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 side of the city and what secrets do they hide? As early as the 1880s, the area outside the SE walls of the city was known as “Towers” or“Countryside [Eksohes]” and showed limited construction, mainly of a holiday nature. However, significant changes in the traditional core of Thessaloniki, such as the demolition of the walls and the fire of 1890, favored a more mass movement and permanent settlement in the area. This first expansion of the city outside the walls will be organized based on a specific plan and will be a district in which mainly the upper social and economic strata will be settled. The district gradually expands east and north. Equipped with new infrastructure, important public buildings, recreation areas, parks and luxury homes, it acquires a European character and develops into a cosmopolitan suburb. Today the few impressive buildings that have survived in this area, stand proudly (although some are totally abandoned) and they tell us their own stories, inalienable part of the history of our city. Today the few impressive buildings that have survived in this area, stand proudly (although some are totally abandoned) and they tell us their own stories, inalienable part of the history of our city. We put on our headphones, keep the necessary distance and welcome autumn with a unique tour together with our favorite, specialized guides, the Dot2dot team. We use the necessary vocabulary, practice in daily dialogs and discuss special grammar issues with our specialized teachers. We learn Greek in the most creative ways while having lots of fun!

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? Have you ever played educational games inside a museum while learning history and a different part of art? The “Byzantine Empire”, also referred to as the “Eastern Roman Empire”, or “Byzantium”, was the continuation of the Roman Empire in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinople. It survived the fragmentation and fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD and continued to exist for an additional thousand years until it fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453. During most of its existence, the empire was the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in Europe. Thessaloniki was, for much of the existence of the Byzantine Empire, its second largest city. Evidence of this history can still be seen in the 15 Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki that are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Thessaloniki was a multicultural city that a prosperous yet tumultuous history from the Roman era to the Ottoman era. A “trip” in Thessaloniki of Byzantine years: the temples, the houses, the streets, the markets the baths, the food and the daily habits. We construct and deconstruct the narrative of everyday life in this important Byzantine city, which enjoyed a strategic geographic location, was a powerful commercial hub and experienced intense economic activity. We discover together all these aspects of the Byzantine Empire, while learning how to utilize the necessary vocabulary, practice our daily communication skills and come into contact with grammar and syntax issues. We visit the really interesting Byzantine Museum of Thessaloniki with its important collection, while having an exciting day with a lot of fun thanks to our amazing specialized colleagues at Dot2dot and our highly educated teachers!

What do you know about the industrial heritage of Thessaloniki? Have you ever visited the west side of the city? What are all these impressive buildings that look abandoned? What stories do they have to tell us? 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! We come out of the limits of the standard class and we learn Greek while making important walks and discussing every part of our history and culture,. Thank to our specialized and certified guides of Dot2dot and our highly educated teachers for another great experience!    

What’s this famous Mussakàs that everyone is talking about? What are the eating habits of the Greeks? Mussakàs is an eggplant and/or potato-based dish, often including ground meat, which is common in the Balkan Peninsula and the Middle East, with many local and regional variations. Many versions have a top layer made of milk-based sauce thickened with egg (custard) or flour (béchamel sauce). In Greece, the dish is layered and typically served hot. The versions in Turkey and the Middle East are quite different. In Turkey, mussaka consists of thinly sliced and fried eggplant served in a tomato-based meat sauce, warm or at room temperature. In the Arab countries, it is often eaten cold, but occasionally hot as well. Mussakàs is maybe one of the most famous Greek dishes and one of the tastiest Mediterranean flavours. We cook together and we discover at the same time the language that is hidden in our recipes! We explore the gastronomic wealth of Greece through an interactive cooking class along with a distinguished chef. We are learning Greek while getting to know flavours, scents and recipes. We are chatting with the locals and exploring the Greek eating habits while tasting delicious dishes. We are learning Greek through the most creative and imaginative ways! Thanks a lot to our lovely colleagues Ammon Express and Le Palace Art Hotel! Thanks a lot to our  specialized teachers! That’s Peek at Greek! That’s how we learn Greek!

How many stories about this city can be told during a walk? Its busy streets are full of monuments that speak of emperors, gods and mortals, deadly wars and disasters, victories and celebrations. A multi-faceted city that can feel hospitable while introverted, even awkward sometimes, in the face of its importance and greatness, a city that has assimilated in its identity all the characteristics and influences of the different people that passed through it during the last 23 centuries. We explore the monuments, heirlooms of the rich historical past of the city – from the Roman times to the city’s recent past – while we create meaningful connections between them in a tour that aims to tell the story of a multicultural city that has had, and still has, a unique and enchanting presence. We walk together with our favorite collaborators, guides from the Dot2dot team through the history of Thessaloniki and discover with them all the secrets of our city. We start from the Roman period reaching the modern years. We learn the Greek language together, discussing every element of the history and culture of our country, while enjoying a fascinating tour through the most central streets of the city, getting to know some of its most famous monuments. With us are always our specialized, certified guides of Dot2dot and our highly educated teachers.

Visiting Rotonda it’s not just another cultural activity. It’s a journey through the multicultural past of the city. It’s always a chance to teach Greek. It’s a cool and enjoyable stop when you drift into the city during the summer, as well. Rotunda, built in the early 4th century, is an ancient impressive roman monument inscribed in the World Heritage List of Unesco. The exact reason why it was built is not known to us today. Maybe it was first constructed as a mausoleum for the Emperor Galerius, who had his seat at Thessaloniki at the end of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th, or as a temple dedicated to the gods. It was part of the impressive building complex which included the Galerius Palace (Navarinou Square), the Hippodrome, the Arch of Galerius (Kamara) and other buildings in Thessaloniki. In the end of the 4th century, the Emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395), was baptised as Christian in Thessaloniki and converted this monument into a Christian church. During the Ottoman period, it was turned into a mosque and the minaret, which stands in front of it, was built in 1591. The name Rotunda prevailed due to the cylindrical shape of the monument. We learn the Greek language together, discussing every element of the history and culture of our country, while enjoying a fascinating tour through the most central streets of the city, getting to know some of its most famous monuments. With us are always our specialized, certified guides of Dot2dot and our highly educated teachers.

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

Do you want to get the inheritance your uncle left you? Of course you do! So, follow the route, go to the necessary monuments, find the hidden riddles, solve the riddles using the Greek you’ve already learned and discovering the history of the city! Are you ready? A special tour full of surprises thank once again to our lovely colleagues Dot2dot!

A wonderful daytrip of our school to Kerkini lake, one of the 10 most valuable wetland habitats in Greece, ideal for nature observation of about 300 species of birds and rare animals. We enjoyed our boat ride through the lake of the National Park and a hourse riding experience combined with the wonderful view of Mount Beles and the verdant valley of Serres. Our way of language teaching! Thank also to our lovely 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.

Walking through the old traditional markets of Thessaloniki, the best chance to blend in with the locals and feel Thsessaloniki’s beat. Perhaps one of the most authentic experiences could get in Thessaloniki!

Second stop: Goumenissa city- Wine tasting! We discover the greek wine qualities learning the local history and admiring the beauty of the nature! We would like to thank Ammon Express and Chatzivariti Winery for the hospitality!Get to know us better! Become part of our school!

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!

Eating, drinking, walking and discussing. Our way of learning!

Thessaloniki was always a multicultural, multiethnic and multilingual city with a lot of customs, religions, and recipes. For centuries, mainly Jews, Christians, Muslims, but also people from the Balkan peninsula and Europeans from nearly every corner of the continent used to live one next to the other sharing traditions and a lot of flavours. Many of these multicultural flavours and products still survive today. What can we discover with a walk in the city center? What is hidden in the old markets? What flavours can we try? What do these flavours tell us about the history of the city? We are walking through the old traditional markets of Thessaloniki, among the narrow alleys of its center, where even today people do their shopping and we discover incredible stories that reflect its multicultural past. We are communicating with locals, listening to their personal stories that are lost in the depths of the centuries and discussing with them about the eating habits of the old inhabitants of Thessaloniki, the special products of their recipes and their importance for each culture. We are tasting a lot of flavours, pieces of the history that is revealed alive in front of our eyes. We are getting to know herbs, spices, vegetables, meats, fish, sweets, drinks and a lot of fascinating narrations. We are exploring the gastronomic wealth of our city through an exciting guided tour with our specialized and certified guides. We are learning how to use the necessary vocabulary as we come into contact with grammar and syntax issues with our specialized and certified teachers. We are walking through the old neighborhoods of the city with our amazing colleagues Dot2dot discovering the secrets of Thessaloniki. We learn Greek our way!

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 side of the city and what secrets do they hide? As early as the 1880s, the area outside the SE walls of the city was known as “Towers” or“Countryside [Eksohes]” and showed limited construction, mainly of a holiday nature. However, significant changes in the traditional core of Thessaloniki, such as the demolition of the walls and the fire of 1890, favored a more mass movement and permanent settlement in the area. This first expansion of the city outside the walls will be organized based on a specific plan and will be a district in which mainly the upper social and economic strata will be settled. The district gradually expands east and north. Equipped with new infrastructure, important public buildings, recreation areas, parks and luxury homes, it acquires a European character and develops into a cosmopolitan suburb. Today the few impressive buildings that have survived in this area, stand proudly (although some are totally abandoned) and they tell us their own stories, inalienable part of the history of our city. Today the few impressive buildings that have survived in this area, stand proudly (although some are totally abandoned) and they tell us their own stories, inalienable part of the history of our city. We put on our headphones, keep the necessary distance and welcome autumn with a unique tour together with our favorite, specialized guides, the Dot2dot team. We use the necessary vocabulary, practice in daily dialogs and discuss special grammar issues with our specialized teachers. We learn Greek in the most creative ways while having lots of fun!

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 topics 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! Despite the difficult conditions, we do not lose interest in our work and the appetite to explore new things with all of you. We still use our innovative methods that turn our lessons into an enjoyable activity and knowledge into a game. We use our modern educational strategies to our online lessons as well, and we keep adapting our courses to the needs and interests of each student. We practice in every day dialogs facilitating the daily communication, we are learning how to use the new vocabulary and we come into contact with grammar and syntax issues with our specialized and certified teachers. We get to know the Greek culture, art and traditions. We discuss, as always, about the language that is hidden in our songs, movies, tales and recipes and we organize new interesting projects, suitable for distance learning. We can’t wait to share all this experience with you! Until we meet again, 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 Greek Contemporary art? Have you ever played educational games inside a museum while learning history and a different part of art? Today we visited Teloglion Foundation of Art A.U.Th, we admired the work of Alexis Akrithakis, we talked about his life and his special drawing techniques. We discussed about the art in Greece and abroad and we discovered the language that is hidden behind all of that! Alexis Akrithakis was a Greek contemporary artist renowned for his paintings and wooden constructions. His works have been described as “speaking an unmistakable language. They stand on their own and are original, but are yet influenced by the particular Zeitgeist – between Arte Povera and Actioninsm” (Skulima 2003). Born in Athens (Greece), he lived and worked in Athens and Berlin (Germany). Throughout the ’70s he collaborated extensively with the prolific gallerist Alexander Iolas who exhibited his work in shows organized in Geneva (1971), Milan (1973), Turin (1973) and Athens (1971,1977). Alexis Akrithakis has created drawings for publications of key figures of Greek literature, poetry and philosophy such as Nanos Valaoritis, Kostas Tachtsis, Elias Petropoulos and others. In 2018 this aspect of his work was celebrated in an exhibition organized by the Municipal Gallery of Athens in the framework of the Athens 2018 World Book Capital. His work has been included in major institutionally organized exhibitions such as the 12th Biennale of Alexandria held in the Alexandria Museum of Fine Art, Alexandria, Egypt and Europalia1982 at the Bozar, Brussels, Belgium. In Greece his work has been included in major shows organized by the National Art Gallery–Alexandros Soutzos Museum such as “Metamorphoses of the Modern. The Greek experience” in 1992 as well as at the founding exhibition of the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki in 1984. After his death in 1994 both Greek museums organized large scale retrospective shows (Thessaloniki, 1997 and Athens, 1998) of his already recognized and critically acclaimed work. In 2003 The Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin honored him with a large scale retrospective show that ran at the same time with an exhibition of works of Pablo Picasso in the same museum. We discovered together several aspects of the Greek Contemporary Art, while learning how to utilize the necessary vocabulary. We practiced our daily communication skills and came into contact with grammar and syntax issues. We had an exciting day with a lot of fun! That’s the way we learn Greek at Peek at Greek in Thessaloniki! Be part of our school! Contact us!

What do you know about the industrial heritage of Thessaloniki? Have you ever visited the west side of the city? What are all these impressive buildings that look abandoned? What stories do they have to tell us? 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! We come out of the limits of the standard class and we learn Greek while making important walks and discussing every part of our history and culture,. Thank to our specialized and certified guides of Dot2dot and our highly educated teachers for another great experience!    

As autumn has arrived, we are getting ready for a new, creative year with many surprises. 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. Registrations are open!

Greek dance is a very old tradition, mentioned by writers such as Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian. There are different styles and variations from all the islands and the surrounding areas of the mainland. Each area created its own choreography and its own sounds that best match its temperament. There are over 10,000 traditional dances that come from all regions of Greece. There are also some dances that have been adopted throughout the whole Greek world. These include syrto, hasapiko and hasaposerviko. Traditional Greek dance has mainly a social function. It unites society in important holidays and activities during the year, such as Easter, grape harvest or festivals but also in important events in the lives of people and families, such as weddings. We get to know the culture and tradition of Greece! We discover the rhythms, the different types of dance and the Greek way of entertainment! We practice the necessary vocabulary and our everyday communication skills. We learn the Greek language in the most imaginative and creative ways. Teachers and students, we have a wonderful time! Thank you very much our partners of Chorodentro for this unique experience! Contact us! Be part of our school!

Thessaloniki was always a multicultural, multiethnic and multilingual city with a lot of customs, religions, and recipes. For centuries, mainly Jews, Christians, Muslims, but also people from the Balkan peninsula and Europeans from nearly every corner of the continent used to live one next to the other sharing traditions and a lot of flavours. Many of these multicultural flavours and products still survive today. We are walking through the old traditional markets of Thessaloniki, among the narrow alleys of its center, where even today people do their shopping and we discover incredible stories that reflect its multicultural past. We are communicating with locals, listening to their personal stories that are lost in the depths of the centuries and discussing with them about the eating habits of the old inhabitants of Thessaloniki, the special products of their recipes and their importance for each culture. We are tasting a lot of flavours, pieces of the history that is revealed alive in front of our eyes. We are exploring the gastronomic wealth of our city while learning how to use the necessary vocabulary as we come into contact with grammar and syntax issues. We love to teach Greek by walking through the old districts of our city, learning the history of the old markets and experiencing a variety of gastronomic treasures! We love to explain the present time by talking for the multicultural past. We combine our love of language with our love for every element of our history and culture! We learn Greek our way!

Do you know what’s the most famous monument of Thessaloniki? Do you know that Thessaloniki has a history of about 2.000 years? What’s the White Tower, why is it called white and what secrets does it hide? Have you ever played educational games inside a museum while learning history and language? We visit the White Tower, perhaps the most famous monument of Thessaloniki, symbol of the city and a favorite spot of its inhabitants. We discuss about the construction of this important monument, how it was used during the centuries and how it is used today. We learn important historical evnets from the foundation of the city to its recent historical past. We talk about wars, emperors, religions, revolutions and reforms. We walk through the beautiful area of Nea Paralia and discover the secrets that can be hidden there. We enjoy an amazing cycling by the sea while using the necessary vocabulary and grammar, practicing our daily communication skills. We come out of the limits of the standard class and we learn Greek in every corner of the city by chatting with the locals and exploring every element of our history and culture.

Do you want to get the inheritance your uncle left you? Of course you do! So, follow the route, go to the necessary monuments, find the hidden riddles, solve the riddles using the Greek you’ve already learned and discovering the history of the city! Are you ready? A special tour full of surprises thank once again to our lovely colleagues Dot2dot!

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 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!