Xenophilia

Xenophilia

noun - an attraction to foreign people, cultures, or customs.

It's a bit strange how thanks to Facebook all of us 40 students who will be taking the language course together are getting acquainted even before we've physically met one another.

We're getting to know each other by discussing accommodation issues, administrative issues, counting down, and finding out when everybody's getting to Rethymno. In fact, I've never looked forward to taking a course as much as I am to this one!

Regarding the actual language course I'm not really sure what to make of it but it does seem interesting:

TEACHING PROGRAMME: Classes will be held from 10.00 am to 14.00 pm, for five or four days a week (the exact schedule will be announced on the student’s arrival). Total: 100 hours AIM: To introduce students to the Modern Greek language. By the end of the course, students should be in a position to handle everyday communication in Modern Greek.

TEACHING METHOD: The communicative method will be adopted, with additional instructions in grammar and vocabulary. Students will learn to use language within the context of everyday life and will be introduced to Modern Greek literature, culture and history. In addition to classroom instruction, minor projects will be assigned. At the end of the course, an oral and written test will be administered to assess students' performance.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: No previous knowledge of the Modern Greek language is required.

A personal favorite is the cultural component of the course:

The excursions will be guided in English and students will be given the opportunity to get acquainted with the history and the archaeological sites of Crete. 

Attendance of different events during the Renaissance festival. 

Lectures on Greek history and civilization.

So we'll see how it all goes!