How to make your kids love their Greek School
A few months ago we asked our students’ parents to send us a video testimonial about their exprerience with Greek LOL. Katerina from Washington emailed us that she does not feel comfortable to speak on the camera. A few days ago we received an email from Katerina with an attachment “How to make your kids love their Greek School”. Thank you Katerina!
Every Friday evening over the last 2 years I had the same fight with my two children. After I asked them to prepare their school bag for greek school the next day, we always had the same conversation.
Me: “Do you have your bag ready for tomorrow? We’ll have to leave early, otherwise I will not find a parking space and I don’t want you to be late again.”
Jason: “Oh come on Mum, why do I have to go to greek school again.”
Me: ”And how will you communicate with Pappou & Giagia when we go to Greece next year?”
Maria: “But we do not really learn a lot of Greek at school. Our classroom is really filled and noisy and our teacher speaks English most of the times.”
Jason: Why do I have to go to school on Saturdays too? I want to be like the other kids, stay home and play with my friends.”
As time passed, I started realizing how strong my kids’ arguments were. I have to admit, they were both right.
My children have been going to greek school already for 2 years but their Greek has not really improved. I’m not blaming their teacher or the school but this is a fact. And I have to admit that driving the kids around town for 2 hours every Saturday was not much fun for me either.
Tired of the continuous fighting I searched on the Internet for a solution and came across an article about Greek Lessons OnLine. An actual greek language school with teachers who are native speakers, providing lessons with flexible hours right at your home.
I got enthusiastic and booked two trial lessons for my kids. Since they are both quite tech-affine they liked the idea and where looking forward to their upcoming lesson.
Our trial lesson even overcame our expectations. Our teacher expected us in an actual online classroom. She was a native Greek living in Thessaloniki and she provided my kids an interactive and fun lesson. I was amazed how a lesson could be conducted completely online with many fun applications, games and videos while at the same time you feel so close to your teacher as if she is sitting next to you in the classroom. After the lesson my children asked me enthusiastically when they could have their next lesson.
They are now students of Greek LessonsOnline for 6 months and have learned more Greek than in 2 years of greek school in our home town.
We still meet with our friends in the greek community and do not miss out on our traditional dance lessons and celebrations. But I admit, I really enjoy the weekends not driving around town, having more well-spent ‘family time’.
The fights are over and I love to see the excitement in their eyes when they think of their upcoming greek lessons. Oh, and Pappou and Giagia could not believe their ears this summer.
