Course Dates:  June 2 – June 28, 2025

NOTE:

This course starts on the Island of Spetses and ends in Athens. Students should make travel arrangements accordingly.

Spending two weeks at the beautiful Anargyrios & Korgialenios School, students of Modern Greek Language and Culture will have the opportunity to learn and practice the language while enjoying the landscape and the island life of Spetses, one of the most impressive, cosmopolitan and historical Greek islands that’s only a short ferry ride away from Athens. The following two weeks will be spent in Athens, where the language and culture class will be enriched with walks around the bustling, colorful city center and with visits to ancient and modern sites that are interweaved in Greece’s history and culture.  A day trip to the picturesque site of Epidaurus in the Argolid is also part of the program.

Through different aspects of language practice, as well as etymological, historical and cultural information that complement language instruction, students will become familiar with the various facets of Modern Greek culture and society, so that they can move comfortably and sensitively within the host society and become an integrated part of it.

Beginning Modern Greek Language and Culture (MGKL-101) for those with no or very little knowledge of the language. By the end of the course, students will be able to handle orally daily life situations (introducing oneself, describing family, ordering coffee and food, making reservations, shopping, requesting and understanding directions etc.); will acquire daily vocabulary and basic grammatical structures; and will also be able to write simple letters and short paragraphs.

This class will focus on strengthening and improving students’ oral language proficiency through different activities and daily life interactions inside and outside the classroom and on enhancing reading comprehension through short stories and interactive texts (e.g. role-playing, skits, films, internet searches, advertisements, songs, walks, interviews with locals, travel diaries, group projects, presentations etc.).

Course Details

Enrollment

This course requires a minimum enrollment of 8, with a maximum enrollment of 12.

Credit

60 contact hours

Essential Information

The course starts on the island of Spetses and ends in Athens. Class will spend two weeks in Spetses and two in Athens. Transportation between Spetses and Athens is included in the course fee.

Enrolled students will have access to detailed information prior to departure that will include directions to Spetses and other practical information about the course. CYA recommends the following websites for general information about Spetses: https://spetses.gov.gr/  and Athens: http://www.athensguide.com/.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This course involves travel.  Be wary of overpacking.  Pack only what you can carry comfortably, because you will be required to check- in and out of accommodations for each stay of this course. It will also be useful to bring with you travel-size cosmetics.

Housing

While on Spetses, students will be staying at the dormitory of the Anargyrios & Korgialenios School complex in double occupancy airconditioned rooms with daily maid service. While in Athens, students will be housed within walking distance of the CYA Academic Center in CYA student apartments located in the Pangrati neighborhood of central Athens.  Student apartments are simply furnished and equipped with a full kitchen and air-conditioned bedrooms; towels, linens and weekly housekeeping service will be provided.

Facilities

Spetses: The Anargyrios & Korgialenios complex is built on the beautiful Kaiki beach, a short distance (1 Km) from the Spetses port and the town’s bustling center. Besides classrooms and conference rooms, the complex includes sports courts, a library, a music hall, dining hall, cafe, as well as an open air theater.

Athens: The CYA Academic Center is located next to the Athens Marble Stadium and houses classrooms, the library, the student lounge and cafeteria, computer facilities as well as Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and administrative offices. The Academic Center is accessible Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Meals

While on Spetses, breakfast will be served daily.  Lunch will be served Monday to Friday at the complex’s dining room.  While in Athens, lunch will be served Monday to Friday in the CYA cafeteria.  A welcome and a farewell dinner are also included in the course fee.

Day-to-day Program & Itinerary

The day-to-day program and itinerary of the course are subject to change. Students are advised not to make plans for their free time or weekends in advance, as class schedules and site visits may be re-scheduled depending on local conditions.

MGKL-101