Ed Smith-Rowland has journeyed from a lifelong passion for ancient Egypt to confidently reading hieroglyphs. Ed shares his transformation from struggling with a dense grammar textbook and getting "bogged down" in memorization after just a couple chapters, to now reading a wide variety of ancient Egyptian texts -- everything from temple and tomb walls to letters and literature to heart scarabs and the Book of the Dead.He discusses how a structured approach and small, consistent daily practice have allowed him to read a wide variety of ancient Egyptian texts and connect directly with their history and philosophies, and even moving into more complex literary and hieratic texts.In this episode, you will learn:• Overcoming initial learning hurdles: Discover why traditional, self-study methods with thick grammar textbooks can be challenging and what to do instead.• The power of a text-led approach: Learn how reading actual texts and common formulas, such as offering formulas and appeals to the living, accelerates understanding beyond rote memorization.• Cultivating a daily learning habit: Hear how a consistent practice of 30 minutes per day, described as "slow and steady wins the race," proves more effective for vocabulary and word recognition than cramming.• Achieving reading fluency: Learn how Ed progressed from basic texts to confidently reading most of a stela, and moving into more complex literature like "The Shipwrecked Sailor" and even the hieratic script.• The benefits of finding a supportive community: Explore how an online group can foster camaraderie, shared encouragement, and learning from diverse questions without the pressure of competition.• Personalized learning within a group setting: Discover how you can engage at your own pace, "choosing your own adventure" in a non-competitive environment that supports individual learning styles.• Deeper contextual understanding: Learn how reading original Egyptian texts has taken Ed's understanding beyond language and into the social context of monuments, titles, and family dynamics, enriching his overall understanding of ancient Egyptian history, culture, and philosophy.Join us for the free class "Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Fast-Track" on November 11: www.voicesofancientegypt.com/freeclass

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