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Corona Updates from Greece & A Greek Song About Staying At Home!

What a period it was! Here can read some of our Corona Updates from Greece, written between 202o and 2022 and listen to a Greek Song About… Staying At Home!

In the meantime, 2022 started with some sunny days here in Greece, as well as some snow as well…
Our daily walks in the Athens streets and parks continued, just like in 2020 and 2021. However, since now there is no corona curfew anymore and we are allowed to go further than our municipality, we can also go for daily trips towards the snowy mountains again…something which was not possible last winter.

In the meantime, the world news seems once again taken over by ‘corona’,  or “omikron”. The positive news; we are honored Greek letters are used for a pandemic :-), and the entire world gets the chance to learn the Greek alphabet. We realized many non-Greeks have no clue that the viruses are named after letters of the Greek alphabet, but fortunately, our dear students are very well aware 🙂 .
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Vamvakaris and Greek Rebetika Music

Greek Rembetika music is closely connected to the name of Markos Vamvakaris, whose great significance for this genre is also reflected in his nickname: “the patriarch of the rebetiko.”

Read this article in Greek
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Greek Singer Yannis Charoulis and his music

Greek Singer Yannis Charoulis is a known Greek singer, songwriter, and musician whose music brings together elements from entekhno (orchestral music with elements from folk songs and lyrics often based on the work of famous Greek poets), rock, and traditional Cretan music.
Continue reading to learn more about his career and Greek music, and listen to one of his songs. It is accompanied by a transcript of the lyrics as well the English translation for easier comprehension.

Click here to read the article in Greek

His story 

Yannis Charoulis was born and raised in Crete. His first encounter with music was at the tender age of 6, when his father taught him to play the mandolin. A bit later he got his first laouto (gr. λαούτο), which is a long-neck fretted instrument of the lute family, most commonly encountered in Greece and Cyprus and bearing similarities to the oud. Starting at 15, he was playing professionally at local fests and celebrations and studying traditional Cretan music more closely.

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Travel Diaries About Greece, Greek-English Parallel Texts – Athens, Sparta & Mani

If you are not able to travel to Greece at the moment but would like to get that feeling again, then why not reading some travel diaries?
And even better…If you are at the advanced level in Greek, then you can also improve your Greek reading and listening skills at the same time.

Below more information about the eBook,
Travel Diaries About Greece, by 19th-century British Writers – Athens, Sparta & Mani.

Adapted and translated by Eleni Maria Georgiou.
Accompanied by the Greek Audio-Book, narrated by Eva Christodoulou (omilo teacher)

Click here to purchase your copy

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10 important Greek Proverbs

We selected 10 important Greek Proverbs for you, which are used very regularly in the Greek language. Every culture and language has a collection of wise sayings that gives advice about how to live your life. These are the so-called proverbs.
In Greek, they are called: οι παροιμίες.
Of course, when you start learning Greek, proverbs are difficult to memorize, and it is easier to start learning the Everyday Greek Wishes and very common Greek expressions first. Therefore, you are welcome to click here and download our free eBook + English translation and Audio.

However, apart from the basic and daily vocabulary, it’s fun to know some common Greek proverbs because you will hear them frequently.
Learning Greek proverbs can also help you to understand more about Greek culture or the way people think in Greece!
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Practice your Greek with a TV series, based on Syros island and the novel by Tasos Athanasiadis.

Click here to read this article in Greek

Would you like to traveling to Greece or participate in an Omilo Greek Langauge and Culture course this summer, but you are not confident to travel yet, due to the corona pandemic?
Do not worry, if you’re still looking to ‘travel’ from the comfort of your own living room whilst staying safe and practicing your Greek skills, we have the perfect idea for you: why not give the Greek TV series Η Αίθουσα του Θρόνου a try?
This Greek TV series was shot in both Attica (Athens, Lagonisi and Nea Makri) and the island of Syros, where the Omilo summer courses take place.
Continue reading to learn more!

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Our Valentine’s Wishes From Greece ! Σας αγαπάμε :)

Hello Dear Omilo friend!
Γεια σου αγαπημένη φίλη / αγαπημένε φίλε!

Today it’s Valentine’s Day, and one of those days we are supposed to be romantic, spending a nice day with our love, book a romantic dinner, go for a romantic walk…

Σήμερα είναι του Αγίου Βαλεντίνου! Μια μέρα που υποτίθεται ότι γινόμαστε πιο ρομαντικοί, περνάμε μία όμορφη μέρα με τον/την σύντροφό μας, πάμε για έναν ρομαντικό περίπατο στην πόλη… Read more

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A Traditional Greek Love Song From Crete

As you all know, in Greece there are so many wonderful songs, singers, songwriters and composers. This time, we chose for you a beautiful, traditional love song from Crete. Listen to this sweet song and the sound of the Cretan lyre!
Under the video, you will find the Greek Lyrics as well as the English translation. Maybe you can sing along… Enjoy!
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Discover the Real Greece, with “masaresi.com”

Click here to read the article in Greek

MASAREΣI, the Greek eShop and Blog introducing you to the “Real Greece,  already celebrated its first anniversary.
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A Greek Spelling Exercise, for the Advanced levels

Are you learning Greek, and struggling with Greek spelling? Don’t worry! We all know Greek spelling is not easy, even for those already at an Advanced Level!

Click here to read this article in Greek + listen to the GREEK AUDIO

In order to get over this difficulty and learn Greek while having fun, we prepared for you a small, but challenging exercise.

Here below a small text full of Greek spelling mistakes! You can use it to practice and find the mistakes. At the same time, you will learn about  Aesop’s Fables! Read more

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