I had a hard time knowing when to use «ότι» or «που» when I wanted to say “that.” Then I learned a few phrases like «χαίρομαι που» and «συγγνώμη που», but I still made tons of mistakes.
Then I found this video from Linguatree titled, “After this video, you won’t make this mistake again”. After 6 minutes, my problems with «που» and «ότι» were solved!
Thank you Linguatree!
I was recently introduced to “το πρώτο μου λεξικό,” a Greek to Greek picture dictionary. While it is intended for children, I have been finding it very useful. My favorite part is the example sentences that are provided for each word. It is really useful to see a new word used in context!
Other features I like:
Check it out!
Well… I did it! I quit part of my Greek language routine that stopped working for me. Seems like a no-brainer, but in reality it was hard to do. I had invested a lot of time in that activity, over two years in fact. But, it had become more about the streak than the Greek.
Now that I’ve quit, I don’t miss it.
Language learning is a journey and it was time to get on a different train.
I’ve been trying out Clozemaster as a means of daily review. So far, after five days of use, it seems promising!
Clozemaster uses cloze sentences to help you review. What’s a cloze sentence? It is a sentence with a missing word that needs to be filled in so that it will be complete. With the free version of Clozemaster, you get 30 cloze sentences per day. There’s also a paid version that has an unlimited number of sentences per day.
So, what are the features that make it promising as a great review activity?
Continue Reading – ClozemasterMy 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 DictionaryRecently, 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..In a previous post, I analyzed why I keep making the same grammar mistake over and over again. My mistake occurs when I say or write a sentence that has a direct object. Recently, I was talking in a conversation group about a bear I had seen. I said, <<Γενικά, οι αρκούδες φοβούνται οι άνθρωποι>>, I should have said, <<Γενικά, οι αρκούδες φοβούνται τους ανθρώπους>>. I frequently forget the change that is needed in the direct object, for example from <<οι άνθρωποι>> to <<τους ανθρώπους>>.
I came to the conclusion that my mistake has the following causes:
-I rush when trying to speak
-Maybe I don’t understand the grammar
-The mistake is fossilized or “stuck”
My plan to fix the mistake has 3 steps:
Continue Reading – Fixing a Grammar MistakeLet 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 – ΤζατζικιTyping 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 GreekNeed extra motivation to study? Do you want a direction for the material that you are covering? Try preparing for the Greek Language Exam! The preparation can help round out your learning by focusing equally on reading, writing, speaking and listening. Even if you don’t take the test, the preparation gives a solid, well-rounded foundation in the language.
Good luck if you decide to take the test! I hope you find the following resources useful. I used them to prepare for my A2 exam and I plan to use them again to be ready for the B1 exam in May 2024. Summer is over and it is time to kick the learning into high gear!
Continue Reading – If I Did It, You Can Too!
Modern Greek Learning Journey 