Greek language courses for adults: building bridges of communication and inclusion

Emmanuel, 20-year-old refugee from Uganda attends the Greek language courses for adults on Chios island. © UNHCR/Socrates Baltagiannis

By Maria Kouzinopoulou on Chios and Samos  |  14 Oct 2022

Approaching the non-formal education centre on Chios island, you can hear the lively voices of the students trying to guess the hidden word in the language game on the blackboard. These are not children’s voices though, as one might expect, but adult refugees and asylum-seekers, residents at the site in Chios, who attend the daily Greek language classes for adults.

Emmanuel, a 20-year-old refugee from Uganda, keeps his hand raised persistently, eager to guess the next letter that will solve the puzzle.

Emmanuel fled his home country alone in December 2021 following restrictions and threats against his life. His journey took him from Uganda to Kenya, then to Iran and Türkiye and finally to Greece, by ship, truck, and on foot. The journey to safety which lasted three weeks; it was perilous and he risked his life many times, but he never gave up hope.

As soon as he arrived on Chios island in late January 2022, he decided to enroll in the Greek language classes immediately. The first Greek word he learned was “Kalimera” (“Good morning”), while his favorite word is “Yia” (“Hello”).

“When I arrived, everyone around me was speaking Greek. I didn’t want to have a communication gap between me and other people because when we talk, we come closer together”, Emmanuel says.

In just three months, Emmanuel became quite proficient in Greek. His desire for knowledge feeds his drive, to the point that he goes to class early every day, so as to read as many Greek books as possible.

Abdoulaye, 23-year-old asylum-seeker from Gambia, writes full sentences with confidence on the blackboard. He has been attending the Greek language courses on Chios island for just three months. ©UNHCR/Socrates Baltagiannis

Emmanuel’s gift lies not only on learning and using news words, but also on his warm nature. His ever-beaming smile, his passion for music and inspiring nature motivate his peers to actively engage in the lessons. Every time the teacher picks up the guitar to start a music word game, Emmanuel is the first to take the lead in putting words and sentences together through song.

These games are just some of the many creative techniques that the teachers use to help refugee students learn Greek in a participatory way. When refugees enroll in the classes, they receive educational material and stationery, while UNHCR provides a bilingual, mini dictionary with useful words and phrases for their daily communication in Greek.

“I always wonder how someone can learn to communicate in a new language so quickly. It’s what a baby does. At first, they listen, then they make sounds, and they finally form words. It is exactly what we do in our lessons, but in a very condensed timeframe”, Kostas Kasampalis, education manager and teacher with NGO METAdrasi, says.

The Greek language courses for adults are implemented by UNHCR at the sites on Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Kos islands in partnership with NGO METAdrasi. The classes form part of UNHCR’s broader integration programme for the refugee population in the country.

Ray, an asylum-seeker also from Uganda who lives on Samos island, believes that participating in the language classes is a wise decision for his future.

“Greece will be my new home and I want to start a new life here, so I need to speak the language to integrate into Greek society”, he says.

An asylum-seeker during the Greek language courses for adults run by UNHCR and partner METAdrasi on Samos island. © UNHCR/Socrates Baltagiannis

For refugees across the globe, speaking the local language is key for their quick and successful integration in the host community. It also plays a crucial role in accessing the labor market, which can eventually lead to their financial independence and a fresh start.

“Our activities focus on refugees’ empowerment and support. The main objective is to highlight their skills and abilities and facilitate their social integration”, says Renia Pournara, UNHCR Protection Associate on Chios.

The non-formal education programme for adult refugees includes not only Greek language courses but is complemented with vocational trainings which help refugees develop much-needed skills to find a job, such as CV writing and job searching, and also prepares them for job interviews with potential employers.

The curriculum is constantly adjusting to the students’ needs. Computer classes were recently introduced on Chios, where students learn how to navigate the internet and build their CVs online, while at the same time practicing the Greek they have learnt.

Refugee students enhance their computer skills as part of the vocational trainings that take place on Chios island. © UNHCR/Socrates Baltagiannis

In a separate class organized specifically for women on Chios, refugees are learning the names of the body parts in Greek, to enable them to ask for help in case of illness. The students repeat after their teacher: “Doctor, I have a stomachache”.

In the meantime, the teacher picks up his guitar and asks Emmanuel to choose a song to close the day on a happy note.  Emmanuel chooses Bob Marley’s “No woman, no cry” and all the students start singing their favourite lyrics with one voice: “Everything’s gonna be alright!”

For Emmanuel, both music and the Greek language are essential means of communication. As a recognized refugee, he is already dreaming of his future in Greece.

Since meeting him, Emmanuel has moved to Kos island, where, thanks to his Greek language skills, he has managed to find a job in the tourism sector.

“I am very happy with my job! Thank you all for the support”, he says enthusiastically about the new chapter in his life.

Emmanuel posing with his guitar before the start of the Greek language classes for adults on Chios, Greece. © UNHCR/Socrates Baltagiannis

 

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