How long does it take to fluently learn Greek?

How long does it take to fluently learn Greek?

In this digital era, time seems to fly faster than ever. Everything must be fast – fast food, fast internet, fast driving… We would like to learn a foreign language as well as we give a like on Facebook – fast! But how long does it take to fluently Greek? You need to know the answer to this question before you sign up for online Greek courses and even before you set some goals.
The answer may differ from person to person. Some people pick things up quickly, curiosity makes them practice and they can become fluent in a very short time. There are also people who have to adjust to the language, the accents, but also to the learning process.
There are, however, some general aspects that influence the answer to this question, as well as some…secret ingredients! Are you ready to discover them?

Before you start studying Greek…

…there are a few things you need to consider. We begin by telling you that the Greek alphabet is quite different from the one we know. If foreign languages ​​like English and French are easy to learn and the letters don’t give you too much trouble, in the case of the Greek alphabet you will need a little more practice to master it perfectly. It’s a harder thing, but not impossible. It does not have as many complicated characters as the Chinese language. We guarantee that once you remember the Greek letters, you will use them everywhere! After all, we are only talking about 20-30 symbols that have a corresponding sound.

From a phonetic point of view, Greek can sound…foreign! Or, better said, not at all similar to Romanian or English. Some linguists state that there are some similarities between Greek and Spanish or Portuguese. Therefore, it will not sound so familiar to our ears.

Grammar can be the chapter where you can stumble. But no one says that the road to success is straight and beautifully constructed. The important thing is not to let obstacles stand in your way. Be careful to choose a Greek teacher who is patient and has some experience in teaching this wonderful language. He or she will ensure that those grammatical cases that are scary for students will be fully understood.

How long does it take to learn Greek?

If the grammar, alphabet, and phonetics of Greek did not scare you, then we can move on to the most common question that students ask us. This question is a simple one, but the answer to it is complex. That is precisely why the answer depends on several factors that we present to you below.

The time you have

The time you can learn Greek depends on several factors. Language skills, motivation and the hours you spend studying can really influence your progress.

When you want to study a foreign language, you have to consider giving it some time to practice. Whether we like it or not, one thing is certain: the more time you devote to an activity, the more familiar you will become with it. And in this case, every hour spent studying Greek makes a difference!

So, it is better to study Greek a little bit every day than to leave the last hundred meters, to read in a hurry, and, worse, to do the homework on the run. The information will always be fresh and it will be easy for you to pay attention to the next lesson.

Curiosity, the icing on the cake

To learn a foreign language like Greek, it is not enough to read the lesson taught by the teacher. You need to be curious and prepared for what it means to study a foreign language. This means that the question for you is – when was the last time you learned something new? It can be a new sport or a new programming language. If it was a foreign language, even better! The fact that you learn something new makes you more disciplined, more focus, and more curious and will help you a lot in this case as well. You’ll know when to take notes, what questions to ask, and what your learning style is.

The motivation

Behind every decision you make is a more or less visible motivation. Why do you want to learn Greek? Are you attracted by the musicality of words, the lyrics of rhythmic songs, or the endless summer evenings spent on an island forgotten by the world? Or maybe this wonderful language will get you a promotion at work. If you don’t like this language, the whole learning process will seem like torture. And as a teacher, I can tell you that unmotivated students will learn the hardest! It is difficult to learn words and carry on conversations in Greek if you do not love the language or the people. Surely, if you are motivated, you will learn Greek much faster!

How can I learn Greek faster?

Maybe you signed up for online Greek courses, you practice daily, your homework is done on time, and you truly are motivated to learn the language. But you want to learn it much faster. What can you do in this case? Well, we have some tips for the most hurried of readers as well. Below are some ways to practice (and have fun!) while learning and practicing Greek!

Television, your friend

On Netflix, you can find shows and series that are subtitled in Greek. There aren’t many of them, but they will help you as a beginner. Of course, you can also watch the ones that tell you about the history of Greece, its civilization, and mythology.

You can also make a list of classic Greek films that everyone must see. You will learn a lot about Greek culture and you will definitely feel that you are one step closer to this fabulous country.

Of course, our advice is to look for subtitles in English or your native language. You will immediately make the connection between the Greek word and its meaning. As you progress in learning Greek, you can watch movies and TV shows like a real Greek!

Notes, notes, notes

Did you learn about pieces of furniture in your Greek class today? How about writing down your new words on a sticky note and putting it somewhere visible? For example, you can place the notes around the house, strategically. When you sit down at the desk, you will read about the furniture, and in the kitchen, next to the coffee maker, you will find a list of groceries, but in Greek. You will surely remember them easily!

Let the music play…but in Greek!

The morning sickness can be fought with some music…Greek music! How about listening to Greece’s greatest hits in traffic? We guarantee you’ll feel energetic, cheerful, and happy, and you’ll be humming the lyrics. You will also learn many new words and their pronunciation.

Read children’s books

To work on the reading part as well, we recommend looking for some books with fairy tales in Greek. Eventually, you can look for translations of the most famous stories because you are already familiar with them and will be able to easily follow the action. Children’s books are written in a beautiful, humorous way, and the text is simple and easy to understand. This way you will also become familiar with many of the common words of the Greek language. The words are simple, not complex, but they are exactly what you need as a beginner. What an easy but effective way to learn, isn’t it?

Sign up for a Greek language course

Even if you are motivated and disciplined, learning Greek on your own will definitely take some time. You will have to make a study schedule, and a structure and you will have to gather your materials yourself. If you sign up for a Greek language course, you will save a lot of time and an expert will make sure that you will be fluent in Greek in the shortest possible time! You will only have to dedicate yourself to the study, do your homework, and prepare any questions or curiosities. And the best Greek course you can enroll in is the one organized by us. We offer several types of courses to ensure you find something you like and fit around your busy schedule. You can find here (https://mygreeklessons.com/courses/) everything about the courses we have.

As you can see, it won’t take you very long to learn Greek. Now that we have told you about the challenges you may encounter in the learning process, the secret ingredients that can speed up this process, and some quick methods to retain as many words as possible, all that is left for you to do is to get to work! And don’t forget: whether it takes you a few months to become fluent in Greek, or a few years of learning, you’ll eventually be able to write, speak and read one of the world’s oldest languages! Good luck!