Cyprus-Forum.com

[Tim Drayton]

My mother retired to Cyprus in 1990. She immediately threw herself, even at the age of 60, into learning Greek. She took courses in standard Greek and has never shown any interest in acquiring the local dialect. For many years she lived in a small, traditional village where people speak in a very thick version of Cypriot Greek. From what she has told me, it is all but impossible to understand people speaking in dialect if you only know the standard language, but on the other hand people also learn standard Greek in schools and can understand perfectly if you address them in standard language and are usually prepared make the effort to reply in standard Greek rather than dialect if they realise that this is all you can understand. If you are fluent in standard Greek you will of course be able to make sense of TV and radio news broadcasts and read official announcements, which are all in standard Greek. A further consideration is that, to the best of my knowledge, there are no language instruction material available in the Greek Cypriot dialect, so the only approach seems to be to learn the standard lanuage first as a stepping stone to acquiring the local dialect. The only other option is total immersion. When I wait for a bus at the Limassol bus terminal I sometimes see off-duty housemaids from South Asian countries chatting in absolutely fluent Cypriot dialect with local elderly people as they wait for their buses home. These people have simply arrived in Cyprus not speaking a word of the language and have acquired the local dialect in the homes where they live and work. Most of us do not have this route available. I would say persevere with standard Greek. It is the only option.

[Gasman]

I attended Greek language lessons at evening classes in Limassol a few years ago. Some of the Brit students just kept arguing with the teacher because what they'd learned 'learning to speak Greek' differed from what he was teaching them (which he explained was more suitable for speaking Greek in Cyprus).

I find one of the most difficult things to overcome is that hardly any Cypriots speak Greek to you when, from your appearance, you are obviously a Brit! Even if you speak Greek to them, then tend to answer you in English!

[lioness 2]

I'd be interested to know how you get on with this course, Lioness 2. The advertisements make great claims for it, but I haven't tried it. Over the years I've sporadically attended evening classes and used CD/book courses in order to learn Greek, but really believe I will only become fluent when I'm forced to communicate in this language 24/7. In my experience the vocabulary just doesn't 'stick' in the old grey matter unless one is immersed in it. Or maybe I'm just getting old!

Of course I will let you know how I get on, they bought me stages 1-3 it was expensive so I had better use it and not put it in the cupboard and forget about it. I know what you mean about getting old the grey matter as you put it ain't what it used to be!!!!!!!

[lioness 2]

Have also got Rosseta Stone course to learn the Greek language its good.. But i discovered a free starter course , which i find interesting at ...www.byki.com ...Neighbours must think me very strange as i am speaking my greek to thin air ...Ha Ha keep em guessing !

I work with quite alot of Polish and Portugese people who give me strange looks at lunchtime as I practise speaking Greek. They say I should learn their language. I have to explain to them that I want to return to Cyprus and need to speak Greek. Some of them say "Where" - "Never heard of Cyprus"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RichardB]

The Cyprus Broadcasting Corp also have a very good free course on their websit which is well worth a look at

http://www.cybc.com.cy/en/index.php?opt ... Itemid=233

[Twilight]

Thank you ..just checked it out

[RichardB]

Thank you ..just checked it out

So now you know that the pencil is on the table ? etc etc etc

[YFred]

Considering Greek is the main language taught in schools in Cyprus, I don't see your problem.

But it is daunting to start a new language; so I can understand you looking for excuses to give up ... but buckle down!

... learning Greek is becoming all the rage now (again) .... Ancient and Modern!

Thanks very much Oracle. I will now buckle down and learn. Have started the course already and driving everyone mad with my swearing when I have got it wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brilliant! That's the spirit.

Practice on here if you wish .... or if you want to show-off a bit.

Greek and English naturally complement each other. Your life will be 100% better now you are on the way to being a Greek speaker.

I may have to pm you if I get stuck - Is that ok. Its hard at the moment, but I will carry on and prove my family wrong who said I will give up within 2 weeks. No way as I hope to move back next year and need to speak Greek for work and social purposes and as I will be living in Cyprus I should learn the language.

The best way to learn a language is to work and mix with people who speak it and avoid your own language.

[RichardB]

oh fu*k me I'm agreeing with Fred --------Help

[YFred]

oh fu*k me I'm agreeing with Fred --------Help

No thanks, I'll pass.