9 Creative Ways To Learn Greek Online (free + paid)
When I was little, my mom used to make me a cheese sandwich for school: two slices of bread with margarine (ah, the 80s!) and a slice of cheese, usually γραβιέρα or κασέρι.
I had the same sandwich every day, for years - sometimes alternated with fruit or her handmade τυροπιτάκια (cheese pies).
My aunt, on the other hand, would start with the same foundation, the cheese sandwich, and then she’d add a slice of tomato, sometimes ham or leftover chicken or feta cheese and a bit of mustard (Have you tried a feta cheese, tomato and mustard sandwich? It’s heavenly!).
My aunt’s sandwiches were always a surprise to my taste buds.
When you think of “Greek learning”, what comes to your mind?
A little bit like my standard cheese sandwich, you might be thinking that you can’t go wrong with a good course book and grammar activities.
That’s valid. Only that, if you stick to it for long, you might miss all the other “flavours”.
This is why today’s post is about different ways to learn Greek creatively online. Creatively doesn’t mean to throw what helps you so far - a course book, a class, your grammar book - out the window.
It means to learn new helpful ways to not just learn, but also experience & enjoy the language in real context and then pick what suits you best and add it to your learning.
In the examples below, you’ll see a variety of resources with or without the use of social media and you’ll be inspired to add a little bit of spice to your learning.
Let’s dive in.
#1 Words and expressions posts
You’ve definitely seen such posts on Facebook and Instagram.
They might or might not be accompanied by a picture or even an audio clip to help with pronunciation. Also, sometimes, they include a list of words or phrases. A bit like this:
HOW TO USE THEM:
For vocabulary learning, create a folder and download the images from Facebook for ready made flash cards. In case there’s an explanation below, add it in the folder as well.
If you’re on Instagram, while it doesn’t allow downloading, you can create a dedicated folder within the app.
Here’s how: Below the picture you’ll find a bookmark. Click on it. Then create a folder to store all similar pictures you save. The end result will be like this (this is from my Dutch folder).
Use the phrase you’ve learned as a writing or speaking prompt to create a piece of writing or a recorded answer. For example, I love story writing: start or end with the phrase you learn.
#2 Grammar posts
You’ve also seen grammar posts on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. They use a grammar explanation, a verb conjugation or a noun declension.
HOW TO USE THEM:
Although they won’t and can’t substitute a good grammar book (like this one, which is my favourite), you can use them as grammar “snippets”.
As a learner, I never had success with them, because I learn grammar in context, but if you’ve decided to actually use them, then I suggest you make a complete grammar lesson out of them.
How? Pick ONE post, then go in depth by searching about it in your grammar book. Complete with more activities to practice it further.
#3 Grammar activities posts
As an “extra” to the grammar posts, you’ll also find images with several short activities: fill out the blank, right or wrong or short quizzes.
These are usually posted by language teachers, where you can reply and get feedback or simply follow the account to check what others reply and learn from them.
HOW TO USE THEM:
Again, to take full advantage of this activity, try 2-3 exercises.
What do you notice? What are the correct answers? Note them down and then try similar activities from your grammar book to consolidate your knowledge on the grammar topic.
#4 The blog!
I couldn’t leave this very blog, by “yours truly”, out... couldn’t I?
HOW TO USE THEM:
Apart from the obvious - reading it! - you’ll find a couple of study suggestions at the end of most posts, especially those about vocabulary and speaking.
Also, one of my students printed all (Yes, all! Thank you!) the blog posts and made a little book she uses from time to time.
With 44 blog posts - 45 with this one - and 6 different categories you can definitely get a substantial amount of Greek learning, too.
Eliza, another reader, told me she uses the examples from the vocabulary blog posts to record them and practice some pronunciation. Recording the examples on your own is an awesome practice! I never thought of that. Thank you, Eliza!
#5 Vlogs and videos
These are videos you watch on YouTube or Instagram or videos you make on your own and upload them for personal use or to share.
HOW TO USE THEM:
For videos you can watch: The Easy Greek videos is a creative learning way on its own.
How cool is using short street interviews and then turning these episodes to lessons? To read more about them, check out this interview with the Easy Greek team.
For vlogs you can make on your own:
Richard is another student who is doing awesome work with vlogs to practice and at the same time monitor his progress. He records himself speaking Greek as spontaneously as possible and uploads the videos on YouTube.
And he has shared a little video of himself singing in Greek with his bouzouki, too!
#6 Studygram, Art and Language
For artistic people who love colours and crafts, beautiful notebooks or journals are another nice way to play with the language and then post a picture of it online in a “studygram” account.
However, studygram accounts are not just for beautiful pictures. You can use both pictures and videos to monitor your learning and inspire others or to connect with other Greek learners or language learners in general.
HOW TO USE THEM:
Decor your notebook or journal with colours, doodles (which you can also use for vocabulary learning or story writing), or calligraphy. Here’s a Greek YouTube channel to help you with Greek calligraphy.
Like Eliza did with her account, you can take pictures of your current study (books you love and take nice notes from, such as story books, cooking books, other nonfiction or fiction books):
You can also record yourself and post a short video, exactly like with vlogs above.
The difference here is that on Instagram you can post videos that will disappear after 24 hours (Instagram stories) or post videos on your grid, which will be visible unless you delete them.
Next, you can follow language hashtags such as #learninggreek or #greekstudy to get more posts relevant to the Greek language.
#7 Language Challenges
This is another way to practice speaking or writing with prompts daily with or without the use of social media.
HOW TO USE THEM:
For example, a challenge I like is the # 30dayspeakingchallenge.
This is an everyday monthly challenge where you can sign up for a small fee. You record your reply to a daily speaking prompt and then you get feedback from other participants.
It is hosted by an awesome English language teacher, Jonathan Huggins ,and you can sign up here (today is the last day to take part for the month of June!)
#8 Facebook group
Another way to learn online is our Express Your Greek Facebook group. (no longer open)
I’ve started this group 2 years ago in order to bring together learners who wanted to chat mostly in Greek in a closed and not public group.
This is not a group for beginners, instead it’s focused on pre-Intermediate and up Greek learners, who want to be immersed in the Greek language (English is used where necessary), increase their vocabulary, practice writing and also listening.
A note: To join, you need to reply to 3 questions and agree to the terms & conditions. This is necessary and not optional, in order to ensure the group’s friendly & active character.
HOW TO USE THEM:
This is a discussion group around a biweekly topic. A few days later I “go live” in the group sharing everyone’s answers and then reply with my own.
Richard shares how he uses the live videos from the group to improve his Greek - which he has been doing successfully for several months:
“I still follow the Live chats - what I do is:
1. Try to catch it live, but if not then listen to the video
2. Play the video to my phone running Google Translate audio recognition - which is surprisingly good and transcribing the text (it usually flunks out on non-Greek names though)
3. I cut and paste the text into Word (set to 2 columns) - left column
4. Type the English on the right hand column and look up words I don't know
5. Finally I will read through the Greek aloud to practice pronunciation. I can do this again into the phone to see if it understands what I said. (it is quite handy for that)”
I admired his consistency and asked him to share this extremely useful strategy with you. Thank you Richard for being such an inspiration to other Greek learners!
#9 Membership
Last but not least. If you’re looking to combine several of the above creative ways to keep learning Greek - which, by the way, doesn’t involve social media - check out here my membership program.
This is a 3-month membership for learners who want to enjoy natural, everyday Greek for pre-Intermediate & Intermediate levels, through various topics of interest, without overwhelm but with the support of a small community of learners and my feedback.
HOW IT WORKS:
At the beginning of the month, you get access to the monthly mini-book which includes various authentic texts (in journal, article, literature style). For example, for the current month of June there is a journal style text, a Greek language related text with several phrases and a culture related text.
Audio for 1 or 2 of the texts is also included, as well as a short podcast in slow(er) Greek, related again to the monthly theme, plus the transcript.
There are various writing and speaking prompts to help you speak and/or write in Greek - and you can send me one speaking piece for feedback!
A membership is about getting together. Learning from each other, sharing, being there to support each other with a common goal and dream.
This is why you can interact with others in the closed forum, share your replies, questions or ideas and be part of a friendly community.
Lastly, you can practice some more Greek with our monthly online calls and exclusive newsletters with “insider” history and culture tidbits of Greece & the Greek language
It’s fun and cozy and we’re simply having a great time!
LAST FEW TIPS:
It’s common to get all excited about the wonderful online opportunities that exist. I know because I’ve been there as a learner myself. But you can quickly lose focus and get tired.
Try a few ways at first and then decide the 2 or 3 you like the most. This doesn’t leave the rest out. When for example you need to focus more on your speaking or your reading, you can switch to different ways of learning.
My humble advice: Pick no more than 2 or 3 social accounts to follow. It’s easy to follow all Greek teachers out there, believing you’ll make quicker progress.
Again, as someone who’s learned from her mistakes, less is indeed more.
It’s about your effort, not about how many “words of the day” you’ll like or store. It’s about your consistency and dedication, your own passion and love, not about following all 100+ Greek online teachers.
Myself included: If you find I don’t help you the way you were hoping, then pick someone who does fulfill your expectations better.
CONCLUSION
Back to my little story, my mom taught me how to cook simple, everyday meals and make simple cheese sandwiches - which are still my comfort food, by the way.
My aunt taught me to experiment with cooking, add more creativity and find new ways to be playful and enjoy food.
And there’s value in both.
Use your foundation well and then add the variety that suits you best: to enjoy the language, to dive into Greek with all your heart and be part of the culture and language in your own unique way.
Whatever your choice, have a wonderful Greek learning!
Thank you for learning with me,
~ Danae
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