Σχόλια
Είμαστε γεμάτοι ενθουσιασμό! Ενθουσιασμό για τα προγράμματά μας, την ελληνική γλώσσα, τον ελληνικό πολιτισμό, το φαγητό, την φύση, την μουσική της Ελλάδας… αλλά πάνω από όλα για εσάς, τους μαθητές και τους επισκέπτες μας!
Τα σχόλιά σας μας βοηθάνε να γίνουμε (ακόμα) καλύτεροι στο μέλλον και να προσαρμόσουμε τα προγράμματά μας στις ανάγκες σας.
Some students gave their testimonials by video, which you can watch at our Youtube Playlist, by clicking here
Παρακαλούμε να μας στείλετε τις παρατηρήσεις σας, τα σχόλια ή τις σκέψεις σας με email (info@omilo.com) ή στην σελίδα του Ομιλώ στο Facebook.
Για αυτούς που έχουν λογαριασμό στο gmail, είναι επίσης δυνατόν να γράψουν την κριτική τους στο Google. Κάντε κλικ παρακάτω και προσθέστε την κριτική σας ή διαβάστε τι γράφουν άλλοι μαθητές.
Μην περιορίζεστε μόνο σε αυτά που λέμε εμείς, διαβάστε παρακάτω τι γράφουν οι μαθητές μας από διάφορες χώρες. Οι κριτικές και τα σχόλια μάς στάλθηκαν με email.
What a wonderful week I had, nervous to begin with, we were set tests to determine our level and I found myself in a lovely group with five other participants from Germany, England, Norway, Austria and France. We had two sessions of teaching every morning, conducted in Greek, really testing my concentration and listening skills and by the end of it I wanted to continue as I felt I was just beginning to loosen up. I so want the language to flow and it’s not there yet. After the moment, when I have time to think, I know exactly what I should have said but that doesn’t help. I become a bit tongue tied in class and forget the simplest, most common verbs. The teachers were empathetic, clear and inspiring. I loved the dancing and singing and finding more about the Easter traditions and of course meeting such interesting people, all with a common love for Greece.
Jintsi, Nafplion Easter course, 2022
Omilo are fantastic!!
I absolutely loved my time with Omilo in Syros!! The Omilo team are very friendly and welcoming. The classes were excellent and fun – the teachers are lovely, very professional with excellent teaching skills, and great enthusiasm, making the classes a lot of fun and great for learning. We were a great group of students – There was a real sense of community throughout.
Syros is beautiful – we stayed and studied in the lovely small non touristy village of Azolimnos by the sea. Local people in the tavernas and shop knew we were with Omilo and were very friendly, and supportive of our learning.
I thoroughly recommend Omilo!! And as I am addicted to learning Greek, I am so happy I found them and can’t wait to return next year!! Thank you so much Omilo!
Sarah. UK , July 2022 Syros
Good morning Maya & wonderful team,
Lovely to receive the photos of my Greek course in Syros. Great memories. Huge thank you for such an amazing time with you all in Syros.
It was a wonderful couple of weeks for me. You all put so much energy into teaching and entertainment, along with understanding. The tours were extremely informative and the dancing and singing so enjoyable.
Since back home I have been studying using the Λυδια reading book with the workbook and 71 verbs.I thank you all for helping and encouraging me to get on board and for instilling in me the confidence to keep going . Look forward to being in touch with online lessons. Warm regards
Rosie (Mary), Syros July 2022
Hello Maya
I haven’t had the time to practice with the ebook yet , however I already am a client and fan of your podcast Apples Istories sta Ellinika, The Easy Greek Stories Podcast, that I had discovered while surfing on the internet.
This is an opportunity to congratulate you about it. These lively texts are a great opportunity to listen to Greek and keep in touch with the language at all times. When I discovered the first podcast, I listened to it over and over again and I am pretty sure that I am now familiar with all the vocabulary contained in it ! Later I downloaded some notebooks and I am in the process of studying the texts one by one, noting the vocabulary and then listening again. Mostly while alone on longish trips in my car ! The fact that it’s accessible on Spotify is really great. I have actually listened to all existing podcasts and am eager to discover the ones to come ! I particularly enjoyed the story of the couple who met at Mount Parnassus. I did understand it all and how surprised and proud I was that a story told in Greek could actually make me laugh !
I recently discovered that sometimes your courses take place in Lefkada – that’s where I’ll be going! But really it is your podcasts that keep me closer to « fluency » in Greek. So please go on with them !
Congratulations for this good idea, and to all your nice team.
Kalo vrathi !
Easy Greek Podcast Stories, Isabelle (France)
My experience of Omilo in Nafplion was one that I’ll always remember.
The week was well organised and the Omilo team were extremely professional, the teaching was excellent and all the lessons were interesting and fun.
From the very first lesson I was able to relax and with encouragement from my teachers my confidence increased daily. To participate in an Omilo course is to be involved in something quite special.
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone who attended and felt that my level of Greek had improved by the end of the week.
I will definitely book another course and I look forward to returning to Nafplion soon, as it’s a beautiful city.
Thank you to all of the Omilo team,
Best wishes,
Lisa, UK,
Nafplion, Easter 2022
Dear Maya,
Just a note to tell you how much I appreciate your newsletter, The Monthly Dose of Sunshine: something I look forward to every month.
Lots of love, Matilde, Switzerland
Hello Omilo-team
I would like to share how much I love your materials! Really and truly, I learn so much from them. Sometimes I’m too quick to read them once and move on, when I should stick with one story longer, practicing it longer. I have just about everything from your site. I really enjoyed the easy short story #12, about Φάνης και Ντίλαν. It made me laugh.
Thank you for all the work you all do to help us learn the beloved Greek language!
Regards,
Omilo Publications,
Lisa Efthymiou, USA
I took part in a one-week Greek intensive course from Omilo in Agios Nikitas, Lefkas, at the end of May 2022 and can recommend both Omilo (which I already knew from a course I had once completed in Athens) and the Greek Language course. Quite intensive learning (four hours a day), but always in a pleasant atmosphere, with small groups per level of about 5 to 7 participants). Conclusion: I really enjoyed it, made nice acquaintances and really improved my Greek; I would do a course with Omilo again at any time and I have concrete plans to do so, either in Athens again or, like this year, in Lefkas.
Walter, Austria, Lefkada 2022
(Original)
Ich habe Ende Mai 2022 an einem einwöchigen Griechisch-Intensivkurs von Omilo in Agios Nikitas, Lefkas, teilgenommen und kann sowohl die Sprachschule (die ich schon von einem Kurs, den ich einmal in Athen absolviert hatte, kannte) als auch den konkreten Außenkurs auf Lefkas uneingeschränkt empfehlen: Recht intensives Lernen (vier Stunden pro Tag), aber immer in angenehmer Atmosphäre, im Fall meiner Gruppe (es gab wieder nur Kleingruppen mit ca. 5 bis 7 Teilnehmer*innen) hat). Fazit: Ich habe es sehr genossen, nette Bekanntschaften gemacht und mein Griechisch wirklich deutlich verbessert; würde jederzeit wieder einen Kurs bei Omilo machen und habe das auch konkret vor, entweder wieder einmal in Athen oder so wie heuer auf Lefkas.
Walter, Austria, Lefkada course June 2022
I attended the Omilo course in Lefkada in May this year. It was a great experience to improve my Greek and have a holiday at the same time. The hotel we stayed in was about two minutes from the beach so a great location.
I really enjoyed the classes. We had two teachers everyday and my group had three hours of teaching in total per day. The teachers Eva and Myrto were very enthusiastic and engaging and I definitely feel that my Greek has improved.
In the evenings, the hosts Maya and Dimitris would put on various activities e.g. Greek dancing, visiting another beach, watching a film etc.
It was a good opportunity to meet people from all over the world with a common interest in the Greek language. Thank you so much to the Omilo team! I hope to book another Omilo Course in the near future.
Katarina, UK-Cyprus, Lefkada course 2022
I recently purchased the Easy Greek Stories Podcast. I am an intermediate level student and these stories are just at the right level for me. I understand quite a bit of the text but they also challenge me to learn more. I listen to the podcast whilst looking at the Greek text. It really helps me with the pronunciation of words as well as expanding my vocabulary more. Another feature I really like is that the podcast narrates the whole story slowly first then repeats it at a faster pace. I highly recommend these podcasts and accompanying texts.
Angela, google reference
I did a summer course in Syros last August and it helped me a lot in order to gain fluency (my Greek is at an intermediate/advanced level). Not only were the classes both fun (each and every teacher has a great sense of humour) and interesting (forget about the usual food/weather/weekend plans talks), but you could also feel the effort that they put into the evening activities! I believe that they are the best choice for any intermediate/advanced greek learner out there: just take a look at both their blog and their podcasts and see for yourself! Of course, this is also true for beginners: I wish I had them from the start…I would have reached my current level in half the time! I think that their classes are the perfect mix of new vocabulary/grammar/speaking activities as well as an invaluable way to learn more about Greek culture. I’m looking forward to next summer! Χαιρετίσματα από τη Μαδρίτη!
Francesca, Italy, Syros 2021
(Translated by Google) I’ve been doing skype lessons since October and I’m more than happy. My teacher, Myrto, is kind and patient. I think my Greek has improved since last year.
I also absolutely love the simple stories from the Omilo Podcast.
(Original)
Έχω κάνει μαθήματα στο skype από Οκτωβρίου και είμαι παρά πολύ χαρούμενος. Η δασκάλα μου, Μυρτό, είναι ευγενική, και υπομονετική. Νομίζω τα ελληνικά μου βελτιώθηκε από την πέρσι.
Μου αρέσουν παρά πολύ τις απλές ιστορίες από το Omilo Podcast.
Dear Maya!
It was a pleasure for me to write a Google review, which you can see online. I had really a great time. Everything was so well organized and the Omilo-Crew and the people were so nice. Agios Nikitas and the hotel is a perfect place. Everything is near and beautiful. I’m still thinking every day at the wonderful time I spent there…
I also would like to try Syros, but this summer I have no time left…
Now I have to repeat and to deepen, what I’ve learned in the course
Many greetings
Uschi, Germany ,
Lefkada June 2022
Dear Maya
As you know I am always happy with Omilo, and to me it is so nice to meet all these people from all around the world, with the same passion for Greece.
I had a very nice time in Lefkada, and my class was perfect I think, we had so much fun.
The boat trip was nice, to swim in the clear water, and I had a very nice lunch in Meganisi with Peter, Uschi and Elena.
And Agatha was a beautiful place, with the view and nice atmosphere.
ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ!
PS.Yes,it was a pity you had to leave, it is nice when you are around.
Χαιρετίσματα
Rønnaug, Norway, Lefkas 2022
Καλισπερα Δημήτρη, Μάγια, Μυρτώ και Εύα
Θα ήθελα υα σας ευχαριστήσω για μια πολύ καλή εβδομάδα στιν Λευκάδα.
I had a wonderful time in Agios Nikitas and, I believe, a very good grounding for the beginning of my conversational Greek. I hope to come and visit you again next year on Syros … at which time I hope you will see an increase in both my vocabulary and my speech!
Very best wishes to you all. Τα λεμε!
Jacqui
Without doubt, my experience of Omilo is overwhelmingly positive. Whether on residential courses or through Internet teaching lessons. The passion, planning and professionalism of the Omilo school and its whole team is exemplary. The teachers are professional, enthusiastic, patient, well presented, responsive and good humoured. Such organisations examine every aspect of what they do and seek to constantly refine and improve each element to advance the whole offer. This professional, personalised, high quality service is value for money.
Johnnie Littler, UK, Syros 2020 and 2021 , as well as Online lessons
_____________________________________________Γεια σας! This was my first time on a course with Omilo. I was apprehensive about booking because I didn’t know much about the school. However, I can honestly say that I have had a fantastic experience. My Greek listening skills, vocabulary and grammar have improved but more importantly for me I feel far more confident about speaking Greek. The staff are extremely patient, skilled and have a terrific sense of humour. It is a chance to meet people from all over the world and hopefully make friends for life. If, like me, you are hesitant about booking, hesitate no longer and book! You will love it.
Julia Walsh, UK, Lefkada, June 2021_____________________________________________
My Omilo Greek Language and Culture course was just amazing! So lovely and competent teachers, I learnt a lot in the small classes (especially talking!) and I also liked the culture programs in the evenings very much! Syros Island is very beautiful and I had a very nice time with the other students as well. I definitely will take other classes with Omilo in the future!
Bettina, Switzerland, Syros July 2021_____________________________________________
Dear Friends from Omilo,
I really hope that you are all safe and in good health. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the photos and the video. These are wonderful memories of 2 phantastic weeks on the beautiful island of Lefkada. The course, the location and last but not least our lovely teachers. As co-classmate Julia said on the video, they teach with a lot of patience and a great sense of humour! I could imagine to come to Lefkada again next year, θα δούμε…
Best regards to all of you, take care.
Sabine, Germany, Lefkada , June 2021_____________________________________________
Αγαπητή Maya,
Ήθελα να σας ευχαριστήσω πολύ για την φανταστική εμπειρία που είχα στη Σύρο! Συγχαρητήρια σε όλους τους καθηγητές!! Είστε όλοι πάρα πολύ συμπαθητικοί, ευγενικοί και ειδικοί. Μου άρεσαν πολύ όλα τα μαθήματα, με όλους τους τρείς καθηγητές που είχα. Αισθάνθηκα πολύ καλά στην Αζόλιμνο, ήμουν σαν σπίτι και, μετά τα μαθήματα, μπορούσα να κάνω εξάσκηση των ελληνικών με το ευγενικό κορίτσι στο Μεριδάκι, με την κυρία στο μίνι μάρκετ και με μερικούς οδηγούς. Οι συμμαθητές ήταν και πολύ συμπαθητικοί και ήξερα πολλούς διαφορετικούς άνθρωπους, καθένας με την δική του εμπειρία της ζωής. Μου άρεσε πολύ όταν κάναμε παρέα στις ταβέρνες.
Τώρα ξέρω μερικά άτομα με ποιόν μπορώ να γράψω στα ελληνικά και να κάνω έτσι λίγο εξάσκηση, πριν να ξαναρχίσω τα μαθήματα με την ‘Ευούλα μου’.
Σίγουρα την επόμενη φορά θα έρθω για 2 εβδομάδες!
Ευχαριστώ πολύ και χαιρετίστματα σε όλους!Στο καλό. Paola, Switzerland, Syros July 2021 and online lessons
_____________________________________________Thank you so much for this wonderful course that I have been on the island of Syros in august 2021. Wonderful teachers and I will return next year, see you all then, all my regards to you lovely people.
Steinar, Norway, August 2021_____________________________________________
Maya and Dimitri, Omilo Team, thank you for these good wishes. Here is to a beautiful 2021! I miss this beautiful experience in my life which is the School and my intense desire with regard to the Greek language. The materials which you prepare with so much care and attention help immensely! I know how much work it takes. It is exceptional. There is no other school such as Omilo, anywhere!
Pierre, France, several courses in Syros and Nafplion_____________________________________________
Γειά σας, αγαπητή ομάδα της ΟΜΙΛΩ
Ευχαριστούμε πολύ για το εφημεριδάκι σας με τις ωραίες φωτογραφίες των μαθημάτων στη Σύρο. Με πολλή νοσταλγία θυμόμαστε τις μέρες που περάσαμε μαζί σας φέτος. Εκτιμούμασταν πολύ την κινητοποίησή σας να μας διδάξετε τα ελληνικά και να μας προσφέρετε τη ζωή και τον πολιτισμό της Ελλάδας.
Μετά τα μαθήματα στη Σύρο περάσαμε τρεις μέρες στο ωραίο νησί της Ικαρίας. Ναι, και τώρα χαιρόμαστε για την επόμενη εβδομάδα στην οποία θα ερθεί μάλιστα το καλοκαίρι κι’εδώ! Θα δούμε. Σας χαιρετούμε εγκαρδίως
Bert και Katharina, Switzerland, Syros June 2021_____________________________________________
Beste Maya, Dimitris & team Omilo,
Dank voor de nieuwsbrief, en mijn waardering en complimenten voor de wijze waarop jullie tegen de hele corona-periode aankijken. Ik proef duidelijk het bekende ti na kanoume, iets wat ik na 40 jaar jaarlijks Griekenland bezoeken (behalve 2020) me eigen had gemaakt, maar nu ik zo lang in NL moet verblijven begint het wel wat weg te slijten. Dus ben ik blij met jullie nieuwsbrief!!! Blijf gezond daar in my beloved Greece, en geniet van de zon, het leven en ..van elkaar. Met vriendelijke groet
Frank, the Netherlands
_____________________________________________Dear Omilo team and future students of Omilo!
This was a very strange year for all of us and despite having registered for the Syros course beginning on September 6 2020 many months ago, I was unsure if I should travel to Greece this year. During summer, cases in Greece as everywhere else were on the rise…but in the end, I decided that you cannot stop living and came to Syros. I never regretted this decision! On Syros island, not only did I have excellent and very stimulating Greek lessons, but I was also able to forget about the whole situation for two weeks, enjoy the beautiful weather, the hospitality of the Greek people and the company of friends which I had sorely missed during the period of confinement.
I felt very safe throughout my stay in Greece – I stayed for a month, travelling to Tinos and Athens after the course- and it gave my morale a real boost.
Thank you Omilo team for still offering these courses despite the difficulties you face organising them during this time, I hope to see you again very soon!Πολλά φιλιά από τη Γενεύη
PS. Also thanks for keeping in contact by sending us your newsletters!Αndrea, Switzerland, Syros September 2020
Dear Maia, dear Dimitri, dear everybody,
sorry I’ll write in English, it’s too complicated in Greek with the Greek keyboard, and I must admit, I feel lazy…
I’m just back, yesterday, from Greece, and couldn’t write to you earlier.
I must admit that my traineeship was fantastic. I enjoyed every moment. The teachers are great, the courses were very interesting, the classmates were very sympathetic.
What else can we expect? I enjoyed especially the mixture of texts on Greek culture, and the oral moments when each one spoke about his personal life.
My only problem is that I don’t enjoy much swimming neither staying on the beach. I get bored very quickly, since I cannot read when I’m on a beach.
Μπουμπούνας είμαι…
I think next time I would prefer the traineeship in Nafplio or in Athens, even if Azolimnos is a very nice place.
It’s not very nice at the moment in Paris, with the virus which makes everybody very anxious. Let’s hope people will be clever and sensible enough to accept the rules…
I hope you’re doing fine, It was great to know each of you.
My best regards to the entire team
Thank you for everything, lots of loveElisabeth, France, Syros September 2020
(Translated by Google) We have now attended a language course at Omilo for the fourth time and can recommend it without reservation. This school has earned the highest marks in every respect, both in terms of faculty and in terms of the material taught. The lessons are always very interesting, and fun at the same time. The hours go by in a flash and we will certainly book more courses.
(Original text) Wir haben nun bereits zum vierten Mal einen Sprachkurs bei Omilo besucht und können diesen vorbehaltlos weiterempfehlen. Diese Schule hat in jeder Beziehung die höchsten Noten verdient, sowohl bezüglich Lehrkörper als auch was den vermittelten Stoff betrifft. Der Unterricht ist immer sehr interessant und lustig zugleich. Die Stunden vergehen wie im Fluge, und wir werden sicher weitere Kurse buchen. Pia und Hans aus der Schweiz
Pia and Hans, Switzerland, Syros July 2020
Dear Maya and Dimitris,
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the online cultural course last week. I wasn’t sure what to expect but found the whole experience excellent and very friendly and relaxed. Each of the sessions was informative, interesting and presented in a way that was easy to relate to . The ‘breakout’ groups were a good idea giving us the opportunity to chat to the other participants, even for those of us with very rusty Greek.
It was lovely to see and hear the team again and I do hope that the OMILO summer courses go well. I will be envious of your being on Syros.
Also, the more I hear Greek the better it is for me so these Omilo Publications and eBooks with audio sessions are great for me (https://omilo.com/publications/)– and Marina and Konstantinos voices are so clear, I can imagine that I am in Greece attending an OMILO course. I like the multi-dimensions with the videos in addition to the audios and text in both Greek and English.
I enjoyed seeing the photos of the course in Syros. They made us both feel very nostalgic, we can’t wait to get back to our favourite island.
With best wishes to you all,
Angela, UK, ex-student
(Translated by Google) I have now taken an Omilo course twice, in Nafplio and on Syros, and both times have been very satisfying. All teachers are very passionate and enthusiastic. They know everything about the Greek language, they explain tirelessly and are happy to tell you about their culture. They create a pleasant, stimulating atmosphere so that you will enjoy sitting in class and your Greek quickly improves. The excursions, joint dinners and fun fellow students make it complete: I had a top holiday week in both Nafplio and Syros. In short, a must for any lover of Greek / Greece!
(Original text) Ik heb inmiddels twee keer een Omilo-cursus gevolgd, in Nafplio en op Syros, en beide keren is het me heel goed bevallen. Alle docenten zijn ontzettend bevlogen en enthousiast. Ze weten alles van de Griekse taal, geven onvermoeibaar uitleg en vertellen je graag over hun cultuur. Ze creëren een fijne, stimulerende sfeer waardoor je met plezier in de les zit en je Grieks snel verbetert. De excursies, gezamenlijke etentjes en leuke medeleerlingen maken het compleet: zowel in Nafplio als op Syros heb ik een topvakantieweek gehad. Kortom, een aanrader voor elke liefhebber van Grieks / Griekenland!
Jolanda, The Netherlands, Syros July 2020
(Translated by Google) I highly recommend this school and its summer courses. The teachers are very competent, friendly and patient. The activities offered are interesting and varied and what I like the most is that the experience combines the enchanting setting of the Cyclades and a very professional education, therefore stimulating but in a relaxed and holiday atmosphere !!!
(Original text) Je recommande fortement cette école et ses cours d’été. Les professeur(e)s sont très compétent(e)s, sympathiques et patient(e)s. Les activités proposées intéressantes et variées et ce qui me plait le plus, c’est que l’expérience allie le cadre enchanteur des Cyclades et un enseignement très professionnel, donc stimulant mais dans une ambiance détendue et de vacances!!!
Loic, Switzerland, Syros July 2020
Dear Maya, Dimitrios and Team,
I‘m so glad that I decided to do a language course in Athens and that I‘ve chosen your company! It was a pleasure to meet all of you and at the end a wonderful experience! Even if it was only one week at the end I dared to speak a lot in Greek! That was exactly what I expected to improve….
Also the framework program was very interesting and I’ve got to knew Athens from an unknown point of view! I really hope that I will join another course next year again in Athens.
Michaela, Germany
Athens course, October 2019
Dear Omilo team,
since two weeks I’m back to my daily life in Rio, back to my family and friends, back to work. My holidays in Greece, including the two weeks in Azolimnos look now like a nice dream I’ve had. The many good moments I had, some of them captured in pictures, are becoming memories. Like books in a bookshelf, those memories are composing now the library of my life. Sometimes comes to my mind the memory of a fact, a word said by someone, a taste, a smell, and I cannot stop the smile on my face, the smile of pleasure, like I was rereading a beloved book.
The Greek course was an adventure for me. It was the first time I was in a real classroom learning what, for me, is one of the most beautiful and challenging languages. By the hands of the Omilo teachers I had prose and poetry, grammar and communication, language and culture. By their hands I was guided, like Athena guided the heros, to a higher place. The classes I had, helped me to break a barrier. I feel that I can communicate and interact better than before. I’m not in Ithaca yet, but I know I can reach it.
I’m not sure, if we will see us soon. Between our countries there are continents and oceans… But my workplace (attached picture) will remember me every day, the unforgettable summer of 2019.
Χαιρετίσματα από τη Βραζιλία!
Luciano , Brazil
Syros course, July 2019
Dear all
Omilo had been recommended to me by a colleague at work as well as by the Greek teacher with whom I had 20 individual lessons in the Hague (in order not to arrive on Syros with no knowledge of the language at all).
The course has been an absolutely great experience for me. Starting with the information sent out before my arrival, which was very diligently put together and provided really all the details necessary, moving on to the accommodation organized by you and to the reception and dinner on Sunday before the course started-everything was perfectly well organized and marked by your very kind and attentive attitude towards all the students.The course itself was also excellently well prepared and organized. The quality of a language school obviously depends on its teachers, and Omilo’s primary asset are indeed your teachers. Based on the very extensive experience all of you have, you were able to very quickly and accurately assess my level (as well as the level of the other students) and place me in a group where I could quickly feel at ease and learn at a pace which made me feel comfortable. I could only marvel at the limitless patience, enthousiasm and professionalism of Konstantinos and Terpsi, the teachers I had. The system according to which each teacher is responsible for two lessons per day and then the other one takes over proved to be ideal. Four hours per day is intensive, for the teachers as well as for the students, and this way we could benefit the most, I am convinced of that.
An added value which made it possible to get to know Greek culture were the side events organized by the school, about Greek history, music, poetry and dance. I very much appreciated the sincere dedication by all of you to open the doors to the incredibly rich cultural treasures of your country to us.
Finally, I am very, very grateful indeed for the quick and flexible way how it was possible to organize private lessons for me during the week I spent in Athens after the course on Syros, This was really perfect too, it allowed me to advance further and to learn a lot.
I will come back for more Omilo courses, that is absolutely certain.Thank you very much and best regards
Maria, Switzerland
Syros September 2019, and Athens private lessons
Kalispera,
I was once again very happy to be in Azolimnos this year. Thank you once more for the excellent organization and atmosphere and the commitment of all the teachers; I surely won’t forget Eva’s performance during the evening dedicated to learning songs nor the excellent presentations of Marina and Konstantinos. As for the courses, I have been with some people of my class for the third year in a row, it was interesting to see the own progress in comparison with the other participants (and their’s too of course!). We had a good time with Jenny and Eva and siga-siga, my ability to communicate in greek progresses with each course.
Thank you again for that, have a nice week in Ermoupolis.
Ta lemeMarie-Christine, France
Syros course, August 2019
Querido equipo de Omilo,
Muchísimas gracias por dos semanas inolvidables de curso en Syros. Aprender la lengua en el lugar en donde se habla es la mejor opción. Tomé el curso de principiantes y considero que en esas dos semanas aprendí mucho. La manera en que los cursos están organizados me parece excelente, buena combinación entre gramática y conversación, además tener dos profesores diferentes en cada curso hace que la clase sea muy amena. Me encanto el ambiente de la escuela, todo mundo es muy amable. Maya siempre está al pendiente de todos y uno sabe que puede recurrir a cualquiera del grupo de profesores en cualquier momento. Las actividades sociales y culturales que se organizaron por las tardes fueron muy divertidas. Además Azolimnos es un lugar bellísimo. Recomiendo ampliamente a quien quiera aprender griego o a perfeccionar su griego a tomar cursos con el equipo de Omilo.
Silvia, México
Syros, curso de dos semanas agosto/septiembre 2019
Dear team,
I first heard about the Omilo language course through facebook. When my fellow-student Britt told us that she wanted to participate I decided to accompany her and so did Liedwien and Erik. I also heard Eric Dolfen, who is in the same dance group as myself, he was very enthusiastic and I know that he speaks Greek very well.
I am very much satisfied with the course, though one week is a bit short but we learned a great deal.
Both Eva and Konstandinos are very good teachers, very encouraging and they are also sympathetic people.I was glad to learn a good deal of new vocabulary and to be able to put it into practice. We learned the past continuous of all types of verbs and repeated the difference between personal and possessive pronouns.The room in pension Galaxy was very convenient and the hotelkeeper was friendly and helpful.
I also enjoyed the other activities, the dancing, the film and the excursion to Ermoupoli. Azolimnos is the perfect place for a language course. Life is cheap, the beach is not too crowded and there are some good restaurants.I definitely want to come back to Syros to explore the rest of the island.
Thanks a lot for a wonderful holiday. Kind regards
Bea , Belgium
Syros July 2019
Dag Maya
Het positieve punt, dat alles overheerst, is dat ik veel zin gekregen heb om verder Grieks te studeren. Dat dank zij de enthousiaste wijze van lesgeven van Konstantinos en Eva, elk op hun manier.
Of we wat meer of wat minder grammatica of woordenschat gekregen hebben, of we wat te veel of te weinig geschreven, geluisterd of gesproken hebben, doet er dan voor mij niet toe.Als ik terugkom, zal het voor de 2 weken zijn, dan waarschijnlijk met mijn vrouw. Voor wie meekomt hoeft Omilo niets te organiseren, maar een blad met suggesties om te doen in de tijd dat de anderen de les volgen, kan interessant zijn.
Met vriendelijke groet
Erik , Belgium
Syros July 2019
Kalimera,
Truly enjoyed once again my syros experience. Ευχαριστώ πολύ.
For your info, here a copy of what I wrote on google reviews;OMILO provides the perfect combination of excellence, fun and heart !!! I have been studying at Omilo for a few years now, it has made a world of difference in my life and on my language level. Classes are adapted to all learning preferences and levels. The staff is like family plus they are brilliant and incredible professionals. Intensive courses take place in amazing locations around Greece (Syros is my favorite 😉 ) : a GREAT way to learn while having an unforgettable vacation and meeting people from around the world sharing our love of Greece and greek culture.
Danae Mache, France
Syros course, July 2019
Dear Maya & Dimitris,
We again loved the course and especially the teachers. Everything was very well organized and the atmosphere was great.The teachers were brilliant, kind and very bright. I very much enjoyed conversation classes with Eva and very interesting grammar lessons with Marina. Also, other students were very interesting and friendly. However, I think that this year I would have learned more if I was a part of a more advanced group (last year I very much enjoyed my classes with Caroline).Andrej on the other hand learned a lot and was completely satisfied with the level.
Give my love to Eva and Marina!
Marjan, Slovenia
Syros July course, 2019
Thank you all so much for such a brilliant week. I have returned to London and have been studying every day – you have boosted my enthusiasm and confidence so much.
I’m hoping to enrol on another course with you as I enjoyed the Nafplio one so much. If I don’t make any of this year’s courses then I will look at coming back to Nafplio next year. I wish now that I had booked the two week course as I felt the progress I made in the first week was really good (for me ??) and a second week would have reinforced everything. Anyway, ‘my brain was full’ by the end of the first week so maybe I had reached saturation level!
Many, many thanks again and I love receiving the email updates and NewslettersJulie, UK
Nafplion Easter course, April 2019
Γεια σας,
Here is my feedback about Omilo..
It is a fantastic team, everybody seems to love the job, the spirit is high.
I used to be a college teacher for 34 years, so I know the your job: I can asure you, that you all are very professional languagewise and at the same time very much entertainig.
I guess Marina is one of best language teachers I`ve ever had. Also your homepage is outstandig compared to the other Athenian schools !Max, Switzerland
Athens, March 2019
Dear Maya,
I sincerely want to thank you, Dimitri and all the Omilo team for the many years of fun, friendship and of learning Greek with you. It always felt as though I was with a family and the association with your amazing organisation has brought me much happiness and wonderful memories.
My passion for Greece and the Greek people will never die and I have started classes in Greek here in Perth. It’s rather amusing as I am in a class of eight women and I am the only non Greek. I so enjoy their company and we have a lot of fun.
I want to thank the entire Omilo team from the bottom of my heart for all that I have learned and for the truly fantastic times I will treasure forever. Much loveSally , New Zealand
Lefkada & Syros 2012-2018Καλημέρα σας,
Thank you so much for everything, I literally loved every single thing about my course — next time I hope to stay for the full 2 weeks instead of just 1 wk.
The schedule was ideal, 10 am-2pm — it was quite intensive, but not too much so. The break from11:45 am – 12:15 pm was very welcome and necessary.
Quality of teaching was most impressive — Eva & Marina were just terrific: extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and adapted their speaking to our (intermediate level) by speaking more slowly and clearly — perfect for me.I also loved the presentation on Bambakaris, rembetika artist. Also, since comprehension is the skill I need the most work on, it was very helpful to be spoken to first in Greek, then in English (Dimitri did this when addressing the group). Thank you for running such an excellent program — your professionalism and obvious care and attention to quality are most appreciated!
Ellen, UK
Syros, Intensive course, July 2018
Dear Omilo-team,
It was a lovely course again! Wonderful to get a 4 hours long Greek shower every day. Everything was perfect for me. I liked the flexibility that we, the students, always could ask questions, the teachers took the point, and gave a lot of examples in the theme. We did not feel that we disturbed by our questions. I like the oral part, speaking a lot very much, and the writing must follow and strengthen the learning. I like the small village, so that we did not lose each other . Perfect with your cultural activities in the evenings. I travelled alone, and made friends with the others. So not scaring to come alone to Omilo!
I am already planning the next course with Omilo, and I promise to work better / more on my Greek during the winter……Thank you! See you again!
Sidsel, Norway
Syros, Intensive course, July 2018
Thank you for a great experience!
Nice balance of language and culture….dancing, eating out, speaking, cultural nights, etc… Excellent teachers… very well run program. I also enjoy the emails with cultural notes throughout the year. I hope to return.
Constantina, USA
Syros, Intensive course, July 2018
Hallo Liebe Maja,
hallo liebes OMILO-Team,Ramona und ich möchten unser Feedback gern auf deutsch abgeben. Das war ja nach Syros im September 2017 unser zweiter Kurs mit Omilo. Wie immer haben wir uns sehr wohl gefühlt. Die Unterkunft auf Lefkas war hervorragend genauso wie der Service. Unsere Lehrer Marina und Konstantinos haben sich sehr viel Mühe gegeben alle Schüler mit zu nehmen. Wir glauben wieder einiges für unser Leben in Griechenland gelernt zu haben. Auch die anderen Aktivitäten außerhalb des Unterrichts haben uns sehr gut gefallen. Wir möchten uns an dieser Stelle auch noch einmal recht herzlich bei Dir liebe Maja, Dimitris und Terpsi bedankern. Sicherlich werden wir Eure Organisation in unserem Freundes und Bekanntenkreis weiter empfehlen. Sicherlich machen auch wir noch einmal einen Kurs bei Euch. Alles Gute und eine schöne Zeit auf Syros wünschen.
Ramona und Falk, Germany
Lefkada, Intensive Course, June 2018
Hello Maya, Dimitri and teachers,
I was very satisfied with the course and learned a lot of grammar as well as conversation. I loved Marina and Kostantino’s classes. They are excellent teachers and beautiful and kind people.
I learned way faster and much more than I could ever imagined. I also loved the cultural activities in the evening. Your long term experience doing these types of courses really shows. It’s to perfection.
Congratulations.
Celia, Brazil
Lefkada, Intensive Course, June 2018
Γεια σας Μαία και ΟΜΙΛΩ ομάδα!
Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ για φωτογραφίες!
Είναι ωραίο άλμπουμ.Γύρισα σπίτι στη Μελβούρνη πριν από μια μερα. Εδώ κάνει πολύ κρύο και βρέχει. Mου λείπει η Ελλάδα!
Thank you all so much for the two weeks of a wonderful learning experience as well as cultural and gastronomical discoveries!! The classes were excellently structured with great balance of grammar, writing, speaking and reading exercises. And of course, a humour which helped us a great deal to learn and remember, especially verbs conjugation!
Also, extracurricular activities we have done (taverna nights, walks in the glorious city of Athens, visit to Savros Niarchos Cultural Centre, «CATS» musical and presentation about renowned Greek bouzouki musician, Giorgos Zampetas) were all well organised, very enjoyable and inspirational. Overall, for me, it was one of the unforgettable lifetime experiences.
Looking forward to future return to the Omilo family!!Warmest Regards from the Down Under,
Biljana, Australia
Athens, Intensive Course, May 2018
Dear Maya, Dimitri and all staff,
It was a great pleasure to Anne and myself to share this week with you. As last year in Azolimnos (Syros) , also now the stay was well organized, very active and interesting, professional. The course location (hotel Agatha, the little village, the island of Lefkada) was a nice discovery.
Thanks for all that!
Anne and Benoît , Belgium
Lefkada, Intensive Course, June 2018
Αγαπημένοι φίλοι μου,
Σήμερα ήρθαν τα αποτέλεσματα των εξετάσεων ελληνικών ΚΕΓ. Και το αποτέλεσμα μου για το επίπεδο Β1 ήταν: άριστα!
Well, I prefer to continue in English to be quicker: I took your course in Athens in March, and I am sure this has helped improving my skills a lot! Would you please thank Marina and Vaso on behalf of me? I do hope to be able to come again next year!
Σας ευχαρισθώ παρά πολύ!
Cisca, The Netherlands
Athens, Intensive Course, March 2018
Dear Dimitri,
Many thanks for the photo album, which I received today. I have been wanting to send you some thoughts about the course for some time.
First of all, I want to thank you for introducing me to Nafplio which I fell in love with. A more beautiful place to have a course is hard to imagine. Everything about it was, for me, wonderful and just what a polis should be — small, intimate, cultural, on the sea, surrounded by mountains, with a stunning castle hanging high in the sky, great museums, and a fabulous square.
Coming to the course, which I loved. It was very well organised, the hotel where we stayed was excellent value, the school was very centrally located, the afternoon and evening activities were great, and your enthusiasm for everything was really infectious. Being Easter, it was also a very special time to be there.
Regarding the teaching, I felt that Constantinos was a quite exceptional teacher. Every lesson he presented was a model according to the methodology I had been taught by International House many years ago. It was a pleasure to be in his class. I also really enjoyed Terpsi’s class, especially the ones on culture.
So please allow me to congratulate you Dimitri on what you have so successfully built up over the years, and for your professionalism, enthusiasm, energy and obvious love of what you are doing. It was a pleasure meeting you and Maya, and all the teachers; I also met many congenial people on the course with whom I’ll undoubtedly stay in touch and, hopefully, meet again on another Omilo course in the future.
Thanking you once again for everything,
Yours,
Patrick., UK
Nafplion, Easter 2018
Liebe Maya, Dimitris und das ganze Omilo Teacher Team
Da ich in Griechisch noch ein blutiger Anfänger und in Englisch auch nicht unbedingt sehr sattelfest bin, hier in Deutsch:
Als erstes möchte ich unseren beiden Lehrerinnen, Marina und Terpsi meinen herzlichen Dank für die interessanten, kurzweiligen und lehrreichen Lektionen aussprechen! Ihr Engagement und ihre Freude am unterrichten waren wirklich toll, wir hatten auch immer viel zu lachen )und die Unterrichtsstunden vergingen wie im Flug! HERZLICHEN DANK!
Aber auch dir Maya und Dimitris gilt mein Dank für all die Vorbereitungsarbeiten und die tolle Organisation der Kurse und der Aktivitäten! Es hat einfach rundum Spass gemacht und ich habe mich sehr wohl gefühlt.
Ich habe fest im Sinn wieder zu kommen!? Ich wünsche euch weiterhin viel Erfolg und noch weitere so tolle Kurse im 2018!
Liebe Grüsse aus Bern / Χαιρετισματα από τη Βέρνη
Heinz, Switzerland,
Nafplion Easter 2018
Kalispera sas,
Thank you for the photo-album and hope you received my feedback. I was very satisfied with my course.
Meanwhile it was my fifth language course abroad (but the first in Greek). I regard it the best I attended so far. You have very skilled and ambitious teachers with profound knowledge, you can be proud of them. I was lucky to have them all as teachers. All different personalities: Terpsi the more serious, calm one, Konstantin as «Hahn im Korb» who has an special eye for the slower learning ones, Marina as experienced teacher with broad language knowledge and a great temperament, and Eva who uses her theater experience for a big benefit in teaching. Very lively, pushing their learners to do even more. Every learner will find his favorite type of teacher.
It is good, to switch between two teachers. Especially when the harmonize like they did. Both the teachers were always informed about the other’s lession. Good job!
The two weeks were perfectly organized (except of good Friday’s weather)
I would love to come back for a course on the island of Syros this summer.
Herzliche Grüße aus Heidelberg
Matthias, Germany
Nafplion Easter 2018
Dear Maya and Dimtiris,
I just wanted to give you some news of my courses in Athens this time ; it was just marvellous. The weather was very sunny and agreable and the courses, whaouh ! I was very happy with my private lessons and all the more because at first, when I saw last October that your projects for the courses and my own plans for travelling to Athens in 2018 would not meet at any period , I was very disappointed but now, I know it was a chance that I had these courses all by myself. I think, I had just reached the stage when it was an advantage. I made some visible progress, especially in the second week and it is a big motivation to continue learning in the same way. I had very pleasant hours with Marina and Terpsi and we had a lot of fun too, so I wanted you to know that at the end, it was all for the best.
All the best and many greetings, καλό Σαββατοκύριακο!
Marie-Christine, France
Athens, private lessons, Μarch 2018
Dear Maya ,Dimitri, Terpsi, Marina and Konstantine ,
thanks again for the photo Album of our February course. It had been a very intense and enjoyable week with lots of new impressions. Looking at the pictures here in incredibly cold Frankfurt, it makes me feel warm and happy and brings back all those beautiful memories which I already «collected» while staying with you in my so beloved Athens.
I know you like to get «feedback», and if you want me to use a scale from 1-10, then you would get a 10+++++ without ending.
You are indeed not only meeting my expectations, but always exceeding them. And those are not only «nice words» and I will tell you why…It starts with the uncomplicated and always reliable organisation of the courses (thanks to Maya and Nina), followed by your letters full of information about the courses and the City of Athens including public transport, benefits and events, continues with your well chosen proposals for discovering the cultural Highlights of Athens (musicals, theatre, Museums etc.) and the «legendary» night walks with Maya and Dimitris, where you are always paying attention to letting us get some new impressions and taking care for special interests (f.e. the art walk, new influences in Greek cooking etc.) and ends up with staying in touch with us in a very familiarly manner by distributing the photo album, personal greetings and your wonderful Newsletter.
But of course, what really matters for students who want to learn Greek, is the quality of the lessons which are held by your teachers. In my opinion you provide the perfect mixture of teaching skills which are required to keep a student ambitious in learning your beautiful but difficult language. Terpsi, your calm and confident way of teaching spends a lot of energy and makes me feel safe and optimisic that one day I will make it. Konstantine, your smooth and personally adressing way of teaching and your strength in explaining Greek grammar in a simple way, opens my mind even for the «heavy stuff». And last, but not least, Marina, your very challenging way of teaching (and you know it!!!) is the perfect and necessary counterpart, which I need to «stay on the ground» and unveal my deficits. In my opinion, all those teaching skills – creating confidence, introduce to the essentials and challenge, are the most promising «ingredients» to learn a foreign language. None of them must be missed. So thanks to all of you! And not to forget, that we are always having a lot of fun during the lessons, which should not be underestimated when talking about keeping motivation on a high level!
So, what could I say more than thanks so much to the whole team! You won’t get rid of me, even if you would like to (hopefully not ;)). And of course, whenever someone will need the perfect adress for learning Greek, I will write down: Omilo, Panagi Tsaldari, Marousi, Athens!!!
While writing, again this very special Athens Nostalgia is catching me up….Wish I could be there…So long, my best wishes and greetings from cold Frankfurt.
Stefania, Germany
Athens, Intensive Course, February 2018
Dear Maya and Dimitris,
I wanted to let you know that last year’s program was excellent. You added so many extra activities. You built a school, but after thinking about it, you created a family.
You, the teachers and the staff are caring and thoughtful. Compliments to everyone! Of course I would like to attend a summer program this year again.Θα τα πούμε,
Patrick, USA
Syros, Intensive Course, September 2017
Dear Omilo-team,
Thank you very much for the wonderful days I have spent in Syros. Thank you for helping me to start to learn a language I once thought I would never be able to speak and understand. Thank you Konstandinos and Terpsi for your classes, your intelligent lesson planning, your involvement, your gentle kindness, your perceptiveness, and for making me enjoy learning from the start. Thank you Maya for your attention, your advice, and perfect organization. Thank you Dimitris for your warm welcome into Greece, for your care for every aspect of our stay in Syros, and for the activities you coordinated and run. Thank you Marina for being there, even for those who were not your students-like me, for your encouragement and your smile. Thank you all for guiding me through this journey into your beautiful language. I will not forget the light of the Cyclades, the sea at all times, the bougainvillea flowers, the pleasant conversations, the walks and the people I met in and outside class, but what I most value above everything else is the excellent teaching I received and what I have learnt these days with you.
I hope to see you again.
All the best,
Eulàlia , Spain
Syros, Intensive Course, July 2017
Καλημέρα,
In addition to my responses to your student survey, I want to say I have particularly appreciated the contents of the course, the approach which is given to it, as well as the tools used during the course.
I have also appreciated the kindness, the enthusiasm, and the strong involvement of each member of the OMILO’s team.Ευχαριστώ πολύ!
Jean-Louis, France
Syros, Intensive Course, July 2017
So glad I inadvertently stumbled upon ‘Omilo’ while scouring the Internet for a Modern Greek course in the Los Angeles area! Without hesitation, I immediately inquired if space were available for the course I was interested in, then happily I secured a flight to Athens!
Fast forward, I enrolled in a two-week spring session in Nafplion. I was instantaneously and thoroughly impressed with the program, the professionalism, as well as the high caliber of instruction. To illustrate how pleased I was, two years later I enrolled in yet another course at the same location!
All of the instructors are native-speakers, enthusiastic, engaging, have energetic personalities, and are authentic and sincere in their interaction with all students. Their thoughtful method of instruction, coupled with small classes, speak volumes about how they genuinely care that all students learn. Each lesson is strategically geared for the level of the class, the delivery is at a comfortable pace, and the instructors instinctively and ongoingly check for understanding before moving on.
Additionally, the entire Omilo staff is warm, super friendly, and ‘top-notch’! Much attention is given to ensuring everyone is comfortable and enjoying his/her experience.
Many other optional fun and educational activities are included which immensely add to the comradery and enjoyment of learning Greek in Greece!
If it weren’t for the fact I live on another continent, I would happily be in attendance of more Omilo courses!
Joy, USA
Nafplion, Intensive Course, April 2017
Kalimera Maya and Nina,
Thank you for the link to the photo album of my course in Athens in May; they are a pleasant memory of a very nice week. I liked the course very much; at first, I was wondering how it would be having lessons all by myself but in fact, I had a great time thanks to Terpsi and Dimitri; I discovered that it was easier for me to speak than I thought and as I was compelled to use the greek language all the time during the lessons, it helped me a lot; last but not least, we had fun together. I also enjoyed all the visits and activities in the afternoons (the Dora-Stratou theater, the Narchos- foundation, the very nice walk to the Philopapous hill, the songs , quite a lot in a week !) and of course, the very friendly atmosphere of the school.
Big thanks to you and all the team.
Christine, Luxembourg
Athens, Intensive Course, May 2017
Beste Maya,
Ik wil even zeggen dat mijn cursus weer super goed bevallen is en dat de lessen weer goed en heel leuk in elkaar zaten. Lefkada was ook een super mooie locatie en wij zaten steeds buiten met ons klasje, dus dat was natuurlijk helemaal mooi!
Ik zou jullie cursus echt aan iedereen aanraden die Grieks willen leren! Het is gewoon net of je 1 grote familie bent, heel gezellig! Ik kom volgend jaar gewoon weer terug! Heel erg bedankt!
Madeleine, The Netherlands
Lefkada, Intensive Course, June 2017
Geia sas!
This was the first time I’d ever done a course like this- and it was amazing – thank you Omilo team. I enjoyed having two teachers in a four hour session teaching different things. The use of cards, games, and structured tables for the verbs were really helpful. The two weeks course has made me feel so much more confident to speak – it’s still a struggle but there has been an a huge improvement. I met great people, discovered another gorgeous place in Greece in Agios Nikitas, Lefkada and of course my Greek has really improved.
Thank you for making us feel so special and for organising our class and out of class activities – you work really hard and with good hearts – and I will be back!!!
Anita, UK
Lefkada, Intensive Course, June 2017
Dear Μάγια, Δημήτρη, Μαρίνα, Τέρψη και Κωστα
..όλα είναι καλά ..
Have been walking in Spain after the Greek course.. My head is an alphabet soup of Greek, Spanish and French.. When I want to say ‘yes’ in Spanish out pops ‘ναι’ and vice versa!I loved your classes and wished we had signed up for two weeks rather than one.. Perhaps next time?! I sincerely hope there will be a next time.I commend you all for your generosity and intelligence in teaching your beautiful language to us with such genuine warmth, energy and enthusiasm.I can say that I felt very excited to be at Omilo, and very happy that we had chosen your school amongst all the others when Irini and I were sitting at my kitchen table in Brisbane, plotting to go to Greece.. You are all ΚΑΤΑΠΛΙΚΤΙΚΙ!!! If I lived in Athens I would definitely be a regular!
Jennifer, Australia
Athens, Intensive Course, May 2017
Dear Omilo Team,
I am writing to thank you all for such an excellent Greek Language Course. It was enjoyable, interesting, engaging, informative and worthwhile! I will recommend Omilo to all my Greek-speaking English friends, and hope to return sometime for another course in Athens.
Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ,
Frances, UK
Athens, Intensive Course, May 2017
Καλημἑρα
I thoroughly enjoyed the course in Nafplion and feel that the Omilo team do a good job and are very proficient and professional. I was only exposed to the beginners course which I requested . I grew up in Greek family life where Greek was spoken. My parents immigrated from Greece. I attended a community Greek school as a child which was taught by one of the Greek community elders. At age 10 years we moved to another city and Greek was seldom spoken, consequently I forgot much of the Greek I knew. For the past two years I have attended a Greek class given by the local Greek church but only 2 hours a week.
I learned more Greek in the one week class in Nafplion than I have in 2 Years at my local Greek Church. This is one of the reasons I am very motivated to try to continue. to study Greek through Omilo.
I have enjoyed your Newsletter and entries on FaceBook.
I am looking forward to attending one of the fall course after Skype lessons.
Regards,
Nick, USA
Nafplion, Intensive course, April 2017
I’m a great fan of Omilo. Over the years, I’ve been to many of their intensive courses in Greece and for me Omilo’s learning methods are excellent and very inspiring. Therefore I’m very pleased that Omilo also offers various learning materials online, which is very useful, especially now in times of the Covid pandemic with its lockdown and quarantine. I use the Advanced Greek Workbooks. They reflect Omilo’s high standard of learning with a variety of exercises (comprehension, grammar, listening and also some fun) and make it a pleasure to continue learning Greek at home. For me, now that I’m stuck at home, it is a bit like ordering home delivery from my favorite restaurant. I get my favorite Greek lessons home delivered from Omilo.
Filakia, Anna, The Netherlands
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Dear Maya, Dimitris and team,
I hope that you are well. I have just seen the Lefkada 2019 album on Facebook and it brought back some really happy memories.
I had hoped to join you again this year in Lefkada, but sadly, due to covid, it is still difficult for us to travel from Scotland to Greece at the moment. My intention is to come to another course hopefully later in the year or if that does not work out I will definitely be booking to join you in 2022.
Thank you for staying positive and motivated and your newsletter is always informative and interesting.
I hope you all have a wonderful time this summer and I look forward to seeing the photographs of the courses…
Best regards
Janice, UK, Lefkada course, June
_________________________________________Καλησπέρα, φίλοι μου,
στα Αγγλικά, είναι πιο εύκολο… I’d like to thank you for your messages, your optimism, your projects. You’re wonderful people. It’s difficult in Paris, we cannot go further than 10 km and we have to be at home at 19:00. I’m dreaming of a course with you once again, but we really don’t know what will happen here in France. Meanwhile I wish you the best, φιλάκια πολλά σε όλους
Elisabeth, France, Syros September 2020
_________________________________________
Καλημέρα Maya και Δημήτρη μαζί με όλη την ομάδα OMILO
Και εμείς σας λέμε: ΣΑΣ ΑΓΑΠΑΜΕ! Συγκινηθήκαμε πολύ από τα ηλεκτρονικά σας χαιρετίσματα, τα λουλούδια και τα τραγούδια. Χαρήκαμε να ακούσουμε τις φωνές σας και να νιώσουμε την ενέργεια και το θάρρος στην ζωή και σε ένα καλύτερο μέλλον αν και η κατάσταση στην Ελλάδα δεν είναι εύκολη.
Μας λείπει η κανονική μας ζωή, μας λείπει η θάλασσα, μας λείπει η ελευθερία να ταξιδέψουμε στην Ελλάδα και να σας δούμε από κοντά, να γελάσουμε, να πιούμε, να γιορτάσουμε χωρίς φόβο και χωρίς μάσκα.
Ευτυχώς που συναντούμε τον Κωνσταντίνο κάθε εβδομάδα μέσω SKYPE, χαιρόμαστε κάθε φορά που μας φέρνει την ελληνική γλώσσα και το χαμόγελο του στην οθόνη μας, είναι πάντα μια μεγάλη χαρά να κουβεντιάζουμε μαζί του. Φυσικά θέλουμε να συνεχίζουμε αυτά τα μαθήματα και φυσικά είμαστε σίγουροι πως θα σας δούμε κάποια μέρα στην Σύρο. ΦΙΛΙΚΟΥΣ ΧΑΙΡΕΤΙΣΜΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΑΠΗ από την Ελβετία.Edith & Richi, Switzerland
_________________________________________I’m a great fan of Omilo. Over the years, I’ve been to many of their intensive courses in Greece and for me Omilo’s learning methods are excellent and very inspiring. Therefore I’m very pleased that Omilo also offers various learning materials online, which is very useful, especially now in times of the Covid pandemic with its lockdown and quarantine. I use the Advanced Greek Workbooks. They reflect Omilo’s high standard of learning with a variety of exercises (comprehension, grammar, listening and also some fun) and make it a pleasure to continue learning Greek at home. For me, now that I’m stuck at home, it is a bit like ordering home delivery from my favorite restaurant. I get my favorite Greek lessons home delivered from Omilo.
Filakia, Anna, The Netherlands
Καλημέρα my dear Omilo family!
I wanted to thank you for all of your news, videos and newsletters. It makes me feel that we are still connected and that is important. I can see that despite these times you are presenting an attitude of positivity. Knowing you I would not have expected anything less. Bravo!Of course, no overseas travel from Australia, in 2021, due to Covid . So I wish you, Dimitri, Maya, Marina, Kosta, Terpsi and the others my very best wishes for Spring and Summer as we here go into Autumn and Winter. Courage to you all.
Irene, Australia, several courses in Athens and Syros
_________________________________________
Jassu kai kalispera!
I’m very proud to let you and the Omilo-team know that my Greek colleagues are very impressed with the progress I’ve made. I have the courage to speak with some of them in Greek about everyday themes now and I think I’m doing alright.
Your posts on social media take me back to the wonderful time I spent in Syros. I’m thankful for the very pleasant experience and I look forward to returning as soon as possible. Needless to say that I miss the sea, the waves, the wind and the laid-back lifestyle of the Greek summer on the islands!
Of course, I will continue to learn Greek!!! My teacher here in Berlin is also very happy that I dare to speak now! Thanks, dear Maya, for keeping in touch, for caring so much about your students and your school, for all the love and dedication you put into your work!
All the best for you, Omilo and Masaresi for the second half of this crazy year! Na ste kala! Fillia polla stous olous!
Susanna, Germany, Syros July 2020
(translated by Google) The book «Φύγαμε για ελληνικά!» (Off we go to learn Greek!) offers a very good opportunity for Greek students from level B1 to expand their vocabulary and to use it through the very good and detailed exercises. A positive element of the book, in the opinion of my students, is that the listening dialogues are very realistic and clear. The 25 units of the book cover many aspects of everyday life and provide useful vocabulary. I recommend it.
(original text) Das Buch «Φύγαμε για ελληνικά!» (Los geht es mit Griechisch!) bietet eine sehr gute Gelegenheit für die Griechisch-Studenten ab Niveau B1 ihr Wortschatz zu erweitern und ihn durch die sehr guten und ausführlichen Übungen zu verwenden. Ein positives Element des Buches- nach der Meinung meiner Studenten- ist, dass die Dialoge zum Hörverstehen sehr realistisch und klar ausgesprochen sind. Die 25 Einheiten des Buches bedecken viele Aspekten des Alltags und bieten nützlicher Wortschatz. Sehr zu empfehlen! https://omilo.com/publications/fygame-greek-language-book/
Caterina Latsi Nazzaro, Greek teacher in Switzerland
Καλημέρα Μαia,
I am sorry that I couldn’t say goodbye today. It was a pleasure meeting you, Dimitri, as well as the great teachers. It was a challenge learning to speak a bit more Greek which I liked very much.
I would like to thank you for the perfect organization and efforts made to make us feel comfortable, the tours of Hermopouli and Ano Syros and last but not least, the great dinners at the restaurants. Great people, great food, great classes.
Kind regards,
Catherine , France, Syros July 2020
Liebes Omilo Team,
(translated by Google)
Actually, I would be on my way to Syros, I would be in Athens tonight with a delicious meal and would set sail tomorrow morning, and I would be so happy to greet you all in Azolimnos , Syros, and give you a warm welcome embrace (coronalike, of course), and after a familiar start to the first fantastic meal in the tavern, we would happily and curiously exchange ideas, of course about all the unfamiliar news of the past few months. But almost everything turned out differently, you will still start on Sunday, and I’m very happy for you, despite all the difficulties…. you do it wonderfully.
Instead, I will stay in Switzerland with a heavy heart. And I can tell you, it almost tears my heart apart, but under the current circumstances, it is just too risky for me … to fly, to be too close with too many people, etc. After all, I’m lucky enough to do that I can enjoy regular lessons with my teacher here, I’ll stick with it.You have continued to work so creatively for months and made such great offers, made so many things possible online. I just want to thank you very much for that. In my thoughts, I am often with you, soon especially in the knowledge that you will do the same great job with a reduced number of students. I wish you a happy start on Sunday and of course, I hope that I can see and experience you again next year.
Filákia kai kaló kalokaíri
(Original Text) Eigentlich wäre ich jetzt unterwegs auf dem Weg nach Syros, wäre heute Abend wohl in Athen bei einem leckeren Essen und würde morgen früh in See stechen, und ich würde mich so sehr freuen, euch alle in Asolimnos zu begrüssen und herzlichst zu umarmen (coronalike natürlich), und wir würden uns nach einem mir zum Teil bekannten, vertrauten Start beim ersten fantastischen Essen in der Taverne freudig und neugierig austauschen, auch natürlich über all die ungewohnten Neuigkeiten der vergangenen Monate. Es ist aber fast alles anders gekommen, ihr werdet zwar am Sonntag trotzdem starten, und das freut mich sehr für euch, trotz aller Schwierigkeiten…. ihr macht das wunderbar. Ich werde statt dessen in der Schweiz bleiben, schweren Herzens. Und ich kann euch sagen, es zerreisst mir fast das Herz, aber es ist mir unter den momentanen Umständen einfach alles zu riskant…… zu fliegen, mit zu vielen Menschen zu eng unterwegs zu sein usw.. Ich habe ja immerhin das Glück, dass ich bei Christa regelmässigen Unterricht geniessen kann, ich bleibe dran.
Ihr habt nun während Monaten so grossartig kreativ weiter gearbeitet und so tolle Angebote gemacht, online so vieles ermöglicht. Dafür möchte ich euch einfach ganz herzlich danken. Ich bin in Gedanken oft bei euch, demnächst ganz besonders, im Wissen darum, dass ihr mit reduzierter Anzahl StudentInnen denselben Super Job machen werdet. Ich wünsche euch einen glücklichen Start am Sonntag und ich hoffe natürlich gerne, dass ich euch nächstes Jahr wieder sehen und erleben darf.
Filákia kai kaló kalokaíri. Allerherzlichste Grüsse an euch Alle
Mariette, Switzerland, ex-student 2018-2019
Dear Omilo,
Apologies for not replying sooner, time flies when you get back to normality!
I would like to say how very much I enjoyed my week in Syros with the Omilo team. What a perfect place to hold the course and what a calm, patient and inspiring group of teachers. I never felt foolish for making mistakes or needing to be reminded over and over about why what I had just said or written was not quite right.
The mixture of grammar and conversation was just right and the encouragement I received developed my confidence in speaking, partly because the tutors spoke slowly and clearly, allowing me time to process what I have heard – unfortunately this is not always the case with people in general which makes me hesitant to make an attempt.
The text book will be very useful to work through when I have time and am planning to listen to the CD in the car. I also have a copy of the little Lydia book that I am looking forward to reading.
I enjoyed the evening activities too. I have not played backgammon since I was a child and had forgotten how good it was, and I have never mastered any steps in Greek dancing before despite many attempts, so that was quite an achievement. The music presentation was a revelation as I love music from that era but had never heard of Manos Xadjidakis before.
The tour of Ermoupolis was just right but perhaps an opportunity to see a film at the outdoor cinema of Hermoupolis could be considered for another year?
I first studied Greek about 20 years ago but was unable to continue for various reasons, but I have always done a little revision if we have been travelling to Greece for a holiday. I came away this time feeling that I had reached the level that I was at when I had been learning all those years ago, and a wish that I had been able to stay another week with you, so that is a very positive outcome!
I would very much like to return next year, but obviously that depends on where life takes me in the meantime.
However I would like to repeat my thanks to all for such a wonderful experience, and best wishes for a good summer.Theresa, UK
Syros, June 2019
Hi Omilo team,
Thank you so much for an absolutely wonderful experience, I hope to be back in the very near future. Please keep going, it means to much to everyone who attended!I would be also happy if you could put the following paragraph on the website:
If you love all things Greek and would like more from your holiday than lying on the beach and visiting ruins this is perfect. My two weeks in Lefkada were amazing on so many levels.
I improved my language and knowledge of Greece (and Greek dancing!), all in the safe and supportive Omilo hands. I was surrounded by an incredible group of people from all over the world, all passionate about Greece.
I ate and drank like a king, talked and laughed, filled my soul, and yes, lay on the beach and visited ruins too! Couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Just go!
Have a great summer!Evodia, South Africa/Australia
Lefkada, June 2019
Dear Maya,
I had a wonderful time in Lekada. Everything was perfect. For me the course was the ideal combination of conversation and grammar – Dimitri picked up on my nervousness, and thanks to his and Eva’s encouragement during the lessons,
and talking with them and Constantinos and Terpsi in the evenings and the breaks, I overcame my fears, and for the last week since the course finished I have been talking happily in Greek –
Ag Nikitas was wonderful, and all our trips, the evening events etc were 100% great. Not too much, not too little, very interesting and entertaining. I can’t think of any way you could improve it, and I am already looking forward to next year.
You and Dimitri and the team have managed to create the ideal course – no wonder people want to return year after year. Thank you so much.
Very best wishes,
Helena, UK
Lefkada, June 2019
Αγαπητή Maya, αγαπητέ Δημήτρη,
σας ευχαριστούμε για τις φωτογραφίες από τη Λευκάδα.
Ήταν μία τέλεια ομάδα. Αυτό θυμηθήκαμε συχνά και ευχαρίστως.
Συμφωνήσαμε να έρθουμε πάλι του χρόνου.
Καλό καλοκαίρι
Γιοργκ και Κάριν, Germany
Lefkada, June 2019
Liebe Maya, Lieber Dimitris
Hier also besagtes Wort, welches mir beim Abschied gefehlt hat!
Aber ihr Alle wart nicht nur einladend, sondern gleichermassen zugewandt, aufmerksam, fürsorglich und interessiert. Wir haben uns jedenfalls sofort wohlgefühlt in eurer Schule!
Nach zwei intensiven Lernwochen, in denen wir so viel gelacht haben, wie schon lange nicht mehr – und wir lachen eigentlich oft! – sitzen wir nun etwas wehmütig in Kardamili und «verdauen» so nach und nach all die vielen Eindrücke und Erfahrungen. Derweil freuen wir uns jetzt schon auf Syros, wo wir euch ja alle wieder sehen werden, hoffentlich gesund und munter: ??e?a ?a ?p???e?!
Maya, Dimitris, Konstantinos, Terpsi und Eva: euch ein riesengrosses DANKESCHÖN für alles und eine dicke Umarmung für jede/n von euch!Von Herzen,
Theresa und Peter, Switzerland
Nafplion, Easter 2019
Beste Omilo-team,
Ik heb een fantastische week gehad in Nafplio, het was nog veel leuker dan ik had verwacht, dus ik kom zeker nog een keertje terug!
Mijn complimenten voor de docenten!! Allemaal even enthousiast, deskundig en geduldig. Ik vond het heel fijn dat de les zo veel mogelijk in het Grieks was, ze wisten zo waar alles zo simpel uit te leggen dat het goed te volgen was in het Grieks.
Jolanda, The Netherlands
Nafplion, Easter April 2019
Kalimera sas,
I had a really enjoyable week with Omilo. Didn’t know what to expect but it was a very friendly relaxed atmosphere from day one. The students all mixed well and there were many opportunities to socialise outside of the classroom. Good choice of cultural activities in the afternoon.
I liked the small classes and the amount of speaking activities we did. This for me was quite difficult but I know it is an area I need to improve on. The two teachers I had as were very patient and helped improve and extend my vocab and most importantly improved my confidence to speak.
Sometimes the pace was a bit fast and moments I did get lost but the teachers were always happy to make sure I understood.
The setting of the correct level on day one I thought was very good and creating a new class for the three of us showed how you are flexible enough to adapt to the needs of the students. Perfect
Thank you for a great week and all being well I hope to see you next year.Angela, UK
Athens, March 2019
Hello to the whole Omilo team of Hermoupolis!
We all talked a lot about Omilo during our pauses and we all agreed that the course was excellent. I am still on my way back home, with no access to my PC, which is why I use my mobile.
Here some feedback: I first heard about you through friends who were very enthusiastic about you and who advised me to try one of your courses. In Athens I met Susanne who is a former student of yours and who regretted that she had not been able to attend the Hermoupolis course! I was very satisfied with the course! It was really fun and it gave me inspiration and motivation to go on with my studies! The course had just the right balance of conversation and grammar. The pace was just right for me and the two others in my group. I am also very satisfied with the administrative services. Omilo is very well organized. The information that we got before and during the course was excellent. I have attended two other language schools and neither of them was as well organized as you are! Indeed you have found a good balance between classes and other activities. The Electra Hotel was a good choice. Clean, nice, quiet and the view from my window was something that I will not soon forget! Martha did everything she could for us. The taverna was equally a good choice. The atmosphere was friendly, the food delicious! But there was too much food. I wonder what happened to all we sent back? I have already recommended the course to friends and I will continue to do do.
To conclude: You do such a wonderful job and you are all wonderful representatives of your country and your culture, embodying the real Greek filoksenia!!! If Dimitris and Jenny will excuse me now, I should like to say a few words to Konstantinos and Eva: I really enjoyed being in your class. You are such dedicated and inspiring teachers! Having been a teacher myself I think I know what it takes. Your patience was endless and so was the will to explain to us the mysteries of the Greek grammar!
It was real fun! Penta-fun, actually! Me polla xeretismous!!
Einar, Norway,
1-week Hermoupolis course, October 2018
Dear Omilo team,
I came to the week’s course on Syros, Hermoupolis, without any prior formal instruction at all on modern Greek. However, over 40 years ago(!), I worked on transforming my ancient Greek enough to enable me to read/write and (barring for me the rather problematic ξ’s and ρ’s) to make myself generally understood with basic phrases on a handful of holidays in Greece. Over the few months before the course, I spent a fair amount of time self-studying and one of the things I wanted to get out of the course was an understanding of how far I had got. Unsurprisingly, the outcome was that I got a very realistic understanding of how much further I need to get!
My abiding take-away from the Omilo course is that the whole set-up is 100% professional; all the way from the pre-visit administration, through the quality of the individual tutors and the careful organisation of the evening activities to the attention with which their website is maintained. In one sense, the key product of the course is the tuition and I was really impressed by the patience, energy and professionalism of the tutors.
To be clear, the tutors are not just Greek people who happen to speak English very well: they are experts at their language with a deep understanding of grammatical structures etc which they are able to communicate very effectively to the students. As for the broader reach of the course, I have to say that I had some trepidation beforehand (Could I keep up? How would I get on socially with the other students on the course?) but I was really pleased to find that the whole group got on with each other really well. Everyone is there for the same purpose and it was fun getting to know each other. Fairly intense as the lessons were, the whole week was hugely enjoyable; there’s certainly enough downtime to relax and the evening activities were well prepared and very interesting.
Robert Hart, UK,
1-week Hermoupolis course, October 2018
Dear Dimitri, dear Maya,
Hope that you are doing fine and finding some time to relax.
After the course in Hermoupolis, we (Amy & me) are still in Athens. At the end of the course I asked myself: Did I benefit? And I said to myself: Yes. I asked three to four other participants, and with no hesitation, they answered: Yes, we did benefit.
The reasons for my benefit:
1. I lost my fear to speak Greek. One simple sentence of Διμιτρις made that possible: ‘If you don’t know the Greek term just go ahead in another language and keep on speaking’.
The course was encouraging to continue learning that difficult language.
2. One comment on the organization: the entire pre-course communication was close to perfection. No ‘maybe’, and no ‘we are sorry to…’.
The within-organization was also perfect. The schedules were very reasonable. And again no: ‘we needed to change the … because of …’.
3. The teachers, here Εβα και Κονσταντινος, made a great job, although both in a very different manner. Very likely, this was of high value. Also, the presentations of both of them were very welcome and very informative.
4. One little, quite different aspect from my side: The dinners were very nice (somewhat voluminous). One note to the ‘Electrical’ Hotel. This is an almost perfect concept. Almost all actions are on the same site. No waste of time due to walking from here to here. Maybe further improve the infrastructure, e.g. have larger οθόνη fixed at the wall or below the ceiling.
That it was. Αυτά ήθελα να πω.
Kind regards and many more fully booked coursesJochen, Germany,
Hermoupolis , October 2018
Kalispera Omilo team,
Once again, ‘mil gracias’ for a wonderful week in Syros (too short) and for all that you do to bring together such a great group of people 🙂
What I found most useful during the course was a. the exchange between the students promoted during the lessons – maybe helped because we seemed to be quite a chatty group!
b. the follow up to vocabulary introduced through reinforcement ‘games’ and exercises
c. the no-pressure approach with regard to homework – each individual can do as much (or as little) as he/she wantsIt is hard to think of anything you could improve! – OMILO has achieved a great balance between offering classes and activities without spoon feeding students.
I think that part of the ‘winning formula’ of OMILO is how you have managed to make us all feel part that we are part of OMILO. Orchestrating the OMILO team and such a large body of OMILO students is no mean feat. Re-meeting ‘chums’ from previous years or sharing the Greek language experience with ‘new’ chums and exchanging experiences all helps immensely in the language learning process. Can’t wait for next year’s course 🙂
Abrazos a todo el equipo desde la Ciudad de Mexico,
Maggie, Mexico/ Italy,
Syros August 2018
Dear Maya,
Thanks for the photo album, it was nice to get a glimpse of Azolimnos again.
I really liked my course. Although for me it was a bit slow during the first week, it was just right during the second week.
I found the learning environment in Azolimnos perfect. I was able to disconnect fully from my eveveryday life, forget my job and enjoy my summer holidays. The number of hours of classes was just st right, leaving me enough time to enjoy my stay. It was also a great opportunity to meet people frfrom different places.Kind regards,
Aleksandra, Luxemburg,
Syros September 2018
Herzlichen Dank euch allen. Ihr seid wunderbar.
So macht lernen Spass! Der Kurs ist ausgezeichnet gestaltet und professionell organisiert. Das Lernen findet in einer so schönen, herzlichen Atmosphäre statt, die Lehrerinnen und Lehrer sind alle so offen, zugewandt und verständnisvoll, ich habe mich sehr wohl gefühlt. Auch die Angebote ausserhalb des Kurses waren perfekt, eine ideale Mischung aus Sprache und Kultur und Feriengefühl. Und der Ort und die Unterbringung lassen eigentlich keine Wünsche offen. Ich bin begeistert und möchte an dieser Stelle euch allen nochmals ganz herzlich danken für diese wunderbare Zeit. Ich hoffe sehr, euch wieder zu sehen…..
Ta léme
Mariette, Switzerland
Syros, Intensive course, July 2018
Hello Omilo Team,
Όπως και η Cathie και o Larry, υπέφερα πολύ επί αυτές τις 2 εβδομάδες, ειδικά με «θα κλείσω, θα δουλέψουμε, θα ανοίξουν, Θα είναι, θα μείνεις, θα μάθω
vα μιλήσω, θα προσπαθήσω, θα κοιμάμαι, ανατολικά, δυντικά, απόψε, φέτος, πέρσι, του χρόνου, κ.λπ., κ.λπ. …..».
Aλλά είμαι πολύ ευχαριστημένος με το αποτέλεσμα.Tο μάθημα τελειώστε, αλλά πρέπει να συνεχίσω να μάθω ελληνικά.
Θα είναι δύσκολο, αλλά θα προσπαθήσω.
Aληθινά !!!Kαι, αν ποτέ ποτέ , θέλω να επικοινωνήσω μια ώρα με Skype με έναν καθηγητή, πώς πρέπει να κάνω;
Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ και ακόμα για τα μαθήματα.
Θα σας δούμε σύντομα με το Skype.Nα στε καλά.
Jacques, France
Lefkada, Intensive course, June 2018
Καλημέρα!
Είμαι καλά, αλλά μου λείπει η Αθήνα και δεν μιλάω πολλά ελληνικά στην Γαλλία. I was very satisfied with the course and the course materials. It had just the right balance of listening/reading and talking/writing skills. The most useful for me were the conversation classes, especially once we were split in smaller groups (3 and 4 students). I really appreciated the cultural activities that were offered and the general «ambiance» at Omilo ! The whole staff was very patient, encouraging us and working in a good mood. Thank you very much again for this week at Omilo (and the car ride from centre Athens to Marousi in a nice French car!) , I hope that you are all fine! This was my first feedback, bit I will try to take some time to write a proper review later..
A bientôt j’espère,
Bertrand, France
Athens, intensive course, May 2018
Dear Demetri, Maya, Marina, Terpsi and of course my dear Konstantinos,
As our family wraps up a 14 months in Greece, I find myself often reflecting on the many weeks spent in the Omilo classroom and how much I learned. Our little beginner group and the lessons was the highlight of the six months from October to April.
When we came to Greece last June, our big goal was to learn the language. A year later, naturally, the children’s grasp of Greek and fluency is excellent, as they were immersed in it every day, all day at school. But … Demetri and I held our own, and that of course is thanks to you! Konstantino, you are such a gifted teacher and special person, and not just because of your great sound effects and spot-on sign language.
The Omilo ‘method’ is terrific: lots of interactive talking where we learned and reviewed, some of the book lesson, homework that was fun, and flash cards to give us the visuals of what we were talking about. I enjoyed every minute of the classes, even when I was utterly confused about when exactly to drop my s in the accusative.I see my Greek as fairly transactional, which is exactly what I needed for our everyday life. After 6 or so weeks in school, I felt comfortable in the supermarket, the bakery and asking a basic question of Kyria Soula or Kyrie Aleko απο το σχολικο about something for the next day. I didn’t always understand the answer. And then one day, our class (Barbara, Lucy, Diane and me) met near Syntagma for coffee and language practice when some tourists from India asked us if we knew where the tourist police was. We had just had the lesson about directions that week, so we were able to ask the staff of the nearby deli … and to my delight I understood what they said and we could help the folks outside.
The following, however, is what made me realize how much you had taught me. One day in the Spring I went to school to pay the boys’ basketball bill. It was shortly after we started the lessons for future tense. I walked in, greeted the front desk staff and asked in Greek, «Θαηθηλα να πληρωσω το λογαριασμο για τον μπασκετ, παρακαλο.» The school teachers and staff had always been gracious and patient with my Greeklish, but on this day, the Δημοτικο secretary hugged me and said what I understood to be that I spoke Greek so well and how over the summer I knew NOTHING. NOTHING! NOTHING! (Yep, τιποτα three times). And then she took me into the accounting office and told Kyria Xrysanthi the same thing and asked me to repeat my payment request. I felt ten feet tall and it was all because of Konstantinos. They wanted to know where I had studied the language and learned so fast and I was only happy to sing the praises of Omilo.We are so glad we found your wonderful school and we’ll return in the future for classes. I am just dying to know verb past tenses. And speaking of, Demetri’s stepmother is joining the Syros class at the end of August. Ο Παππους was so impressed with what we were learning that he convinced Sandy to try a class.
We send our love to all of you and wish you a wonderful rest of the summer and year ahead. And until we meet again, Demetri and I will be avid readers of the Omilo newsletter and blog. Να σε καλα.
Kristen, USA
Athens, 4-week courses, October-April 2018
Beste Omilootjes
Het concept van de taalcursus zoals door Omilo opgevat is heel geslaagd. Een mooie mix van lessen met daarnaast ook interessante en leuke ‘naschoolse’ activiteiten en dit alles in het gezelschap van medestudenten van over heel de wereld die samen dezelfde passie delen: Griekenland.
Ik heb genoten van de lessen die door enthousiaste leerkrachten werden gegeven. Hun geduld werd door ons – de studenten – soms op de proef gesteld, maar toch bleven ze steeds correct en zochten ze inventief naar andere manieren (al dan niet met een schepje humor) om ons een en ander duidelijk te maken.
Omilo is zeker aan te bevelen en ik maak al plannen om er een volgend keertje opnieuw bij te zijn, op één van de eilanden dan.
Ik wens jullie een heel fijne, warme, gezellige en fantastische zomer.
Τα λέμε
Έμη, Belgium
Athens, Intensive Course, May 2018
Kalispera,
I really enjoyed the week and getting to know Athens. The course was good revision and the teachers so patient. It was a good balance of listening, talking, reading in class. Additional activities also contributed to knowing more about Athens and Greek culture and an opportunity for socialising (important if you come on your own). I still have so much to learn so I think I will be back and might even consider Skype lessons.
χαιρετίσματα από την Κρήτη
Anne
Athens, intensive course, May 2018
Γεια σας Omilo team,
Σας εύχαριστω πολύ για την ωραία εβδομάδα στην Αθηνα!
Η φιλοξενία σας, οι ταλαντούχοι δάσκαλοι, η εντιαφέρουσα βόλτα, ωραία συναυλία κτλ.Συγχαρητήρια για όλα αυτά!
Ik heb genoten van de warme sfeer, de getalendeerde leerkrachten hebben mij zeer gemotiveerd en de activiteiten buiten de lesuren waren zeer goed gekozen.
Tijdens de lessen was er veel variatie : teksten, spraakkunst, muziek, en vooral conversatie waarbij elke fout in de gesproken zin wordt verbeterd omdat de theoretische kennis in mijn geval beter is dan de praktische. Zeer persoonlijk, voor mij hadden de lessen nog ietsje moeilijker mogen zijn, maar ik heb wel weer zeer veel geleerd.Ik kan jullie cursussen zeker aan iedereen aanbevelen.
θερμούς χαιρετισμούς,
Nicole, Belgium
Athens, intensive course, March 2018