A group of nine awardees, Australian teachers of Greek language, were recently hosted by the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Haris Dafaranos and Consul General Christina Simantiraki, in an attempt to promote and support now the only program available for training of Greek language teachers from Australia in Greece.

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, the ‘Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships’ (ELTF) program provides opportunities for practicing and trainee languages teachers to improve their language skills and cultural experiences through an intensive in-country study program in one of ten countries.

For the first time since 2005, the program to Greece was re-introduced in 2012 as the Australian Government identified Greek for inclusion in Australia’s first national curriculum.

In January, a group of nine teachers from Victoria and New South Wales were awarded the fellowship and participated in a three-week program at the renowned School of Modern Greek Language, at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Vicky Marinelis, senior officer at the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, and 2014 ELTF group leader, told Neos Kosmos the intensive language study component of the program gave participants the opportunity to improve their Greek language skills and included instruction in Greek vocabulary, grammar, syntax, morphology and pronunciation.

“In addition, the program included visits to the Manoli Triantafyllidi Institute and the Centre for the Greek Language at Kalamaria, where awardees met with staff, viewed resources and gained a first hand insight into the important work on supporting the teaching and learning of the Greek language.
“The cultural visits and field trips to the Archaeological and Byzantine Museums of Thessaloniki, Museum of Modern Art, the Royal Tombs at Vergina, picturesque Edessa and Athens allowed our group to experience first hand important sites in Greek civilisation which, coupled with informative and interesting commentary by knowledgeable and inspirational archaeologists and tour guides, became enriching experiences,” Ms Marinelis said.
Education Consul Vasileios Gkokas, who alongside Greek Ambassador Haris Dafaranos and Consul General in Melbourne, Christina Simantiraki, recently hosted the group at the Consulate General in Melbourne, told Neos Kosmos that after Greece’s Education Ministry program for Greeks abroad ceased to exist this year, the Australian Government program is left as the only one to offer training to Australian Greek teachers in Greece.
“The program of the Federal Government is the only one we have now as it is uncertain if the program at University of Crete offered by Greece will continue. We must do everything we can to support it and promote it amongst Greek teachers in Australia. Teachers who went this year were overwhelmed by the hospitality and the program itself.”

Mr Gkokas said the program has been well accepted in Victoria. Other states, however, failed to show an interest or to promote the program.
“The participation in Victoria is high. Out of nine teachers that took part this year, eight of them were from Victoria. It’s places like South Australia that haven’t sent any teachers, and only one came from New South Wales”.

“The program is for teachers from around Australia and it is very important to support it. As the Education Office, we provide the information on our website and we do our best to promote it. The meeting with the Ambassador and Consul General shows how significant, on our part, we consider this program,” he said.

Vicky Marinelis, leader of the 2014 group, told Neos Kosmos the high quality standards of the study program delivered by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki exceeded awardees’ expectations.

“The teaching staff was professional, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Their commitment and dedication to their work was inspiring. On the other hand, all awardees proved wonderful ambassadors for their schools and Australia and are to be commended for their professionalism and conduct throughout the study program. Awardees have returned from this wonderful professional learning experience with enhanced Greek language skills and cultural knowledge, many new professional connections, and a rare opportunity to reflect on their role as teachers by becoming students.

“The group as a whole would like to thank the Australian Government and the ELTF Program Managers, the director and staff of the School of Modern Greek Language, the inspirational linguist and teacher of the group, Ms Georgia Nicolaou, the group’s tour guide, Ms Eugenia Koukoura, and the staff of the Triantafyllidi Institute and Centre for Greek Language. Personally I would like to thank the exceptional 2014 Awardee group, for their support of me and each other from beginning to end,” Ms Marinelis said.
The ELTF study program take place in January each year. Applications for the 2015 program will open in May 2014. Further information on the Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships program, eligibility criteria and to register your interest in participating in future programs visit www.eltf.austraining.com.au