Professional Development for Educators
A new partnership with The Center for Lifelong Learning at Democritus University of Thrace will help the Greek language teachers deliver quality instruction and support for both in class and online learning environments.
Dr. Anastasios Koularmanis, Director of Education, Mrs. Athena Kromidas President of the High Council for Greek Education, and Dr. Zoe Gavrilidou Vice Rector of Academic Affairs and Student Welfare of Democritus University of Thrace announce a collaboration to provide training and professional development for teachers in the Archdiocese. With financial support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the Department of Greek Education and Democritus University of Thrace will provide training to help teachers succeed in delivering online and in class instruction.
The Program entitled “Education and certification in the teaching of Greek as a heritage language for educators in the diaspora” was designed for Greek language teachers who wish to enhance their teaching knowledge in the teaching of Greek as a heritage language.
The aim of the program
The program aims at offering in-depth training to educators who teach Greek as a heritage language in the diaspora.
The program’s necessity and novelty
For the first time, educators teaching Greek in the diaspora as well as Greek language teachers in secondary, primary and preschool education are given an opportunity to participate in a full training program aimed at teaching Greek not as a first, second or foreign language but as a heritage language. It will offer the teachers not only a modern, alternative and adequate pedagogical approach suited to the particular learners’ needs but also teaching methodology specially designed for better learning outcomes.
The program consists of six (6) modules:
1. Levels of language analysis: comparative study of Greek and English
2. Greek language and Greek Civilization
3. Bilingualism and heritage languages
4. Planning, methodology and evaluation of teaching Greek as a heritage language
5. Lesson planning and classroom management
6. Design and application of a monthly plan (practical training)
Instructors
The program is taught by teachers with experience in curriculum design, expert committee members at Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture, responsible for the Language syllabi design for primary and secondary education in Greece and Cyprus, internationally acclaimed educators in the field of the classics, linguistics and those experienced in teaching adults. All the instructors have been highly evaluated for their teaching practices by their students.
“I have been excited about this for a while. Our teachers are facing unprecedented challenges but their determination and commitment to their students and our parishes is extraordinary. This program will help equip teachers to provide quality instruction in these difficult times, “ said Dr. Anastasios Koularmanis
Thank you to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for their financial support which has made this program available to the teachers of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The program began February 1 and will end November 30, 2021. The first incoming COHORT consists of 25 teachers throughout the Archdiocese. The scientific coordinator of the program is Professor Zoe Gavrilidou, Department of Greek Philology, Democritus University of Thrace.
