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Hello, all Greek lovers out there,
My name is Ksenia, and I am lucky to live in a country I love – Greece. I am absolutely in love with the Greek language, I teach it, and I am a skype-language.com manager.
Nice to meet you!
The headline sounds attractive, doesn’t it?
To be honest, a few years ago I used to think that it was impossible to put the words “Greek” and “easily” in one sentence. And if someone had asked me: “How long is it going to take me to learn it?”, I would have said: “Even a lifetime isn’t enough”.
So, is there really an easy way to learn Greek, or Modern Greek to be precise? I can assure you– it’s in your hands if you really want to!
In this article I’m going to share with you some secrets of successful learning Greek , and probably it will work with any other language as well.
Well, let’s start with the basics:
1. Motivation.
It really is true that to study a foreign language the first thing you need is to be motivated to do it. Set clear goals and targets for yourself, and just move towards them step by step. For example, a trip to Greece on your next holiday might be your motivation, or the Greek language exam. The point is to have a clear understanding why you are studying Greek.
Believe me, studying Modern Greek just as a hobby without a particular objective is going to be much more difficult than in a situation where you “have to take an A1 language test in 3 months”.
2. Love.
Love to the Greek language, to Greece and its people is essential!
It is very difficult to make yourself study and remember something you don’t like, don’t understand and find alienating.
And it’s a completely different matter when every squiggle in this still new alphabet makes you smile, when you are interested in Greek customs and traditions, and Greek music touches your heart strings.
3. People who you can talk to (pen pal friends and conversation partners).
It’s very important to have someone who you can practise everything that you have learnt with.
Sign up for different online forums and/or Join different communities which are interesting for you in social networks. Read posts and leave your comments, write letters to your Greek friends and even call them.
The most important thing is not to feel bad about making mistakes, and you should avoid using another language while talking (Russian or English).
If you find it difficult to remember words and phrases during a phone call, try sending voice messages. Have you just hung up and realised that there was something you could have said but didn’t do it? Just send a voice message right away!
Keep in mind that in social networks you are likely to come across Greeklish – writing Greek words using Latin letters, and also some popular contractions of words (you can find the list here).
4. Language environment.
If you are studying Greek far from native speakers and Greece, it’s absolutely necessary for you to create and maintain a language environment in a place where you live. Stick cards with words where you will always see them, hang some tables with verb forms, listen to Greek radio stations, your favourite Greek music , watch Greek films and series.
5. Favourite books and reading out loud.
You really should read in Greek. I think it’s a good idea to start with books translated into Greek from other languages. For example, try looking for your favourite book on this site: Ebooks4greeks
I personally started with Harry Potter
Use your dictaphone or mobile phone to record short extract from books, and then listen to them. It’s a wonderful pronunciation practice.
6. Study regularly.
It’s important to allocate time for your learning every day rather than just doing your homework in a hurry once a week before a lesson. Daily lessons, even if they are short, will bring you good result faster!
7. And last but not least, you should enjoy your Greek lessons!
It's likely that translating a witty quote with some Arkas' sketches and then discussing it with your Greek friends is going to be much more useful for you than an excruciating hour spent on your own rote learning the rules or word lists.
So, are you ready to start learning Greek?
Then follow the link and sign up for a free trial lesson with our teacher!
There is a nice bonus: tips on how to memorise Greek alphabet fast.
