Learning Greek

[DanM]

I'm learning Greek. I'm waiting to get rosetta stone back from my library. I just bought myself a greek dictionary with over 67,000 words. I don't even know that many in english! anyone know of some good resources?

[hoplite14gr]

Young friend keep in mind that that "akademic ancient languages" are not the same as modern speech.

Try this resource:
http://www.ellopos.net/

Kind regards

[Athena Areias]

Dan,

Can you find a tutor near you? My friends got weekly lessons from a travel agent (2nd generation Greek-American). The agent made a little money on the side, my friends learned modern Greek. They also picked up on customs and etiquette appropriate for travelling and not pissing off the local residents.

Before you go wayyy down the "formal" language road, learn a lesson from me: I spent two semesters studying German so I could talk to my grandma. I was so proud of myself. She tried so hard to contain her laughter. I STILL couldn't talk with her! She was speaking dialect and I was speaking High German. She said I sounded like a hymnal being read out loud.

Anyway, perhaps a family "Greek tutoring night" is something to consider.

Kalimera!!

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

There are books which make the difference between ancient, modern, and the formal Greek language clear, and are available, but ubfortunately, I am offshore so I cannot nip to bookstore to find the titles and publishers, Dan.

But they are available!

[Felix Agrippa]

Good luck with your Greek, I have always found languages intersting in high school I took French, Spanish and half a year of ancient latin ( I don't remember any of these languages except the necessary words like can I have a drink were is the bathroom) . In college my minor was German. The point of me tell you all this is that you need study the language every day if possible and don't get discouraged if you don't understand something that you heard or read. Also if you have a chance to use Greek with a speaker don't feel stupid if you can't think of a word or say something wrong that is just part of the learning process.

[Dan Howard]

Even ancient Greek differs a fair bit from time period and region to region. Most schools teach 5th century Attic Greek. Learning modern Greek will possibly be more of a hinderance than a help. There were a few Greek speakers in one of my early classes and they had a harder time learning classical Greek than those with no modern Greek at all.

[DanM]

I know I'm learning modern greek.