Intended for

It is addressed to professionals who are already at the level of proficient user C2, and have completed all other levels (up to C2), who wish to refresh their knowledge in Greek and/or to practice interpretation and translation. It is also intended for professional interpreters and translators who already translate from Greek.

Centre’s learning materials used.

Methodology

Following your enrolment and payment (of 5 or 8 or 16 lessons depending on your programme) you will be given access to our online platform containing all learning materials. You study the materials, do the exercises and send them to your teacher who corrects and returns them within 48 hours.  

One-hour weekly meeting (or more) with your teacher online on Skype.  More hours of preparation can be arranged.  However, that should not be necessary if you do your homework according to the timetable agreed with your teacher.

One teaching hour is 60 minutes.

Where are the courses held?

Online courses are held on the Hellenic Culture Centre’s E-learning platform and include a one-hour session with your teacher on Skype.

Face-to-face courses can be held at a student’s home or workplace or hotel in Athens or on Santorini. Courses are also held at the Hellenic Culture Centre in Santorini throughout the year.

Are there any private lessons?

Private/one-to-one lessons based on the personal programme created for each individual student are available.  Group courses are more unusual.

THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL

Is composed of: documents, lectures, articles in magazines, laws and decrees, audiovisual materials (CDs, videos).

The textbook is a photocopied edition by the Hellenic Culture Centre.

GENERAL NOTES

1. Only two or three topics are completed in a 60-hour course. Political speeches, Parliamentary issues and texts concerning contemporary issues (e.g. European armed forces, Terrorism, International High Court, etc.) will also be examined. Depending on the level and ability of each study group material from the Grammar and Vocabulary will be selected and taught.  
2. Important: This is not a course on translating or interpreting but a Greek language course. Authentic texts taken from the press, essays, literature, official documents and speeches are studied. 
3. The FACE TO FACE course is supported by audio and videos, and taught by specialist philologists and linguists. It consists of 40 hours of lessons and 20 hours where students observe special lectures, based on suggestions by the Centre’s secretariat, as well as public discussions or university lectures on subjects related to Greek culture and contemporary Greece. 
4. A minimum of 7 students is required for this FACE TO FACE group course. If there are fewer students the course can be organized with a corresponding increase in fees. 

Requirements

No special technical knowledge on technology.  However, a 15-minute introductory session is offered for free, if needed, to help students to familiarize themselves with the use of the platform and Skype. Students are required to have a good Internet connection and a headset with a microphone.

Before registering, students must do a grading test to enable tutors to ascertain their language level and educational needs. Ask us to guide you to the test suitable for you. You may also do the test orally, via Skype. The Director of the Hellenic Culture Centre will call you in order to assess your language level and design your learning pathway, according to your learning objectives.

Content

The platform contains texts, glossaries and videos   for categories with sub-topics such as the following:

Ι. TOPICS

• Politics
• Environment
• Education
• The economy
• Media
• The Greeks and other peoples
• The health system and health insurance
• The Greek family
• Agriculture and fisheries
• Immigration and Asylum policies
• Terrorism
• Greek State and the Church
• The Cyprus Question et al.

II. Grammar Focus

Participles (-εις -εισα -εν, -ας, -ασα, -αν, -όµενος -η -ο, – ων -ούσα -ών, -ών -ούσα –ούν, -ων -ουσα -ον). Ancient Greek participles of the passive past perfect. Internal augmentation of verbs. Adverbs -α, -ως, etc. Passive syntax

III. Vocabulary

• Homonyms
• Paranyms
• word clusters
• Expressions from Ancient Greek and the Bible
• Idiomatic expressions
• Youth jargon
• Proverbs

Fees 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF REGISTRATION

• All educational materials for this online course will be provided by the tutors online. Students do not need to buy the books.
• Online group and semi-private courses are 8 weeks long (one learning cycle).
• The platform will remain open for the students who would like to submit their assignments and complete all the activities for 10 (ten) days after the end of the Skype lessons, at no extra cost.
• The programme of lessons agreed has to be completed within one year after the first registration.
• A Certificate of Attendance is issued for all students who will participate based on the hours they will have attended multiplied by 3, as the online learning takes more time for a student to study.

FORMING

• GROUP course: The school is entitled to add up to 8 students to a GROUP course
• GROUP course: In case one or more students drop out a GROUP course, the fees will be adapted accordingly (up to 2 or 3 students 20 euro/ hour/each as a SEMI-PRIVATE, and 1 student 39 euro/hour/ each as a PRIVATE course).
• SEMI-PRIVATE course: In case a student drops out of a SEMI-PRIVATE course of 3 students, the other two students will continue their course at the same fee for the current learning cycle (20 euro/hour) and maybe a third student of the same level will be added later
• SEMI-PRIVATE course: In case a student drops out of a SEMI-PRIVATE course of 2 students, the student who remains will continue their course at the PRIVATE fee (39 euro)
• PRIVATE course: In case the school adds a second or/and a third student to a PRIVATE course (after consulting with the student), the fee will be 20 euro per person

CANCELLATION

See our CANCELLATION POLICY

PAYMENT

• The SEMI-PRIVATE & GROUP course should be paid in advance for 8 weeks
• The PRIVATE course should be paid in advance for at least 5 lessons

Tutors 

All language teachers at the Hellenic Culture Centre are certified and experienced in teaching Greek as a second/ foreign language to adults and adolescents. They also have training and experience in online teaching and they are native speakers of Greek. You can see their CVs here.

Dates 

Start dates for the 8-week cycle GROUP courses for the 2024-2027

Online courses are offered throughout the year 7 days/ week, from 07.00 to 24.00 Greek time. Please contact us for information about private and semi-private courses.

We suggest 2 hours/week for levels A0- B2, and 1 hour/week for levels C1-C2+ and special courses. 

A teaching hour lasts 60 minutes.

The weekly schedule of the group and semi-private courses are arranged after consultation with the group.

Certification

The HELLENIC CULTURE CENTRE issues a Certificate of Attendance for the lessons held. The Hellenic Culture Centre is an officially recognized organization as a Lifelong Learning Centre and a language school by the Greek Ministry of Education and Religions (EOPPEP code number 2101782/ 2018 and 2308668/2018).

Working language

Greek is the working language in the Greek courses. All teachers can speak at least one foreign language including English.

Cancellation Policy for Online courses

• GROUP ONLINE lessons and SEMI-PRIVATE ONLINE lessons cannot be cancelled (if the student does not attend a scheduled meeting, they pay 100% of the lesson fees if the lesson takes place)
• A student can cancel a scheduled PRIVATE ONLINE lesson more than 6 hours before and pay no fees
• In case a student cancels a scheduled PRIVATE ONLINE lesson 6 to 3 hours before, they pay 50% of the lesson fees
• In case a student cancels a scheduled PRIVATE ONLINE lesson 3 to 1 hour before the scheduled time, they pay 100% of the lesson fees
• Αn ONLINE lesson should be transferred within the current week from the cancellation of it and no later than the next Sunday, provided that the teacher is available and that the next lesson should be held as scheduled.

Cancellation Policy for Face-to-Face courses 

1. Full refunds will be given up until the last day to register for the programme (1 month before the beginning of the course)

2. For late cancellations there will be no refund. However, the student is entitled to re-register within one year’s time. In that case, the student pays the extra cost, if any

3. When students are given refunds the bank charges are payable by them. In case the course is cancelled by the Centre, a full refund will be given to the student at no extra charge

4. For face-to-face lessons, you need to cancel your lesson at least 12 hours before by emailing the secretariat AND the teacher. If you cancel 12-6 hours before, you pay 50% of the fees. For late cancellations (0-6 hours before), there will be no refund.

Next steps – the registration process

1. Fill out the application form here
2. Receive more information about the courses from us, along with a more detailed application form
3. Send us the completed detailed registration form. Do not forget to write down your availability hours for the courses.
4. You receive information about the hours and days of your lesson, the teacher as well as the paying details 
5. You send us the proof of deposit of the tuition
6. You receive from us the passwords to the platform as well as the contact details of your teacher
7. You start the lesson!

NOTES:

1. To find out your level in Greek, it would be good to do one of the grading tests that you can find above, in the Grading Test button. Keep in mind that it is best to print it out and write it by hand, without seeking any help. The test is gradually becoming more difficult. So, you do not have to finish it. Then scan it and send it to us, so we can suggest you the best course option that suits your level.

2. To identify your level as well as to create your personal Learning Path, make an appointment with the Director of the Centre, Mrs. Ifigenia Georgiadou ifigenia@hcc.edu.gr here 

3. You will only pay after we find the right day and time for your lesson.