Interview of the month – Konstantina Papyraki

Interview of the month – Konstantina Papyraki
(philologist, Greek language teacher)

Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you first start teaching Modern Greek?

My name is Konstantina Papyraki and I come from Heraklion, Crete, where I still reside at the moment. I graduated from the Athens School of Philosophy in 2008, having studied at the Faculty of Philology, with a specialization in Medieval and Modern Greek Philology. Besides teaching secondary school students, I also teach Modern Greek to foreign speakers. It’s an amazingly unique experience; teaching people with a different mother tongue is a great challenge, especially since they start learning Greek from scratch.

How can one obtain a certificate of proficiency in Greek? What is the procedure (conditions, exams, etc.) and who is responsible for it?

I have had the pleasure to participate every year since 2009 as an examiner and evaluator in the oral exams organised by the Centre for the Greek Language (Greek Language Centre?), which is the official organization of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, Culture and Sports for the certification of attainment in the Greek language (established in November 1998). The first exams to certify attainment in the Greek language took place in 1999. The certificates awarded to those who pass the exams correspond to the following levels: A1-A2-B1-B2-C1-C2. The exams usually take place twice a year (in October and May) at the specified exam centres. Personally, I have been collaborating with the officially recognised eastern Crete exam centre “Galinaki-Barnia”, based in Heraklion, Crete, since 2009.

Is there any practical reason why one should obtain this certificate for the Greek language?

The certificate of attainment in the Greek language is necessary:

for professional purposes, given that it serves as proof of the successful candidate’s level of attainment in Greek for the labor market and it is a requirement for the practice of various professions in Greece. For instance, under P.D. 38/2010, which incorporates Directive 2005/36/EC, and more specifically under article 52 (Article 53 of the Directive), knowledge of Greek is a requirement for individuals wishing to obtain a license to practice a profession based on the recognition of their professional qualifications. Every individual entitled to recognition of his/her professional qualifications in order to practice a profession should certify, depending on the profession he/she wishes to practice, the required knowledge of the Greek language. The latter is specified by the relevant competent authority, while detailed information on the exact provisions is expected to be published soon.

for studying, as at Level B2 it allows foreigners to register at a Greek institution of higher education (according to M.D. Φ152/Β6/1504/30-5-2001-Government Gazette 659Τ. Β΄). Any individual who wishes to study at a Greek and Greek speaking institution of higher education should contact the respective institution to get information on the required level of knowledge of Greek for the faculty programme he/she wishes to attend.

to work in the public sector: certificate level C1 (formerly D) allows citizens of European Union member states to prove their proficiency and fluency in Greek and thus be employed in a Greek civil service position (according to article 4 of the Civil Service Code, L.3528/2007, on citizens of European Union member states who are allowed to be employed in positions not falling under the exception of par. 4 of Article 39 of the Treaty of European Communities, according to the relevant provisions of a specific law). Moreover, the following individuals are required to certify their knowledge of Greek in order to be able to work in the public sector: foreign citizens of states that are not members of the EU who are allowed to be employed in a Greek civil service position solely in cases provided by specific laws, individuals who wish to get the Greek citizenship through naturalisation, and foreign nationals.

according to the Call for expression of interest addressed to candidate teachers of Primary and Secondary education who wish to be included in the lists of temporary and hourly-paid teachers and in the 2012-2013 school year recruitment lists (chapter D, par. 1, subpar. c), from 2012 on, those who do not hold a school leaving certificate (apolytirion) issued by a Greek six-class Secondary School or High School or any equivalent school, should provide a certificate of excellent knowledge and fluent use of the Greek language, which, if issued by the Centre for the Greek Language, should be of C2 level.

to obtain the residence permit issued for “long-term residents”: the Centre for the Greek Language collaborates with the General Secretariat for Lifelong Learning of the Ministry of Education for the certification of attainment in the Greek language Level A2 (formerly Α). The exams also test the knowledge of the interested individuals in the subjects of Greek history and Greek civilisation. Those interested may contact the General Secretariat for Lifelong Learning for more information. For general information please visit their website.

What are the difficulties learners are faced with while learning Greek? Do you use any intermediate languages/translation techniques to make it easier for them?

In the beginning, learners find it difficult to learn Greek because of the complexity of the structure of its grammar and syntax. However, there is plenty of literature to prepare them for the exams which is very helpful. Most of the subjects are taught using English as an intermediate language.