Three post-graduate students of La Trobe University have taken an object from the Dardalis Archives as a starting point for a presentation on their research.

The next talk, by Sofia Chaniotaki, is about how literature can be incorporated into Modern Greek Language Teaching.

The value of literature in teaching and learning a second/foreign language has been recognised through research. As Paran (2008) points out, the integration of literature into language teaching can increase students’ motivation, while it is an interesting approach, as it combines a focus on form with a focus on meaning. The advantages of “content-based” teaching approaches vary. The integration of literary texts into language teaching is a “content-based” approach, through which we can cultivate all four basic language skills.

“My talk is articulated around two axes: a. an overview of Greek language teaching and learning in Melbourne, pointing out the value of the Dardalis Archives in containing examples of the educational material for students during the post-WWII migration to Australia and b. an introduction related to the advantages of “content-based” approaches and the role of literature in language teaching, as well as the presentation of four “content-based” activities for the teaching of certain grammatical phenomena, and the development, through literature, of other language skills, such as creative writing,” Ms Chaniotaki said.

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“Working with the students of the diaspora in Australia inspired me to undertake research in the field of language and literature. I am currently preparing a bilingual handbook for English speaking learners of the Modern Greek language as part of my Master’s by research degree at La Trobe University. The handbook includes content-based activities which are related to the incorporation of literature into Modern Greek language teaching and, hopefully, it will address the language and cultural needs of the Greek-Australian learners.”

The talk takes place from 7pm-8pm on 24 November via zoom. Visit https://www.facebook.com/GreekStudiesLTU/

Coming soon: On 15 December at 7pm: Emmanouela Giannoulidou, MA candidate in Greek and Spanish Studies, is presenting: “The Third Side of War in Nikos Kazantzakis’ The Fratricides and Manuel Chaves Nogales’ A Sangre y Fuego : Héroes, Bestias y Mártires de España”