Greek Pedagogy 1

Greek Language and Pedagogy 1

(For Teachers and Prospective Teachers)

This course is designed for teachers and prospective teachers of Ancient Greek who have previously learned the language primarily through the grammar–translation method and wish to develop active fluency while acquiring the pedagogical skills and theoretical foundations necessary to teach Greek using a communicative, inductive approach. This course integrates language acquisition and pedagogy from the outset. Participants learn Ancient Greek as a living language through listening, speaking, reading, and writing, while simultaneously examining how and why this approach fosters deeper comprehension, retention, and fluency.

The course employs a direct, inductive, and contextual methodology, introducing grammar through meaningful input, narratives, conversations, and guided interaction before formal analysis. Alongside active language use, participants are trained to recognize, articulate, and apply the underlying pedagogical techniques, classroom practices, and learning theories that support communicative instruction in Ancient Greek.

Special attention is given to helping participants transform passive grammatical knowledge into active fluency and linguistic competence, enabling them not only to use Greek with confidence but also to design, lead, and evaluate communicative Greek lessons for their own students. The linguistic focus centers on Koine Greek, with comparative exposure to Attic (Classical) Greek.

Language Content

The course covers the core elements of Ancient Greek morphology, grammar, and syntax, including:

- - The article and its uses
  - Nouns of all three declensions
  - Adjectives (first and second classes)
  - Personal, demonstrative, and relative pronouns
  - Core verb systems and forms:
  - Tenses: present, imperfect, second aorist
  - Moods: indicative, subjunctive, infinitive, imperative
  - Participles and both voices
  - And more

Participants will acquire an active working vocabulary of over 500 of the most common words in Ancient Greek literature, learned through use rather than memorization. Note that there is a difference between the ability to passively recognize and parse a word and to actively be able to produce it automatically.

Pedagogical Focus

In addition to language acquisition, the course introduces and models:

• Principles of communicative, direct and inductive language teaching

• Techniques for creating comprehensible input

• Strategies for teaching grammar through context and usage

• Classroom practices for spoken and interactive Greek

• Methods for transitioning students from translation-based learning to active fluency

• Reflective teaching practices and lesson analysis

Participants will regularly observe, analyze, and practice these techniques as both learners and instructors.

Class Hours

Credits: 5 ECTS

Schedule: Mondays and Thursdays

Time: 14:00–16:00 ET/CEST, Amsterdam Time

Course Dates: 12 January – 26 March 2026

Tuition Cost

Each course costs €55 (Euros) per ECTS.

Classes of 5 ECTS cost €275.

Scholarships can be requested.

Check our Philosophy of Finances here: Making Biblical Language Accessible: Tuition and Scholarships

Learning Outcome

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Language Proficiency

Acquire an active working vocabulary of over 500 high-frequency Ancient Greek words
Recognize and actively use core grammatical forms and syntactic patterns
Demonstrate foundational fluency in Ancient Greek through conversation and reading
Read and understand simple adapted Gospel texts without reliance on translation
Use Greek as a medium of thought and communication

Pedagogical Competence

Explain the principles underlying direct, inductive, and communicative Greek pedagogy
Apply effective techniques for teaching Ancient Greek actively and contextually
Design and implement beginner-level Greek lessons using a communicative approach
Critically evaluate grammar-translation methods and articulate alternatives
Integrate active language use with formal grammatical understanding in teaching contexts

Reading for the Course

Balme, Maurice, Gilbert Lawall, and James Morwood. Instructor's Resource Manual for Athenaze: An Introduction to Ancient Greek, Book I and II. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2016.

Balme, M., G. Lawall, L. Miraglia e T. B. Bórri. Athenaze: introduzione al greco antico, volume I. Roma: Edizioni Accademia Vivarium novum, 2019.

Carbonell Martínez, Santi. Λόγος (Logos). Lingua Graeca: Ἑλληνική Γλῶσσα. Madrid: Cultura Clásica, 2023.

Noonan, Jennifer E. A Handbook of Second Language Acquisition for Biblical Studies: Insights of Modern Language Instruction for Teaching Biblical Languages. Wilmore, KY: GlossaHouse, 2022.

Rico, Christophe. Ἕν, δύο, τρία· Ἑλληνίζωμεν δι' εἰκόνων καὶ σκηνῶν. Jerusalem: Polis Institute Press, 2024.

Rico, Christophe. Polis: Speaking Ancient Greek as a Living Language, Level One, Student's Volume. Jerusalem: Polis Institute Press, 2015.

Supplemented class handouts.

Prerequisite

Applicants should meet one of the following criteria:

Currently employed in a Greek teaching position
Hold a Master's degree in Theology (preferably with a New Testament focus)
Have completed at least three semesters of Greek studies and aspire to teach Greek in the future

Class Requirements and Expectation

To ensure a productive and engaging learning environment, students are asked to meet the following requirements:

Technology: A laptop or computer with a reliable internet connection and the Zoom application installed.
Learning Environment: Participation from a quiet, private space, free from distractions, to support focused interaction.
Video Participation: Students are expected to keep their video camera on during class sessions, as visual presence is essential for effective communication and interaction.
Active Engagement: This course follows a communicative approach to language learning, which relies on active participation. Students are therefore expected to engage regularly in discussions, exercises, and activities during class.
Recordings: Limited class recordings may be made available in cases of absence. However, live attendance and active participation are strongly encouraged, as they are central to the learning process.

Our Method

We employ a Direct Inductive Method, an immersive, active approach to language learning alongside teaching techniques from Second Langauge Acquisition (SLA). Rather than relying on rote memorization or grammatical decoding, this method invites students to experience Greek as a living language—to listen, speak, read, and write in it from the very beginning.

Through inductive learning, students encounter grammar and syntax naturally within meaningful contexts, discovering grammar patterns and syntax structures directly from the language itself. This approach develops all four core skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—so that Greek becomes not merely a subject of study but a medium of thought and communication.

Our method draws from proven pedagogical practices such as Comprehensible Input (CI), Total Physical Response (TPR), storytelling, contextual reading, and interactive conversation, use of images, videos, songs, and drama. Through this dynamic integration of active engagement and inductive reasoning, students gain fluency in the language at a faster pace.

The result is not mechanical decoding but true fluency—a deep, intuitive grasp of the language that enriches both translation and interpretation, opening a fuller appreciation of the Greek New Testament’s meaning, beauty, and culture.

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