Call for program application

The Center for Lifelong Learning at Democritus University of Thrace organizes the Education Program entitled: Education and certification in the teaching of Greek as a heritage language for educators in the diaspora, from March 1 to December 30, 2022. The scientific coordinator of the program is Professor Zoe Gavriilidou, Department of Greek Philology, Democritus University of Thrace.

The Program is for:

educators of Greek in diasporic communities in the U.S., Canada, Australia, etc. who wish to enhance their teaching knowledge and become certified, but also secondary, primary and preschool Greek language teachers who wish to get trained and certified in the teaching of Greek as a heritage language.

Upon a successful program completion, a trainee will:

1. learn about general characteristics, specific features and challenges of the levels of the Greek language,
2. recognize the characteristics and needs of bilingual speakers in general and heritage speakers in particular,
3. design appropriate teaching plans and materials for the maintenance and development of Greek as a heritage language,
4. acquire skills for the application of modern methodological approaches to the teaching of Greek as a heritage language as well as skills in the language program design and implementation,
5. be prepared to deal with language and pedagogical issues which may arise in a multilingual classroom containing Greek heritage speakers

The program duration is 10 months and upon its successful completion the participants are awarded a 420-hour Certificate of Specialized Training corresponding to 14 ECTS units.

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 diasporic communities’ in- service 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 duration, organization and content meet the conditions stated by the law (ν. 4547/2018, ν. 4589/2019, Υ.Α. ΦΕΚ. 1151/Β/29-3-18) regarding training programs with a point allocation required for the appointment or promotion of teachers stationed abroad. As a result, the program certificate is eligible for any relevant use.

The program modules

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.

The instructors are:

• Anna-Anastasiadis-Symeonidis, Professor Emeritus, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
• Vasiliki Apostolouda, Lecturer under contract, Department of Greek Philology, Democritus University of Thrace
• Zoe Gavriilidou, Professor, Department of Greek Philology Democritus University of Thrace
• Ifigenia Dosi, Lecturer under contract, Department of Greek Philology Democritus University of Thrace
• Katerina Kedraka, Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace
• Spyros Kiosses, Specialized Teaching and Laboratory Staff, Department of Greek Philology, Democritus University of Thrace
• Giannis Lefkos, Specialized Teaching and Laboratory Staff, Department of Educational & Social Policy, University of Macedonia
• Nikos Mavrelos, Professor, Department of Greek Philology, Democritus University of Thrace
• Maria Mitsiaki, Assistant Professor, Department of Greek Philology, Democritus University of Thrace
• Lydia Mitits, Specialized Teaching Staff, Department of Greek Philology, Democritus University of Thrace
• Tsomis Giorgos, Assistant Professor, Department of Greek Philology, Democritus University of Thrace
• Asimakis Fliatouras, Assistant Professor, Department of Greek Philology, Democritus University of Thrace
• Elina Hadjipapa, PhD, Department of Greek Philology, Democritus University of Thrace, academic teaching experience grant at Department of Education Sciences in Early Childhood

Methodology of program implementation

The program utilizes methods of synchronous (88 hours of lectures) and asynchronous teaching (332 hours of material study, assignment writing, exam, practical training). Throughout the course constant communication with the instructors is ensured in English via remote learning technologies. The instruction will be in Greek, while big part of the material will be in English.

Venue

Remote learning

Participation fee

Participation fee is €550 payable either in advance or in two equal installments of €275, first at the start of the course and second by April 30, 2022 to a duly communicated bank account number. Payment of the first installment is a prerequisite for the participation in the program.

Admission criteria

Application assessment and candidate selection are based on the following criteria:

1. Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) of university degree,
2. Years of teaching in diasporic schools/institutions

As regards the G.P.A. of university degree, it is multiplied by coefficient 2 in the case of teachers (G.P.A. x 2), whereas in all other cases it is multiplied by coefficient 1.5 (G.P.A. x1.5).

In the case of equal number of points, the applicant with the longest teaching experience in diasporic schools/institutions will be accepted.

Application submission and supporting documents

Starting date: 10 December, 2021

Closing date: 10 February, 2022

Submission               of               applications               is               exclusively              online               at  https://kedivim.duth.gr/index.php/courses/el-lang-omog/#1639118484747-9430c5e8- 2065

 Appeals are admissible within 5 days of the publication of the entrants list. The required supporting documents are the following:

1. Online application form (see above)
2. A declaration according to Law 1599/1986 4 art.8, that the candidate unreservedly accepts the program’s terms and conditions as defined in the respective call for application.
3. Short curriculum vitae (3 pages )
4. University degree copy
5. Proof of teaching experience in diasporic schools/institutions (if available)

Contact

For further information in Greek, please click here  

or contact Alexandros Maroudas by phone from 09:00 – 14:00 (GMT) on (0030)2531039961 or by email at