Greek language – culture school in Thessaloniki

Which was the “Eksohes District”? Which is the history of the old city’s tram? What does “Depot” mean? Who were the Allattinis? What can a brick tell us about the history of Thessaloniki? What are all these impressive buildings in the east of the city and what secrets do they hide? We put on our headphones, keep the necessary distance and welcome autumn with a unique tour together with the Dot2dot team of course.We learn Greek in the most creative ways while having lots of fun!

As September has arrived, we are getting ready for a new, creative year with many surprises, taking of course all the necessary measures for the protection and safety of all of us. We can’t wait to share with you all of our new ideas, as language teaching is for us something more than just memorising rules and words. We are inviting you to a tour in the language and culture of our country. We enjoy teaching Greek, walking the streets of our country, learning its history, cooking and chatting with locals, as we come into contact with the Greek nature, art and entertainment. We discover together the language that is hidden in our songs, movies, tales and recipes. We come, therefore, out of the limits of the standard class and we learn Greek while traveling, hiking or while making a historic walk.

As probably most of you already know, our school remains closed, just like the majority of the companies in Greece, due to the emergency measures taken against the coronavirus. Our cultural activities have stopped as well, due to the same reason. Thank you very much for your interest and all your messages. We are fine and healthy and we continue the work we love doing, but only via Skype. We miss a lot of moments from our work! The joy of teaching, the interaction with all of you, the possibility to discover new worlds, our walks through the streets of  our city, the guided tours, the cooking classes, our language games, the chance to discuss with you all the issues we love, the joy of finding common interests with people from the other side of the ocean. Perhaps the thing we miss the most is just a simple mutlilingual “tsipouraki” after a demanding day! Until we meet again in order to discover together the secrets of our language and our culture, be safe and take care! We hope that we will be able to see each other soon! We are always at your disposal online!

What do you know about the Byzantine Empire? Did you know that Thessaloniki was part of the Byzantine Empire for 1.100 years and became its second most important city?Can you imagine how many secrets are hidden in these 1.100 years?Who were the Byzantines?How was their life? What did their houses look like? What were their jobs?What did they eat? What were they wearing? We discover together all these aspects of the Byzantine Empire while learning how to utilize the necessary vocabulary and come into contact with grammar and syntax issues. Thanks a lot to our amazing colleagues Dot2dot !

A walk in a less known but equally important area of Thessaloniki: the western side includes the industrial monuments and sites associated with the industrial, commercial and economic activity of the city in the 19th and 20th century. Buildings that were once called “The industrial palaces of the 19th century” give us the opportunity to see what was happening in Thessaloniki in the previous centuries. We look at how the machinery worked, how the workers protested and how the city was modernized. We discover the language that is hidden behind! Thank you Dot2dot for another great experience!    

“Moussakas” is maybe one of the most famous Greek dishes and one of the most tasty mediterranean flavours. We cook together and we discover at the same time the language that is hidden in our recipes!

Discovering the tradition, the rythms and the various types of dance! The Greek way of entertaining! Students and teachers, we had a great time! Thank you so much Χορόδεντρο! Greek dance (horos) is a very old tradition, being referred to by authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian. There are different styles and interpretations from all of the islands and surrounding mainland areas. Each region formed its own choreography and style to fit in with their own ways. There are over 10,000 traditional dances that come from all regions of Greece. There are also some dances, which have been adopted throughout the Greek world. These include the syrtos, the hasapiko and the hasaposerviko. Traditional Greek dancing has a primarily social function. It brings the community together at key points of the year, such as Easter, the grape harvest or patronal festivals; and at key points in the lives of individuals and families, such as weddings. We learn together the Greek culture and the Greek tradition! Be part of our school!

Walking with Dot2dot through the history of Thessaloniki, discussing all the secrets of our city is always a pleasure for students and teachers too! The Arch of Galerius, better known as the Kamara, is located at the junction of Egnatia and Gounari street further up Navarinou Square. The quadruple arch was part of the large building complex which included the Galerius Palace, the Hippodrome and the Rotunda. It was built at the end of the 3rd century or early 4th to honour the victories of the Emperor Galerius against the Persians in Asia Minor and Syria. We learn together the Greek history and the Greek language! Be part of our school!

We love to come out of the limits of the standard class and we learn Greek while making a historic walk, meeting locals and discussing several topics!Language is everywhere! With Dot2dot, our favourite guides!

We love to discover the gastronomic culture of Greece trying several tastes, smelling different herbs, learning new recipes! We learn the language that is hidden behind! We have a lot of fun! Thank you Ammon Express

The Greek word “metéoros” (μετέωρος) coming from “μετά” + “ἀείρω” (raise) means “raised up in the sky”, “the person or the thing that swings on the air”, “the hesitant or undecided person”. Humongous rocks, monasteries «hanging in the sky» and beautiful paths compose an enchanting scenery that everyone must see. This almost “unearthly state” with monasteries that clambered on the edge of impressive steep mountainous masses, challenge you to discover the majesty of nature. The earth meets the sky, the human intervention the divine element and the traveler finds the emotional serenity and spiritual well being which arises eternally from the atmosphere. Every year, millions of visitors from all over the world visit Meteora in order to admire this unique phenomenon. Since 1988, Meteora is part of the World Heritage sites of UNESCO. Thanks once again our colleagues in Ammon Express

We discovered the gastronomic wealth of Greece through an interactive cooking lesson along with a distinguished chef. One of the most interesting activities during a trip, is to discover and in extend be a part of the gastronomic culture of the place you are visiting. Thessaloniki stands out as a crossroad of tastes, a gastronomic metropolis. We enjoyed a totally authentic cooking and cultural experience by preparing along with the chef and his team greek handmade delicacies. We prepared traditional tzatziki as a team and we learned to prepare the well-knowned dolmadakia yalantzi with herbs by having active part during the cooking process only to taste our creations later on. Thank to our colleagues Ammon Express!

We enjoy teaching by walking the streets of our city, learning the history and chatting with the locals. Today we visited the impressive Yeni Camii (New Mosque) traveling for a while in the past. The Yeni Camii is a historical mosque in Thessaloniki, Greece. It was built by Italian architect Vitaliano Poselli in 1902 for the city’s Donmeh community (Jews who had converted to Islam). However, when the Donmeh community left the city during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, it was used to house the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki in 1925 until 1964 consisting the first museum of Thessaloniki as part of the Greek state. Today it serves as cultural center and hosts temporary exhibitions. For centuries Thessaloniki was a multicultural and multilingual city, a mosaic of languages, traditions and religions, colored by Jews, Cristians, Muslims and people from every corner of the world. This multicultural image can still be seen in all over the city. ———————— At the same time we had the chance to enjoy the exhibition of Dimitris Tantanozis “Isolation” by the Municipal Gallery of Thessaloniki.

At “Peek at Greek” we believe that learning a language is a journey. We learn Greek while traveling. We travel while learning Greek. We “get to know” Greece in all its seasons. We “get to know” the Greek culture, the traditions and the beauties of our country. We get out of the typical classroom and we discover the language that is hidden in every corner of the country, inside the songs, the movies and the local recipes. We communicate with the locals, come in contact with the nature, discover the Greek products and the everyday life of the simple people. This year we organize 3 trips in cooperation with 3 amazing guest houses: 10-18 of July: Amorgos island  9-15 of September: Rovies- Evia (Guesthouse “Eleonas”) 23-29 of September: Elafotopos–Zagori (Zagoroxoria) (Guesthouse ”Rokka”) Contact us for any further information! * Each of the above journeys involves a limited number of participants.

9- 15 of September 2019 Peek at Greek in cooperation with the traditional guest house “Eleonas” organizes a one-week unique cultural and educational program. We learn Greek while traveling. We “get to know” the autumn in Greece. We discover the culture of  North Evia, the local traditions and the beauties of the island. We explore the language that is hidden between the recipes, the songs and the everyday life of the people there. We communicate with the locals, hike, swim in crystal clear waters, come in contact with the nature, talk about the organic farming, the pruning and  the myths around the olive tree. We “get to know” the manufacture of handmade paper, learn the first steps of weaving and collect leaves and fruits for land-art constructions. We’re leaving on the 9th of September, will you miss it? For more information contact us! Registrations are open until 9 of August! Our program includes: – 20h  introductory Greek language and culture class – 1 guided tour in the farm talking about the organic farming, the pruning and the legends around the olive – 1 visit to the Olive Oil Cooperative: processing, storage of green olives and olive oil (if it has begun to work) – 1 small workshop about the first steps in weaving (in 2 installments) on a small paper loom first and then on a bigger one, speaking about the history of weaving and the myths around it – 1 small workshop on handmade paper – 1 small workshop on collecting of leaves, fruits, etc. for a construction -land Art – 1 cooking class (with olive oil and olives) * At the same time: everyone of you can have access to all the other activities offered by the guesthouse that will host us. Accommodation: Accommodation of 6 nights in the beautiful guesthouse “Eleonas”. Eleonas specialises in providing high quality accommodation in a relaxed atmosphere in an organic farm. Within easy walking distance of the sea and a short ride from local amenities this is the ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of life today. Eleonas warmly embraces you and is ready to welcome you all year round in Rovies, Evia Island Greece. A family owned guest house that was built with respect for the environment and high specifications, achieving very good critics from the guests. For more information: https://www.eleonashotel.com/en/ Price: 625 euro/person Registrations are open until 9th of August! * The price includes the Greek courses, the accommodation (6 nights) and the cultural/ outdoor activities. ** The price does not include the transportation, the meals and the transportation within the island. *** The program may be changed or modified due to the weather conditions or unforeseen last minute difficulties. **** Each educational unit is appropriately adapted to the outdoor cultural activities and includes useful vocabulary and grammar skills, listening, writing, speaking and reading exercises, word games and role playing games.

Peek at Greek in cooperation with «FindinGreece» organizes a unique summerscool! We learn Greek while traveling. We “get to know” the summer in Greece. We discover the Cycladic culture, the Amorgian traditions and the beauties of the island. We explore the language that is hidden between songs, movies and amorgian recipes. We communicate with locals, hike, swim in crystal clear waters, come in contact with the nature and the Cycladic art, talk about herbs, learn to dance and enjoy the island life! We’re “sailing” on the 10th of July, will you miss it? For more information contact us! Registrations are open until 1st of June! Our program includes: – 20h  introductory Greek language and culture class – 1 traditional Greek dance class – 1 cooking class – 1 hiking trip with a guide around Aigiali and the traditional villages nearby – 1 guided tour to Lagada with the aim of coming in contact with the local products Accommodation: Accommodation of 8 nights in local studios (2-bed rooms) in the beautiful Ormos of Aigiali, inside the traditional community and only a few meters from the sea. Price: 749 euro/person Registrations are open until 1 of June! * The price includes the Greek courses, the accommodation (8 nights) and the cultural/ outdoor activities. ** The price does not include the transportation, the meals and the transportation within the island. *** The program may be changed or modified due to the weather conditions or unforeseen last minute difficulties. **** Each educational unit is appropriately adapted to the outdoor cultural activities and includes useful vocabulary and grammar skills, listening, writing, speaking and reading exercises, word games and role playing games.

One of the most traditional symbols you can find these days in Greece, is a small boat decorated with lights. This small boat is rooted in the traditions of a country with a symbiotic relationship with the sea. In fact on the many Greek islands the Christmas boats remain one of the most popular ornaments of the holiday season. There are a lot of different legends that try to explain the tradition of the Christmas boat. One of them is related to Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos), the Patron Saint of Sailors. This saint is celebrated on December 6, the day when many households start decorating their houses for Christmas. So, the boats are decorated in order to honor the saint, as well. It’s also true that Greece had large amount of sailors, fishermen and captains which became symbols of local identity. On the islands, the wives, mothers, and daughters of seamen used to spend the winter months with their heart and mind at sea. These were months of expectation, hope, and prayer for their safe return. The joy of seeing the boats coming back, made the women celebrate in relief. So, the boat, according to another legend, is a symbol to honor those men coming back home.

Our school took a delightful walk through the amazing district of “Exohes” in Thessaloniki, the first cosmopolitan suburb of the city. Walking, discussing and admiring, our way of learning greek! Thank you Dot2dot for another great tour! Get to know us better! Become part of our school!

First stop Veria city! The old districts, the synagogue, the mosque, the byzantine church and the local products reflect our history and our culture. Get to know us better! Become part of our school!  

At “Peek at Greek” you can learn Greek the way you want it. You can adjust the lessons to your interests and your personal needs. You have the ability to create your own dialogues. You can select the activities, the guided tours and the special trips that you will combine your lessons with. Discover the Greek culture, come in contact with other cultures, socialize and have fun! Get to know us better! Become a part of our school!

We learn Greek while traveling. We “get to know” the autumn in Greece. We discover the culture of Epirus, the Zagorian traditions and the beauties of the villages of Zagori. We explore the language that is hidden inside the everyday life of the people of the Greek  mοuntains, the songs, and the the Zagorian recipes. We communicate with the locals, we hike, we learn how to weave and get introduced to the art of felt. We come in contact with the nature and the Zagorian customs, we talk about mushrooms, learn to dance and enjoy the life in Epirus! We’re leaving on the 22nd of October, will you join us? For more information contact us! Registrations are open until the 25th of September! Our program includes: – 20h Greek language and culture lessons – Get to know the everyday life of the people of the guest house/ daily activities 1 hiking trip 1 cooking class 1 weaving seminar/ the ancient art of felt 1 rafting class Get to know how people in Epirus celebrate * At the same time: everyone of you can have access to all the other activities offered by the guesthouse that will host us. Accommodation: The view of the courtyard at Sturo and the plain of Pedini is the first picture that welcomes us to Rocka. From there everything will start: getting to know the life in the village and its people. “Rokka” is not just another guest house in Zagori. It is the home of the people who live there and who gladly open their door and welcome us to share with us their everyday life. For more details: http://rokkazagori.gr/ Price: 520 euro (in a twin room) 580 euro (in a single room) * The price includes the Greek courses, the accommodation (6 nights+ breakfast) and the cultural/ outdoor activities. ** The price does not include the transportation, the rafting class and the meals.

Our Summer School in Zagori has just been completed and we are looking forward to the next one! We traveled in the beautiful village of Elafotopos, we were hosted in the wonderful “Rokka” and we got to know the summer in mountainous Greece. We got a small taste of the culture of Epirus, the Zagorian traditions and the rare beauties of the villages of Zagori. We discovered the language that is hidden inside the everyday life of the people of the Greek mountains, the songs, and the Zagorian recipes. We got in touch with the locals, we made new friends, heard unique stories, and came in contact with the nature and the Zagorian customs. We took 20 introductory hours of Greek language and culture lessons, tailored to the needs of the relevant outdoor activities and the interests of our students. We got to know the everyday life of the people that they hosted us, we helped them in their daily activities and gained unique experiences. We hiked on fantastic routes, we followed the process of butter production, we tried unforgettable tastes, we learned how to cook “alevropita” and we improved our cooking skills with some interesting cooking tips. We learned how to weave in loom and made our little souvenirs discovering the ancient art of felt. We went rafting and swam in Voidomatis’ waters. We learned to dance, to sing and we got to know how people in Epirus celebrate. Of course, we cannot thank the people of rokka enough (http://rokkazagori.gr/rokka-zagori/) for the time they spent with us, the excellent hospitality and the unique care. As we love to say “we learn Greek while traveling, we travel while learning Greek.” Discover more through our website! Become a part of our school!

Peek at Greek in cooperation with «FindinGreece» organizes a unique summer school! We learn Greek while traveling. We “get to know” the summer in Greece. We discover the Cycladic culture, the Amorgian traditions and the beauties of the island. We explore the language that is hidden between songs, movies and amorgian recipes. We communicate with locals, hike, swim in crystal clear waters, come in contact with the nature and the Cycladic art, talk about herbs, learn to dance and enjoy the island life! We’re “sailing” on the 10th of July, will you miss it? For more information contact us! Registrations are open until 20 of June! Our program includes: – 20h  introductory Greek language and culture class – 1 traditional Greek dance class (1h 30m) – 1 cooking class – 1 hiking trip with a guide (4h) – 1 visit to the distillery of essential oils produced by local herbs – 1 visit to a honey production facility Accomondation: The studios “Elichryson” are located in the beautiful Ormos of Aigiali, inside the traditional community and only a few meters from the sea. The rooms are bright and fully equipped offering a unique view! For more details: http://www.elichryson.com/index.htm Price: 689 euro/person  * The price includes the Greek courses, the accommodation (8 nights) and the cultural/ outdoor activities. ** The price does not include the ferry tickets, the meals and the transportation within the island

Our school took a delightful walk around the traditional settlement of Upper Town.  The Upper Town will make you feel as if time stood still; you’ll immediately be stricken by its unique style, so different from that of the rest of Thessaloniki that will travel you back to the city’s Byzantine past. Thank you Dot2dot for the great tour!

Built in 1444, Bey Hamam is the oldest off all the Ottoman baths in Thessaloniki and one of the most important buildings that integrate Ottoman architecture. It is located in the center of the city north of Aristotelous Plaza Bey Hamam was constructed by Murat II after the Ottoman invasion in 1430. The baths are considered among others, a basic element of the Ottoman culture. In terms of art and decoration they are considered unique for their impressive colorful designs and wall paintings that include rich series of painted depictions of plants and other elements. Marble basins and low marble benches can be found in most rooms while the traditional massage table in the center of the main room still survives. Some of the rooms have beautifully decorated domes with small openings on the top that allows natural light to enter thus creating a beautiful sight!

Are you participating in the Erasmus program in the city of Thessaloniki? Take advantage of learning Greek in Greece and enroll in our Greek language & culture courses! You will have the opportunity to assess and improve your language skills in the language you use to study, work or volunteer in Greece. We aim at beginners, intermediate or advanced learners and we offer personalized tuition specially designed for your learning pace. Private and group courses are available! Special discounts for Erasmus students! Learn Greek in Greece and make the most of your Erasmus experience!

Thessaloniki is an unforgettable experience! It is a special, multicultural destination, full of surprises in the heart of Central Greece, Macedonia. The second largest Greek city has a magical way to offer wonderful moments to those who visit it, making your trip a unique experience! We will learn Greek and we will get familiar with the multicultural history of the city. We will discuss with locals and we will come in contact with Greek art and entertainment. The periods of the courses are: 13-26 June, 4-17 July, 25 July – 7 August, 22 August – 4 September και 12-25 September. You have the ability to participate in one, two or four week courses. In case you are in Thessaloniki for a few days and you wish to have a first contact with Greek language, contact us and we will organize flexible individual or group lessons. Register by 30 April and enjoy 10% discount on the tuition fee of the course! Communicate with us to register and feel free to ask anything Greek you need to know about our activities! We look forward to meeting you in a tour in Greek language and culture!

Eumelia Guesthouse hosts our Greek language and culture lessons in Gouves (Lakonia)! The idea behind the agrotourism, ecotourism farm and guesthouse is to create a sustainable farming area and accommodation in southern Greece with the use of homeodynamic & biodynamic agriculture. During your holiday language lessons, you can take beautiful walks around the organic farm and pick fruits directly from the fruit trees, hop on a mountain bike and visit the surrounding hills and farms, pick herbs and harvest and press grapes to make wine. During your rural holiday, you can participate in local cuisine cooking and wine tasting courses, natural soap making workshop, learn to bake and make marmalades. Communicate with us to register and feel free to ask anything Greek you need to know about our activities! We look forward to meeting you in a tour in Greek language and culture!