The Athens Centre's Modern Greek language program is considered to be the most comprehensive of its kind.  Training much of the diplomatic and business community in Greece, it is widely regarded as a benchmark for language programs worldwide.  The program is based on a comprehensive, integrated approach to learning modern Greek. 

Courses are scheduled throughout the year and include beginning through advanced proficiency levels. The syllabus has been created to teach the language to adults of all nationalities, using textbooks developed at the Centre. Classes are small, with an average of 8-12 participants in each course.  A three week  summer program is held on the island of Spetses. ( See details)

All instructors at the Centre are language specialists who use methods whereby the individual learns Greek comfortably at all levels. The methods used emphasize spoken Greek, and include language games and exercises combined with textbooks and other materials. Instructors are Greek nationals who speak English and several other languages. Two of the instructors have written and published  widely-used Greek language textbooks, and other have written supplementary books to enrich the language program.

Participants in the language courses are encouraged to develop an interest in many aspects of Greek life and culture. Extra materials are used in all classes, and include folk songs, literature and articles from newspapers and periodicals. Students receive certificates at the end of each successfully completed course.

A three-week summer session is held each year on the island of Spetses. The program includes immersion language classes, extra activities such as Greek folk dance and films, and optional excursions to the Epidaurus Festival of Ancient Greek Drama.

Types of Courses

Immersion: 3 weeks, 5 days a week, 4 hours a day.

Accelerated: 4 weeks, 5 days a week, 3 hours a day.

Intensive: 7 weeks, 3 days a week, 3 hours a day.

Regular: 10 weeks, 2 days a week, 3 hours a day.

Regular: 5 weeks, 2 days a week, 3 hours a day.

Conversation/Grammar Review:  5 weeks , 2 days a week, 3 hours a day

Greek Literature:  3 weeks, 3 days a week, 3 hours a day

Course levels are indicated by numbers (I, II, III, etc) which indicate a progression from beginning through advanced levels. A detailed syllabus for each level is available at the Athens Centre office, but a brief description is as follows:

Greek I: Basic Greek for beginners. Conversation, vocabulary, elements of grammar, reading and writing for those with little or no knowledge of Greek. Text: Ellinika Tora 1+1, ch. 1-7.

Greek II: A continuation from Greek I, with further vocabulary and grammar development and improvement of reading and writing skills. Text: Ellinika Tora 1+1, ch. 8-11.

Greek III: Intermediate Greek, emphasis on conversation, classroom discussion and presentations, more advanced grammar. Text: Ellinika Tora 1+1, ch. 12-15.

Greek IV: Class discussions based on assigned readings in textbooks and other materials, including newspaper articles; grammar review and development. Text: Ellinika Tora 2+2, ch. 1-6.

Greek V: Selected prose and poetry read and discussed, short essays assigned, completion of most aspects of grammar, extensive class discussions. Text: Ellinika Tora 2+2, ch. 7-11.

Greek VI, VII: Courses for those already reasonably fluent in Greek, who wish to enrich their vocabularies through more advanced reading, writing, and discussion.

Conversation/Grammar Review: Intermediate and upper level conversation/grammar courses for participants who have completed ( level II for Intermediate, and levels III or IV  for upper level) Reinforcement of previously covered vocabulary, advanced grammar, assigned topics for each class.

Advanced Newspaper: A course based entirely on articles from the Greek  press, on selected topics in politics, business, the arts etc.,  Participants are expected to discuss the articles in addition to analyzing the style, idioms, and language quality. Level IV Greek  required.

Greek Literature: An introduction to Greek poetry and prose for advanced level participants. Cavafy, Seferis, Ritsos, Kazantzakis and other will be read and discussed.

Business Greek:  An introduction to doing business in Greece in Greek. ( Level III and above)

Registration fees are  €10 per year. Course fee are listed on the fees page. Registration forms are available at the Athens Centre office, 48 Archimidous Street, Mets, Athens. The office is open for information and registration Monday through Friday, from 9:00am-8:00pm, tel.  210 701-2268, or 210 701-5242, fax.210  701-8603. To register for a class you can go to the registration page at this website: registration/services.htm (click)

For the convenience of participants from abroad, the Centre keeps a file of available housing, including apartment sublets, and nearby hotels and pensions. Housing costs vary considerably according to length of stay, time of year, and other factors. Detailed information is available upon request at info@athenscentre.gr

The Athens Centre's Greek Language courses are recognized by the Swedish
National Agency for Higher Education (Hogskoleverket) and CSN. Swedish
students can register for the CSN (www.csn.se) programs through
SI-SPRAKRESOR & SPANSKA INSTITUTET. Please find address below.

Vara terminskurser ar godkand for studiemedel av CSN (www.csn.se) och
Hogskoleverket.  Svenska studenter anmaler sig till vara CSN utbildningar
genom:

SI-SPRAKRESOR & SPANSKA INSTITUTET
Vastra Hamngatan 20 III 2 A, 411 17 Gothenburg, Sweden
Tel +46 31 13 80 85, Fax +46 31 13 03 29
E-mail: jose@spin.se

SPRAKPUNKTEN
Sysslomansgatan 35
  Box 2097 , 750 02 Uppsala Sweden
E-mail: info@sprakpunkten.se
FAX:   +46 18 551004
http://www.sprakpunkten.se/site/skola/186-1-the-athens-centre.html

AVISTA Språkreseförmedlarna
  Box 7723 , 103 95 Stockholm
nina@avista.nu
www.avista.nu
Tel:  08-440 16 30
Fax: 08-440 16 39