Free Greek language courses in Istanbul, by “Dialogos”

Introductory course: Tuesday 11, Friday 14 and Tuesday 18 of October 2016
Actual course: December 12 – February 28, every Tuesday and Friday

The course & the method

Dialogos is offering a free Greek language course, lasting from December 2016 to February 2017 (10 weeks, 40 hours of 60′) in Istanbul, for residents of the city. The course will take place in TAKSAV foundation, Kadıköy during the weekdays, in the afternoon – evenings and is intended for Greek language learners of all levels: absolute beginners up to advanced (C2) students!
Grammar and vocabulary are taught via the use of texts and materials written by the teachers of Dialogos. Emphasis is placed on the development of listening and speaking skills. New material (both in grammar and vocabulary) is mastered by students with the use of word games and verbal exercises.
The small class size (6 – 18 students) ensures that every student will have the chance to speak and improve their language skills in the course of each hour of instruction. During the weeks of instruction students will also have the opportunity to discover some of the less well-known aspects of contemporary Greek life, through songs, music, conversation, presentations and assignments.
During the lessons hours, the teacher speaks as little as possible in the class and encourages students to speak instead. The teacher’s role in the classroom is a) to briefly present material (words and grammatical rules), b) to encourage students to speak using THIS material and c) to correct students’ mistakes.

The scheme

During October 2016 an introductory course will take place. This will give the students an opportunity to get to know the teachers and their teaching method; then to decide if they want to continue the lessons or not.

The introductory course will take place during the following three days: on Tuesday 11, Friday 14 and Tuesday 18 of October 2016. Lesson hours: 17:00 – 19:00 or 19:30 – 21:30 depending on the classes / levels that will be formed. We strongly suggest that students start with the first lesson and continue through the third. However, we will consider individuals who wish to start with the second or third lesson, by special arrangement.
The actual course will follow from December 12 to February 28 according to the following schedule: Every Tuesday and Friday from 17:00 – 19:00 or 19:30 – 21:30 (lesson hours depends on the classes / levels that will be formed)

Course location

The course will take place at the TAKSAN foundation
http://istanbul.taksav.org/

Due to high participation the venues at Taksav foundation are full. Students may register in a NEW COURSE that will take place at Hotel Armada Ahırkapı Sok. No:24, Cankurtaran, Istanbul (https://goo.gl/maps/m9RBEzkXZoH2) on Wednesday, October 12 & Monday October 17, the following hours:
17:30 – 19:10 or
19:30 -21:10

Who is teaching?

Native Greek language teachers, with a wide experience in teaching Greek as a foreign language.

Tuition

The course is offered for free. That means that we don’t require students to pay a certain tuition in order to be able to give these lessons. However, Dialogos and the teachers do need money and we expect our students’ financial support in order to give this lesson. We are expecting our students’ financial support because we believe that this course is a struggle against prejudices we must fight all together: teachers, coordinators and students.
Our students’ financial support is totally voluntary and it is based on a monthly donation. Each student should choose how much money he or she can contribute per month. This means that students who are unable to contribute anything are still welcome to participate for free! However if we won’t be able to cover a minimum monthly budget from donations we won’t be able to give this course.
Participation in the introduction lesson during October is totally free. No tuition or donations are expected for the introductory lesson.

Register

Fill in the online form if you would like to register in the introductory course:
https://goo.gl/forms/bqTmsxP5zgbyIlhI3

What is Dialogos?

Dialogos is a nonprofit organization based on voluntary work for reasons of principle: interest in the initiative is what should mobilize people to get involved in it. Dialogos is an action against the fanaticism and intolerance which are based on prejudice and stereotypes of the ‘other’. This fanaticism and intolerance eventually spreads and gets stronger. Dialogos is based on experience gained through 18 years of teaching Greek to foreigners at the Ikarian Centre on the island of Ikaria in a multi-cultural environment.
Our intention is to promote, as far as possible, work in these three areas: language learning, the development of personal contacts, and a careful investigation of the perceptions and prejudices that we each have for the ‘other’ because of our personal experience.
The absence of contact between the populations of our two countries makes communication between us more difficult and the walls of prejudice higher. The study of the language of the ‘other’, the development of personal contacts with members of the group beyond the border, and the careful examination of the perceptions each group has of the other (impressions formed by experiences in school, from family and friends, from the military, the press, literature, television, etc.) can help tear down these prejudices and contribute to the development of a relationship built on mutual respect, responsibility and tolerance for the differences of the ‘other.’
Dialogos offers its actions free. The initiative relies on donations from participants and volunteers in the form of voluntary work, materials, financial support and moral support from those who wish to provide it.
Dialogos has no political or economic dependencies from institutional or governmental entities, but calls for cooperation with any organization or person involved in opening channels of communication to work against fanaticism and intolerance.
Dialogos has already organized three parallel Greek – Turkish language courses on the island of Samos (2009) and Thessaloniki (2012 & 2013), for Greeks and Turks who learn the language of “the other”