About Andreas — Who is behind Lapicida Latinus?
Latin sometimes feels like hauling menhirs—heavy, relentless, and you wonder if you’ll ever make it.
I know that feeling. When I had to make up for my Latin exam in record time for my degree (History / Computer Science), it turned into a real nightmare for me because of my dyslexia (LRS). I can easily turn a 764 into a 476 just by reading.
Since I simply couldn’t find an app that would teach me how to practice sentence components or the ACI in real texts, I—as a developer—simply sat down and built my own: Lapicida Latinus.
Lapicida — the stonemason
Lapicida is Latin for stonemason. And that’s exactly the secret: a stonemason doesn’t force the stone with brute force, but shapes it with quick, precise, and repeated strikes.
Since I knew from personal experience that memorizing tables never worked for me, I developed Lapicida based on the principles that would have worked for me. You can find the scientific basis for this on the Lapicida Learning Method page →.
That’s exactly how the app works: It doesn’t do the work for you, but it makes Latin easier and more accessible.
As an athletic trainer—A-license since 2012, CrossFit Level 2 Trainer, and currently volunteering with the ATSV Habenhausen B-Youth Handball Bundesliga—I experience firsthand every day how performance truly develops.
Timothy Gallwey summed it up perfectly for sports: It’s not mindless drills that make the difference, but the moment when your mind stops getting in the way. What he calls “Self 1”—the critical inner voice that immediately cries out “Oh no!” at every mistake—blocks natural learning more effectively than any incorrect technique. Sprints help counteract this: They boost the release of BDNF, the growth factor that literally prepares the brain for learning. And short, focused sessions with immediate feedback create exactly the rhythm in which real learning happens—with fun instead of fear.
That’s why Lapicida has no point deductions, no grueling streaks, and no “starting over from the beginning.” Instead, it offers short sessions, direct feedback on the text—and grammar falls into place on its own through repetition.
Put an end to the frustration
Now I’m offering you the very tool that relieved me of the overwhelming stress of learning Latin.
Are you a teacher, too?
Lapicida is also available as a class license (including a teacher dashboard) for your lessons.
Questions, feedback, or just a quick “SALVE”? Use the feedback button right in the app or write to me directly. Lapicida Latinus is a one-person project. When you write, I’ll reply to you—not a support team. I read everything.
Andreas Blankenstein — Bremen, 2026