Learning Greek - A week of words.

When I came to Greece to live permanently, over three years ago, my mission was to immerse myself in the Greek culture and learn the Greek language. Many British manage without learning Greek especially if they live and socialize in the expat community. But the rural /mountain villages require a level of Greek language in order to integrate locally.

 

Most of our elderly village neighbours have lived a rural life off the land, so many cannot read or write, with little access to internet and TV. Therefore very few speak languages other than Greek and vocabulary is basic. 

My friends ask me how I am learning the language. There is no right or wrong way of learning... I have just simply found a way that works best for me. 

What is communication?

55% of communication is non verbal (facial expression and hand gestures). 38% vocal (tones and sounds), and only 7% is actual words. So therefore you are 93% already there!!! 

 

I am primarily a kinesthetic learner; a tactile learning style, being involved in physical activities rather than listening to lectures or watching demonstrations. Absorbing information is best through touch, movement and motion. 

Other learning styles include audio, visual and social, so online classes, audio sessions or a weekly social group language class may suit you better, depending on your learning style. How you learn a language also depends on how you wish to communicate. For me I only need conversational Greek, not reading or writing.

When I first arrived in Greece I concentrated on learning what is known as the 'holiday basics' 

Now each week I focus on 7 words that I can use in my daily tasks. For example over the next few weeks I am gardening, so I learn and practice words related to that. Next week I will learn fruit and vegetable names.

Garden - Kipos

Gardening - Kipuriki

Flower - Luluthi

Plant - Fyto

Vegetable - Lakhanika 

Soil - Homa

Seeds - Sporous

I concentrate on learning nouns and practicing phonics. With these words, hand gestures and facial expression I am able to communicate with my neighbours.

Its a similar process to a child learning to talk, in that you understand far more of a conversation before you learn enough vocabulary to verbally respond. 

I also use a pocket size phrase book/dictionary which I find very useful, as the phonics are included to help with pronunciation. I like to highlight the words that I have learnt. Its is surprising how many I now know.

The Greeks appreciate my efforts and enjoy accommodating my basic needs by helping with pronunciation, tone of voice and introducing new words. We learn from each other and share each others cultures and knowledge. Isn't that what communication is all about?