IWP offers an accelerated, intensive, specialized, and targeted course that aims to help students acquire a working knowledge of modern Greek and prepare them for the IWP Hermes study abroad trip in Greece. This course is designed to develop basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) through texts, audio, practice, and exercises to prepare students to communicate in modern Greek at a basic level while living and studying in Greece and enhance their cultural immersion experience in the local culture.
The course teaches a basic oral command and understanding of modern Greek, including a basic vocabulary of commonly used words and idiomatic expressions, as well as some specialized, professional, or technical terms specific to politics and diplomacy, history, economy, and social studies.
Special attention will be given to building the necessary language infrastructure with an emphasis on reading, listening comprehension, speaking, and some writing. Alphabet, sounds, specialized and basic vocabulary, formulaic/idiomatic expressions, basic grammar, and essential structure principles are taught in theory and mostly by intensive practice, through carefully selected texts, dialogues, and audio podcasts (adapted from modern Greek books and podcasts, or made up from everyday-life situations and current events).
Additional on-site summer instruction in Greece will help students further develop and practice oral communication skills.