tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post7323741045978433023..comments2024-03-20T04:01:59.723-07:00Comments on TravelnWrite: It's All Greek to MeJackie and Joel Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14074129927177165084noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-7725340774529998772020-09-20T01:22:12.473-07:002020-09-20T01:22:12.473-07:00Good for you for taking the plunge. I did six year...Good for you for taking the plunge. I did six years ago, spending summer holidays taking Greek lessons on the island of Syros with the OMILO school. I continue with the lessons via Skype here in Switzerland, and after plowing through five different textbooks and countless other materials, am at a high intermediate level and can converse without too much difficulty with Greeks in their own language. I disagree that grammar is not so important; on the contrary, it is absolutely vital to successful communication. Do learn basic verb tenses as well as the difference between the nominative and the accusative along with those essential nouns. Gradually it will all start making sense to you--and Greek-speakers will understand you much better. Καλή τύχη! carolynluganohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745463757310641949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-86701045045244539352020-09-01T23:48:48.674-07:002020-09-01T23:48:48.674-07:00All the best to you!
Learning a new language is c...All the best to you!<br /><br />Learning a new language is challenging!Veronica Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14411581380408080378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-60494613194729135922020-09-01T23:32:36.756-07:002020-09-01T23:32:36.756-07:00I enjoyed your post very much. During lockdown I d...I enjoyed your post very much. During lockdown I decided to try and learn a few words of Spanish. I downloaded the Duolingo app and try and do a lesson a day. I am pleased that I have learned quite a few everyday words but will I ever be able to travel again to practise them? Who knows!Fun60https://www.blogger.com/profile/08084441984556826917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-9253402713152827422020-09-01T07:17:56.037-07:002020-09-01T07:17:56.037-07:00To learn a new language with uses a different alph...To learn a new language with uses a different alphabet is doubly challenging!<br />Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/08/oriental-lily.htmlNCSuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17617227847364562989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-91850552217030333042020-09-01T03:43:56.805-07:002020-09-01T03:43:56.805-07:00Hello,
Good for you, learning a new language is a ...Hello,<br />Good for you, learning a new language is a challenge. Taking a class with your group of friends sounds like fun too. I love the views of your village. Take care, enjoy your day and week ahead!eileeninmdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00070309645796725309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-14019817041556998962020-08-27T22:09:20.995-07:002020-08-27T22:09:20.995-07:00Siga, siga, slowly, slowly I am coming to recogniz...Siga, siga, slowly, slowly I am coming to recognize new words. All boomers should set forth to learn a new language - keeps the mind active!Jackie and Joel Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14074129927177165084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-42241488912991071832020-08-27T07:59:34.715-07:002020-08-27T07:59:34.715-07:00All the best to you as you continue your elementar...All the best to you as you continue your elementary Greek lessons! It sounds like you've found the best way to attempt it - with other ex-pat friends over coffee at the taverna. It will all sink in, eventually!Debbra Dunning Brouillettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08701682542148971020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-69992599700328302762020-08-26T03:55:27.416-07:002020-08-26T03:55:27.416-07:00Friends joining in the basics class I described re...Friends joining in the basics class I described report much the same on more formal classes they have taken here. So much emphasis on correct grammar that you freeze up and can't think of words or phrases when the time comes to speak. I'd rather get the words and phrases down pat, them do the grammar! Thanks for commenting!Jackie and Joel Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14074129927177165084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-81219440201979000952020-08-26T03:53:31.821-07:002020-08-26T03:53:31.821-07:00Thanks for understanding this one. While it reall...Thanks for understanding this one. While it really isn't necessary that any of us speak the language we really want to be able to understand the words when spoken to us or on a menu or grocery store flier. . .siga, siga, as we say here! xxx JackieJackie and Joel Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14074129927177165084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-63501659895389979152020-08-26T03:51:59.767-07:002020-08-26T03:51:59.767-07:00Grammar will come in good time but if we can't...Grammar will come in good time but if we can't remember the word for meat, cheese and milk it won't matter if we have it grammatically correct. . .we need first the basics and then will move on!Jackie and Joel Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14074129927177165084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-74298042580776046502020-08-26T03:50:13.647-07:002020-08-26T03:50:13.647-07:00And good for you in taking a US history class! So...And good for you in taking a US history class! Sounds like your graduation and my ability to speak Greek might happen at about the same age!! xxJackie and Joel Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14074129927177165084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-7055385197269151052020-08-26T03:40:26.294-07:002020-08-26T03:40:26.294-07:00I took an intensive Dutch class, or rather a serie...I took an intensive Dutch class, or rather a series of 4, in the first year I lived in the Netherlands. That was a mistake because there was much too much emphasis on being correct rather than just speaking. I ended up scared of speaking for fear it would be wrong. It took me several more years before I could speak, though I could understand as long as people spoke fairly slowly and clearly. I finally got over that by signing up for a class. It was an education class to get my teaching credential and, in it, I was forced to speak Dutch in carrying out projects with the other students. So what I tell people who arrive here from other countries is a) take Dutch, but take the classes offered for immigrants, which focus much more on survival Dutch, e.g. how to order in the market or deal with a government bureaucrat and b) sign up for a class in anything, e.g. painting or autorepair or world history. It doesn't matter what, as long as it's taught in Dutch.Rachel Hellerhttps://rachelsruminations.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-23511074417444814732020-08-25T19:00:52.396-07:002020-08-25T19:00:52.396-07:00Jackie I too felt just like you when I first moved...Jackie I too felt just like you when I first moved to Greece. Although I am Greek, I had grown up in the States and was very rusty. I had to learn the language all over again with the kids as my teachers using their primary school books. It was a hellish time for me. I think you are doing great learning the basics, that is all you really need, since everyone speaks English anyway. Mary K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17696218067214163344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-55978096936141221892020-08-25T01:27:40.985-07:002020-08-25T01:27:40.985-07:00Tambíen hablo el español. When we've traveled ...Tambíen hablo el español. When we've traveled in Spanish speaking countries, I get so much more out of the experience because I can speak to people in their native language. When we go elsewhere, I make it a point to at least learn how to say, hello, please and thank you in the local language. (Shockingly, I was just able to summon the Bulgarian word for "thank you"). So, good for you to work on learning some Greek, plus doing it with friends sounds like fun. My problem would be cringing at the thought of not learning grammar. For one trip to France, I learned how to say "I dont speak French" in French. I must have had a good accent because people seemed to think if I could say that, I must know how to speak French.Suzanne Fluhrhttps://www.boomeresque.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011248318265372337.post-38274804436759293242020-08-24T09:28:20.749-07:002020-08-24T09:28:20.749-07:00I love this! Good for you! You learned English (...I love this! Good for you! You learned English (granted. A younger brain learned English) and you can learn Greek! I started doing an online US History class just for the heck of it, I guess. I decided I am spending too much wasted time during this Covid thing. But I have only done 3 lessons in a month. At this rate, I will graduate when I’m 97. Thought it would be interesting. Enjoy those coffee hour lessons!Kathy Aringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03628931524898493503noreply@blogger.com