Category: Strategy for Learning Greek

Ode to a Dictionary

October 6th, 2023

My copy of the Oxford Greek-English Learner’s Dictionary by D N Stavropoulos is hands down one of the most used and most useful resources that I own!

In fact, I’ve used this dictionary so often that I had to repair the spine and all of the corners with packing tape.

Why do I like this resource so much? Its almost 1,000 pages of definitions capture subtleties of word meanings that make translating a word a rich and nuanced process.

Let’s take a look at the word <<πέφτω>> as an example.
Continue Reading – Ode to a Dictionary
So Many Resources, So Little Time

October 4th, 2023

Recently, in a Greek Language group that I attended, someone asked of the group “How do you spend your time when learning Greek?” I love when people ask this question, as it often leads to resources being shared and discussed. Beyond resources, this person was inquiring as to how people organize their learning time.

With so many resources available – podcasts, YouTube videos, workbooks, apps, conversation groups, lesson groups, and more – how you organize your learning time is an important question to consider.

While thinking about the question, I realized there are some larger principles that guide my learning process. If you are unsure of how to spend your time, maybe these principles will help you decide.
Continue Reading – So Many Resources..
Τζατζίκι

September 25th, 2023

Let me just say that I think tζατζίκι είναι πεντανόστιμο! (tzatziki is really delicious). Every time I have the chance to eat Greek food, I make sure to order something that includes this tasty sauce. Finally, I decided I needed to learn how to make tzatziki rather than waiting to go to a Greek restaurant. Making tzatziki was also a great opportunity to practice Greek by using a recipe written in the language.

Here’s how it went:
Continue Reading – Τζατζικι
The Best Speaking Advice

September 22nd, 2023

Speaking a language that you are learning can be intimidating, especially if you have limited vocabulary in that language.

Before studying Greek, I spent some time learning Spanish. At the time, I decided that I’d only speak Spanish with the Spanish teacher at the school where I worked.

One day, I wanted to tell her something but I didn’t have the vocabulary for it, so I told her in Spanish that I didn’t know the words that I needed. What she said next entirely changed my outlook on how to speak in a new language. I continue to rely on that advice for speaking Greek.

Here’s the best language speaking advice I ever got:
Continue Reading – The Best Speaking Advice
Strategy: Type in Greek

September 21st, 2023

Typing in Greek has really helped to improve my Greek language skills. When I type or write in Greek, I have to focus on how the word is spelled, particularly what vowels are used, and where the accent has to go. In order to achieve this benefit, I think it is important to type using Greek letters rather than using “Greeklish”.

Learning the keyboard layout takes a little practice, but is achievable. Most of the Greek letters are found in the same place on the English keyboard as the letter with the similar sound. For example: Φφ is the “f” key. The placement of Ξ, Ψ and Ω takes some practice to remember, but for me, the most difficult to remember is the “θ” – I’ve lost track of the number of times that I accidentally typed “θ” in the middle of a word when a “υ” was required!

Need help with the Greek keyboard layout or need instructions for how to change your keyboard? Keep reading.
Continue Reading – Type in Greek

Category: Strategy for Learning Greek

Ode to a Dictionary

So Many Resources, So Little Time

Τζατζίκι

The Best Speaking Advice

Strategy: Type in Greek