether he was an eighth, ninth, or tenth century writer. Previously we had a module that worked with his poem known as "Christ II" by modern scholars and with "Fates of the Apostles".

This particular module will work with his translation and adaptation of an early Christian saint's life, The Life of St Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. A lot of great stuff occurs in this tale -- come join us!
Precepted by Dr. Larry Swain

A History of the Vikings: The Scandinavian Homelands
 Candidate  Hybrid

Pre-recorded lectures will be supplemented by live meetings Wednesdays at 2:00 PM Eastern for four 1-hour sessions on January 7, 14, 21, 28
From TV shows to computer games, the Vikings still manage to capture our imagination and ensnare us in an odd mix of fact and fiction. But who were they really? This new series aims to take a deep dive and provide challenging perspectives about the real Norse characters that shaped medieval Europe.

The Vikings (ca. 800-1100) would be impossible to understand without the geography and society that produced them. In this module, we will explore the intricate social and political frameworks that shaped Viking Age Scandinavia and investigate the interplay between kinship, community hierarchies, and power dynamics that underpinned Norse society.

Topics include the general context of Scandinavian history, social order, the importance of thing assemblies, the influence of chieftains and kings in regional power struggles, but also lesser discussed aspects such as the roles of women. By integrating primary sources such as chronicles, law codes, sagas as well as the latest archaeological findings and research methods, we will develop a nuanced understanding of how the Norse functioned and what enabled them to exert far-reaching influence across Europe and beyond.

The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:
Outline 8-Session Structure
Week 1 Lecture 1: Ancient Scandinavia and the Beginnings of the Viking age
Discussion 1: Discussion about Lecture 1 material
Week 2 Lecture 2: Social structures and daily life
Discussion 2: Discussion about Lecture 2 material
Week 3 Lecture 3: Chieftains, kings and warriors
Discussion 3: Discussion about Lecture 3 material
Week 4 Lecture 4: Women of the Viking age
Discussion 4: Discussion about Lecture 3 material
Precepted by Dr. Irina Manea

Ancient Greek 5
Continuing Series  Confirmed

Meeting Mondays & Thursdays at 9:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29
Want to read the NT in the original Greek? The Greek translation of the Old Testament? This module’s for you! We continue our study introducing learners to the basics of ancient Greek: the alphabet, introduction to the verb system (tenses and moods) and the noun system (the very helpful article, first and second declension). Over several modules, the students will learn the foundations of the language and then students will be able to read texts.

Note: All sessions will be live recorded and shared with all enrolled students afterward for review and to allow those who cannot attend live to still participate in the class.
Precepted by Dr. Larry Swain

Biblical Hebrew 4
Continuing Series  Candidate

Meeting Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29
This series of modules would be for students who want to learn how to read Biblical Hebrew. The course would include some speaking, listening, and writing skills as well. But people who learn Biblical Hebrew do so in order to read it, so reading and comprehension skills would take primary focus.

Note: All sessions will be live recorded and shared with all enrolled students afterward for review and to allow those who cannot attend live to still participate in the class.
Precepted by Dr. Joel D. Ruark

Creative Writing: Emotional Stakes (Year of the Novel)
Cluster  Spotlight  Launchpad

Meeting Mondays & Thursdays at 8:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29
Congratulations! You have Characters in a Setting enacting a Plot!

In this workshop you'll explore how your motivations for writing and the themes which worry or puzzle or fascinate you shape your stories. You’ll identify your methods for exploring these themes and consider other methods consonant with your authorial voice. How are your characters changing and responding to their own explorations? You'll examine tools for finding what elements have already slipped into your stories, possibly subconsciously, and tools for intentionally using such emotional connection points to bring more strength to your stories. Each class will introduce a few new tools, offer in-class prompts for trying them, and open the floor to discuss our discoveries and their relevance to our works in progress.

Year of the Novel Note: Anyone is welcome to join our Year of the Novel modules at any time. Each module is designed to stand alone without prerequisites. However, for the richest experience, the carefully planned sequence of modules will carry you from blank page as far as you want toward completing your novel. In a writing journal, you will track your progress and moments of unexpected, joyful discovery as you continue your novel. Whether you are looking to publish commercially or simply writing for yourself, our program is designed to nurture your individual writing journey. Our workshops place kindness first, lifting up excellence and encouraging you to tell your story in your own voice. For more information about our Collaborative Feedback model, check out our video here.

Creative Writing & Worldbuilding Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Whether you're just starting a story or refining a full manuscript, Signum’s Creative Writing Tutorials offer individualized support tailored to your stage in the writing journey.

For fully grown Tree projects—those in advanced stages of revision—we offer developmental editing guidance, reader feedback, and coaching on self-editing strategies. If your project is ready for professional copy editing, we can arrange a special match with a tutor who provides that service. The tutorial recommended for such projects can be found here: Creative Writing: Refining Your Novel [ST]

For projects in earlier stages—those in active drafting or early revision—we provide writing exercises, focused feedback, and skill-building support to help you grow your craft. These tutorials also make an excellent companion to our Creative Writing modules in SPACE, our adult continuing education program: Explore SPACE Creative Writing Modules.

Wherever you are in your writing process, your tutorial sessions will adapt to your goals—and help you take the next step with confidence.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Digital Humanities & Media Studies Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Blend technology and the humanities in a personalized tutorial designed for the digital age. Whether you’re exploring how digital tools can support literary research, learning data visualization or coding for scholarly projects, or analyzing media forms like film, podcasts, and games, this tutorial adapts to your goals. Engage with fields such as digital text analysis, online publishing, digital archives, adaptation studies, or interactive storytelling. These tutorials are ideal for students building digital portfolios, launching public humanities projects, or investigating how media and meaning converge in modern scholarship.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

East Asian Studies Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Explore the languages, cultures, and histories of East Asia in a flexible, student-guided tutorial. Whether you're developing your proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean (including work with characters, kana, or hanja), or delving into literature, philosophy, or cultural traditions, this tutorial supports both focused projects and open-ended inquiry. Your preceptor will help you identify next steps, recommend tailored resources, and support your growth—whether you’re practicing conversation, studying classical texts, analyzing a film, or preparing a research paper. Ideal for language learners, culture enthusiasts, or anyone looking to engage deeply with East Asia's rich intellectual and artistic legacy.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Exploring Violet Evergarden
 Candidate

Meeting Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 8:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
Come join us for a stunning coming-of-age fantasy anime that follows the story of Violet Evergarden, a former soldier who finds forgiveness, healing, and self-worth through the unassuming power of writing letters. In this module, we will discuss how Violet Evergarden functions as a postwar recovery and travel story, as well as the anime’s use of Victorian and post-World War I aesthetics to tell Violet’s unusual yet unforgettable tale.

History, Culture & Civilization Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Travel through time and across cultures in a tutorial designed to deepen your understanding of the past and its relevance today. From ancient civilizations to modern revolutions, from folklore and foodways to empire and migration, these tutorials support students in historical research, cultural analysis, and interdisciplinary exploration. Work with a preceptor to develop your historical writing, prepare a presentation, or structure a long-term project. Whether you’re focused on a specific region, era, or theme, this tutorial helps you bring clarity, context, and curiosity to your study of history and culture.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Inventing King Arthur: Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain
 Spotlight  Candidate  Hybrid

With four pre-recorded lectures and then four 1-hour discussions Meeting Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Eastern on January 6, 13, 20, 27
This course offers an in-depth look at the first complete “historical” narrative of the reign of King Arthur, Geoffrey’s Historia Regum Britanniae. Almost a quarter of the total work, this crucial first account of Arthur includes Arthur’s magically-contrived conception, his conquest of Rome, and his overthrown and death at the hands of his nephew Mordred. This course also looks at the “battle of books” that followed in the wake of Geoffrey’s work, with some contemporaries arguing that Geoffrey simply made the whole thing up, and others rallying to Geoffrey’s (and Arthur’s) defense.

The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:
Outline 8-Session Structure
Week 1 Lecture 1: The “Historical” Arthur before Geoffrey
Discussion 1: HRB, Prologue and Book VI: Britain in Chaos
Week 2 Lecture 2: Merlin the Historian: Prophesy as History and Vice-Versa
Discussion 2: HRB, Book VIII: Death of a Tyrant; The Birth of a Hero
Week 3 Lecture 3: The Anarchy of Stephen: The Politics of Geoffrey’s Early Readership
Discussion 3: HRB, Books IV – X: The Rise and Fall of King Arthur
Week 4 Lecture 4: The Battle of the Books: Geoffrey’s Contested History
Discussion 4: HRB, Books XI – XII: Goodbye Britain, Hello England!
Precepted by Dr. Liam Daley

The Hunger Games Book Club (Book 5: Sunrise on the Reaping)
 Confirmed  Hybrid

Pre-recorded lectures will be supplemented by live meetings Thursdays at 9:00 AM Eastern for four 1-hour sessions on January 8, 15, 22, 29
This module explores the fifth book in the series: Sunrise on the Reaping (2025).

Series Outline:

What lessons do the Capitol and Districts have to teach us? What warnings should we heed? What road leads from here to Panem? Over the course of five months, participants in these SPACE modules will read and discuss a modern classic of dystopian storytelling, The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.

In this hybrid series, each week will include one lecture and one live discussion. The lectures will examine the inspirations behind, allusions in, and questions posed by that month's novel. In live discussions, participants will share their insights on, interpretations of, and reactions to the story. Together we will consider why this series has spoken to so many readers and explore how its messages remain relevant today.

Students will be asked to read one book over the course of each month in whatever format they choose. All of these novels are available in print, ebook, and audio format.

(Warning: The Hunger Games series include descriptions - for a young-adult audience - of substance abuse, physical abuse, violence, and death.)

Series Outline:
  • Module 1: The Hunger Games (2008)
  • Module 2: Catching Fire (2009)
  • Module 3: Mockingjay (2010)
  • Module 4: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
  • Module 5: Sunrise on the Reaping (2025)
Precepted by Dr. Amy H. Sturgis (Lecturer)

Japanese for Advanced Beginners 9 (Genki II)
Continuing Series  Candidate

Meeting Tuesdays & Thursdays at 9:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29
Join us as we continue learning (advanced) basic Japanese, focusing on the areas of reading and listening comprehension, with some attention to speaking and writing. Over the course of this module series we will work our way through the Genki II textbook, building upon the foundation built from the Genki I text. 一緒に日本語を勉強しませんか

Recorded Series: All sessions of this series are being recorded and provided afterwards to enrolled students in order to support the learning of the group.
Precepted by Dr. Robert Steed

Japanese: From Zero - 28
Continuing Series  Candidate

Meeting Tuesdays & Fridays at 9:00 AM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
This course is for those who have an interest in Japanese culture and wish to continue our study of Japanese. We will continue using Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji, and covering grammatical structures. Through use of conversational Japanese, we will continue to explore how the language is used in anime, manga, and music.

Japanese is a language of great nuance and depth. This module will open the door to that world and build a foundation for greater insight into Japan's culture and its people.
Precepted by Sam Roche

Japanese Through Culture 17
Continuing Series  Candidate

Meeting Tuesdays & Thursdays at 5:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29
In this series we’ll study Japanese using different tools such as videos, games, and different exercises. We’ll explore different aspects of Japanese culture and work on more complex vocabulary, grammar, and sentence patterns. We’ll also watch lots of videos, play games, and read graded readers among other things.

Note: Japanese Through Culture is for students who already have a basic level of Japanese.
Precepted by Mari Takiguchi

Language Learning & Philology Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Whether you’re beginning a new language, reviving a dormant one, or diving deep into the history and structure of how languages work, this tutorial offers personalized guidance for your journey. With one-on-one support from experienced preceptors, you can build practical language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking), pursue advanced grammatical or syntactic analysis, or explore historical linguistics and philology. From modern languages to ancient tongues, from Quenya to Latin, this tutorial supports projects in translation, language acquisition, comparative linguistics, and the cultural contexts that shape language use. Bring your goals—scholarly or conversational—and let your linguistic curiosity flourish.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Language Learning & Philology Tutorials [ST]
(Section 1)

9:00 AM on Saturday the 17th and noon on the 31st of January for two one-hour meetings
This meeting has been set to automatically record in the cloud.

Summary of Teresa’s Tutorial Project – Language Continuing Education & French Translation Work


Teresa is pursuing two interrelated goals through Signum Tutorials:

  1. Continuing Education for Teacher Recertification: As a certified teacher in Modern and Classical Languages (French) in Vermont, Teresa is seeking affordable, high-quality continuing education hours to meet her state’s five-year recertification requirement. She is especially interested in Hebrew, which aligns with her current role teaching Scripture and Tradition to high school freshmen. Tutorial engagement in language learning—particularly Hebrew—would both enrich her teaching and contribute to her formal professional development.
  2. French-to-English Translation Project: Teresa also aims to resume and complete a long-standing translation project: the biography of a French Carmelite priest who founded a religious institute in 1932 and whose cause for canonization is progressing. She hopes to use Signum Tutorials to gain accountability, structured support, and formatting guidance as she works through the translation. The Institute of Carmelite Studies has already expressed interest in publishing the finished work.

Together, these goals will be supported through personalized tutorial sessions, beginning with an Orientation meeting to shape her plan and ensure alignment with her professional and creative aspirations.

Precepted by Sparrow F. Alden (Section 1) and Dr. Gabriel Schenk (Section 1)

Language Learning & Philology Tutorials [ST]
(Section 4)

We’re currently reviewing the schedule for this class at the moment. We will update it here once resolved. Thanks!

Amanda's Tutorials Goal: Continuing Japanese to eventually take JLPT N5!


Precepted by Signum Tutorials Faculty Member (Section 4)

Latin for Beginners 8
Cluster  Confirmed

Meeting Wednesdays & Fridays at 2:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
The eighth month of Latin in a Year must, at last, celebrate the subjunctive. By this point, continuing students should be familiar with most noun forms, the active and passive indicative forms of many Latin verbs, basic pronouns and clause constructions, and a range of smaller grammatical uses. With this background established, students can expect to learn the regular subjunctive forms and may begin to explore a range of more fluid translations.



This module covers chapters 28-30 of Wheelock’s Latin:
- 28: Subjunctive Mood; Present Subjunctive; Jussive and Purpose Clauses
- 29: Imperfect Subjunctive; Present and Imperfect Subjunctive of Sum and Possum; Result Clauses
- 30: Perfect and Pluperfect Subjunctive; Indirect Questions; Sequence of Tenses
Precepted by Dr. Faith Acker

Literature & Storytelling Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Explore the craft, impact, and meaning of literature through a personalized tutorial in Literature & Storytelling. Whether you're analyzing a classic novel, developing a comparative study of myths and epics, or researching contemporary fiction, our preceptors will help you deepen your understanding of narrative, genre, theme, and interpretation. Tutorials can focus on literary analysis, theory, close reading, or creative-critical intersections. Whether you’re preparing for graduate school, crafting a paper, or simply diving deeper into your favorite texts, this tutorial invites you to read widely, think critically, and grow as a literary thinker.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Middle High German 1: An Epic Introduction
First in the Series  Spotlight  Candidate

Meeting Mondays & Wednesdays at 8:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
Middle High German (MHG) is the umbrella term for the German dialects used in the Holy Roman Empire from about 1050 to 1350. Its written form was the language of the court, and most MHG poetry embraces chivalric intellectual interests—adventure, romances, and courtly love! Come join us this month to begin learning Middle High German, and you’ll learn how to read some of the greatest monuments of medieval literature—The Nibelungenlied, Gottfried von Strassburg’s Tristan und Isolde, Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival, the poems of the Minnesänger (courtly poets)—in the original language!

This module requires absolutely no modern German, but you may find that the course awakens that bit of “school German” you remember from high school. We will begin with the first text in our textbook, An Introduction to Middle High German: an excerpt of Berthold von Regensburg’s sermon Von den siben planêten (“On the seven planets”). After that, we will continue through the textbook, reading as many texts as the student interest demands.

We will begin with a short presentation on the grammatical features of Middle High German and what separates German from other Germanic languages (the so-called High German Consonant Shift). After a general introduction and an example of “how to read MHG like a philologist”—slowly, word-by-word, and relaxed—we will begin reading!

I do not anticipate that we will complete all reading texts in the textbook before the end of the month, but we will read as much as we are able. Generally speaking, it takes about three months to read Middle High German competently, but after completing the sequence, students should be able to participate in SPACE’s Readings in Middle High German series. Middle High German offers tons of adventure, including Heroic Epic (Das Nibelungenlied, Kudrun), Crusader Epic (König Rother, Willehalm), Arthurian Romance (Parzival), and the Tristan story (Tristan und Isolde). Completing this sequence will prepare students for their journey into a new and large world of medieval literature.
Precepted by Dr. Isaac Schendel

Music, Performance & Applied Skills Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Bring your skills and passions to life with a hands-on, project-based tutorial in Music, Performance & Applied Skills. Whether you're composing, performing, researching music history, developing educational workshops, or exploring connections between music and literature, your preceptor will support your creative or academic goals. These tutorials may include performance coaching, guided practice, composition feedback, or structured reflection on process and technique. This space also supports interdisciplinary learners blending music with language, culture, or storytelling. Whatever your background, this tutorial celebrates your craft and helps you grow.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Old English 5
Continuing Series  Candidate

Meeting Mondays & Wednesdays at 6:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
Ready to begin learning Old English? This series of modules introduces students to the vocabulary and structure of the earliest recorded form of the English language. One year of modules prepares the student to read texts from over a thousand years ago! Each one-month module builds on the previous one, so students ready to learn Old English will communicate with our Director and Professor Swain to make the right placement for everyone.

Note: All sessions will be live recorded and shared with all enrolled students afterward for review and to allow those who cannot attend live to still participate in the class.
Precepted by Dr. Isaac Schendel

Philosophy, Theology & Religious Studies Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Delve into the big questions that shape our understanding of the world—across traditions, thinkers, and texts. In a tutorial on Philosophy, Theology & Religious Studies, you’ll engage with classic and contemporary ideas in metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, or theology. Explore religious texts, spiritual traditions, or the interplay between philosophy and literature. Whether you're preparing for seminary or graduate study, developing an academic paper, or pursuing your own intellectual inquiry, this tutorial offers personalized guidance as you reflect, reason, and wrestle with the deepest dimensions of human thought.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Preparing for the Year Ahead
 Confirmed

Meeting Mondays & Thursdays at 7:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29
In this module we'll work together to create individual goals, projects, and action plans for the year to come and establish a journaling system to keep you accountable. We'll also cover techniques that I've found helpful and figure out how they best apply to you individually.

Each session will begin with a 15–20-minute mini-lecture on the session’s topic followed by examples from my own life. We will then take however long is needed for Q&A and discussion on the topic. The rest of the session will be a workshop format where we will share with one another the results from your own work on the previous session’s topic and “assignment”.

To get the most out of this class, expect to spend 1-2 hours outside of each class session and be prepared to share your personal goals and projects in class so that we can help each other refine and reach our goals. As this is a SPACE module, there are no requirements. But it is encouraged that you take 1-2 hours or so between sessions to work through your implementation of what was talked about in the previous session.

This module will be divided into three main parts:
Outline 8-Session Structure
Part 1: Introspection Session 1: Establishing Your Foundation (alt. Finding Your Why): Pillars + Roles
Session 2: Pursuing Excellence: Arete
Session 3: Reviews + Plans: Annual, Quarterly, and Monthly
Part 2: Planning Session 4: Habits + Goals
Session 5: Projects + Tasks
Session 6: Reviews + Plans: Annual, Quarterly, and Monthly
Part 3: Action Session 7: Taking Action: Weekly and Daily
Session 8: Following Through: Tools, Tips, and Techniques
Precepted by Keli Fancher

Spanish for Beginners 1
First in the Series  Candidate

Meeting Mondays & Wednesdays at 5:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on January 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
The first module of an 8-module series, designed for beginners of Spanish who have had very little or no previous contact with the language. The purpose of the course is to build up communication skills through interactive and dynamic sessions. The modules overview essential vocabulary, expressions, and grammar. This is a progressive course, so each module builds on the concepts studied in the previous one, so that, as the modules progress, other students with prior knowledge may join. Vamos a aprender español!
Precepted by Pilar Barrera

The Poetic Corpus of J.R.R. Tolkien: The Later Poems 3 (Volume 3: The Years 1931-1967)
(Section 1)
 Confirmed  Hybrid


Monday Lectures (Live-Recorded): Meeting for four 1-hour Lectures with Dr. Sara Brown (and/or guest Chris Vaccaro) meeting on Mondays at 11:00 AM Eastern Time on January 5, 12, 19, and 26.

Discussion Sessions: Discussion group meetings with Dr. Sara Brown on Thursdays at 11:00 AM Eastern for four 1-hour discussion groups on January 8, 15, 22, and 29.
Module description from Dr. Sara Brown (Lecturing Preceptor):

In this triad of modules we explore Volume 3 of The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien: Three-Volume Box Set, edited by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond. All are welcome to join the class whether new to the series or continuing from a previous module!

JRR Tolkien one of those rare authors whose poetry is as accomplished as his prose writing. Up to this point, though, those who wished to focus primarily on Tolkien’s poetry had to access a significant number of books and online resources to do so, as they were scattered far and wide. But now for the first time, a collected volume of Tolkien’s poetry is available, and it is a Tome of Significant Size!

In this hybrid course, we will read and discuss a selection of these poems, enjoying them for their aesthetic appeal as well as analysing them for Tolkien’s style, use of language, and the poetic forms he employed. This is a hybrid course, in which one class per week will be a lecture and the second class will be group discussion.

There are so many poems in these volumes that the intention is to spread the course over several months. If you can’t make one or more of the months, feel free to dip in and out as suits you!
Precepted by Dr. Sara Brown (Lecturer)
with guest Dr. Chris Vaccaro

The Poetic Corpus of J.R.R. Tolkien: The Later Poems 3 (Volume 3: The Years 1931-1967)
(Section 2)
 Confirmed  Hybrid


Monday Lectures (Live-Recorded): Meeting for four 1-hour Lectures with Dr. Sara Brown (and/or guest Chris Vaccaro) meeting on Mondays at 11:00 AM Eastern Time on January 5, 12, 19, and 26.

Discussion Sessions: Discussion group meetings with Dr. Sara Brown on Fridays at 11:00 AM Eastern for four 1-hour discussion groups on January 9, 16, 23, and 30.
Module description from Dr. Sara Brown (Lecturing Preceptor):

In this triad of modules we explore Volume 3 of The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien: Three-Volume Box Set, edited by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond. All are welcome to join the class whether new to the series or continuing from a previous module!

JRR Tolkien one of those rare authors whose poetry is as accomplished as his prose writing. Up to this point, though, those who wished to focus primarily on Tolkien’s poetry had to access a significant number of books and online resources to do so, as they were scattered far and wide. But now for the first time, a collected volume of Tolkien’s poetry is available, and it is a Tome of Significant Size!

In this hybrid course, we will read and discuss a selection of these poems, enjoying them for their aesthetic appeal as well as analysing them for Tolkien’s style, use of language, and the poetic forms he employed. This is a hybrid course, in which one class per week will be a lecture and the second class will be group discussion.

There are so many poems in these volumes that the intention is to spread the course over several months. If you can’t make one or more of the months, feel free to dip in and out as suits you!
Precepted by Dr. Sara Brown (Lecturer)
with guest Dr. Chris Vaccaro

The Poetic Corpus of J.R.R. Tolkien: The Later Poems 3 (Volume 3: The Years 1931-1967)
(Section 3)
 Confirmed  Hybrid


Monday Lectures (Live-Recorded): Meeting for four 1-hour Lectures with Dr. Sara Brown (and/or guest Chris Vaccaro) meeting on Mondays at 11:00 AM Eastern Time on January 5, 12, 19, and 26.

Discussion Sessions: Discussion group meetings with Patrick Lyon on Thursdays at 9:00 PM Eastern for four 1-hour discussion groups on January 8, 15, 22, and 29.
Module description from Dr. Sara Brown (Lecturing Preceptor):

In this triad of modules we explore Volume 3 of The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien: Three-Volume Box Set, edited by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond. All are welcome to join the class whether new to the series or continuing from a previous module!

JRR Tolkien one of those rare authors whose poetry is as accomplished as his prose writing. Up to this point, though, those who wished to focus primarily on Tolkien’s poetry had to access a significant number of books and online resources to do so, as they were scattered far and wide. But now for the first time, a collected volume of Tolkien’s poetry is available, and it is a Tome of Significant Size!

In this hybrid course, we will read and discuss a selection of these poems, enjoying them for their aesthetic appeal as well as analysing them for Tolkien’s style, use of language, and the poetic forms he employed. This is a hybrid course, in which one class per week will be a lecture and the second class will be group discussion.

There are so many poems in these volumes that the intention is to spread the course over several months. If you can’t make one or more of the months, feel free to dip in and out as suits you!
Precepted by Dr. Sara Brown (Lecturer) and Patrick Lyon (Section 3)
with guest Dr. Chris Vaccaro

The Witch in Fact and Fiction
 Spotlight  Candidate

Meeting Tuesdays at 3:00 PM Eastern for four 2-hour sessions on January 6, 13, 20, 27.
The witch is one of the most contentious figures of the present day: from victim of persecution to stock character to magical practitioner the witch embodies our fears and desires. In the Anglosphere, the witch has been actively reimagined since at least the late nineteenth century. This module tackles some popular myths associated with the witch, explores their origins, and ask how these myths are used today.

Are witches always female? Why do they fly on broomsticks and wear pointy hats? And where does a witch’s magic come from? The module answers these and other questions using a mix of historical, esoteric, literary and critical texts that get to the crux of how witches are depicted in fiction and history, and what witches themselves have to say about that.
Precepted by Dr. Anna Milon

Tolkien & Inklings Studies Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Embark on a personalized journey through Tolkien's legendarium with our Tutorial in Tolkien Studies, where you'll explore the depths of Middle-earth alongside expert mentors who share your passion. Whether you're delving into Tolkien’s work for the first time or building on years of scholarship, our tutorials adapt to your goals—supporting everything from foundational reading to advanced academic projects.

Work one-on-one with a preceptor to analyze the linguistic foundations of Quenya, to develop a paper on the ethical dimensions of The Silmarillion, or to prepare a presentation for Mythmoot. Possible areas of focus include language and philology, narrative theory, theology, adaptation studies, or the broader mythic and historical influences that shaped Tolkien’s work.

Through personalized guidance, thoughtful feedback, and collaborative exploration, you'll learn to apply diverse literary lenses, engage meaningfully with existing scholarship, and develop compelling arguments—perhaps even toward publication or conference presentation. These tutorials build on Signum’s long-standing commitment to Tolkien scholarship and connect you with a vibrant, global community of fellow explorers in the world of Middle-earth.

Interested in expanding your focus to the wider circle of the Inklings? Our tutorials also welcome projects on C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield, and related authors. If you're examining themes like friendship, mythopoeia, theology, or imaginative fiction across the Inklings’ works, we’d love to support your journey.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.