Under current higher education requirements for most college major fields, college students must complete two years of a foreign language course. Usually, for most this is not a favorable subject. Disinterest in struggling to complete the foreign language course while trying to concentrate on the major field of study is considered a heavy burden, and in far too many cases the results are limited and quite often at the expense of the major field of study.
Now, there is a better way for Greek Americans to fulfill the college two-year, approximately 54-week, foreign language requirement, and with positive attitude and vigor in only 12 weeks, over two summers.
At the initiative of the Hellenic Link, Inc., the Greek American since 1974 organization concentrating mainly on Greek language opportunities for Greek Americans, the University of Patra in Greece has developed a unique two-year Summer Study Modern Greek Program for American students. That is, Greek American students can attend the University of Patra for two six-week summer sessions, thus fulfilling the two-year requirement of their home university.
There are several significant advantages to this opportunity
First, because ‘credits’ but not grades transfer from one educational institution to another, students completing the course will receive the academic credits without affecting their scholastic average. This in itself is of major importance.
Since instruction of the language will be in its natural setting, learning will be much more advantageous than the sporadic classes over 54 weeks in a two-year home-institution span.
Instruction will be on a 4-hour daily plan, with an extra hour of practice by working in a local store for one hour in conversing directly with the local population – a great learning tool.
In gaining this “study abroad” experience – an additional advantage advocated by colleges and universities, the students will be immersed into the Greek society and culture, will make new friends while also enjoying two wonderful summers in beautiful Greece, and will ‘sense’ their Hellenic identity and Greek Orthodox heritage.
In addition to the academic instruction, the University of Patra will conduct excursions to several nearby historical sites, all included in the tuition cost of 600 Euros – approximately $700 for the six weeks. Of course room and board expenses will be additional, but such costs are much lower in Greece, especially in comparison to the United States.
This year’s first summer course will commence on June 15, 2015 and complete on July 24, 2015. However, in order for the program to start it must have the minimum of 20 students for the first summer.
There are no intermediaries, therefore there are no extra costs. Interested students and parents are to contact the University of Patra directly to request and to submit application forms, in the very similar manner that students do when interested in studying at a specific university abroad.
For complete information and details, students and parents should contact:
Department of Philology, University of Patra, 26504, Rion, Greece Telephone: +302610996234; fax: +302610996197 web site: https://www.philology.upatras.gr
email: [email protected] Deadline for registration is May 1, 2015
