Learning Greek
Apr 1st 2011, 6:54 am
#1
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Learning Greek
Cyprus is no different to any other country when it comes to learning another language. If you want to have better contact with the locals, whose native language is not English, then i advise you learn the local language.
Greek is not an easy language to learn, but there is a free BBC course you can follow at home, to learn at least the basics. From then on, maybe you can join another course, and also pick up some more words from daily life in Cyprus.
You can find the course here http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/greek/talk/
Greek is not an easy language to learn, but there is a free BBC course you can follow at home, to learn at least the basics. From then on, maybe you can join another course, and also pick up some more words from daily life in Cyprus.
You can find the course here http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/greek/talk/
Apr 2nd 2011, 9:59 pm
#2
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Learning Greek
I remember my breakthrough moment.. we were driving past the grocery store for aproximately the one millionth time when all of a sudden I could read it as Hyper mart... the lightbulb going on was blinding. 
I got the ear by sitting around listening to folks chatting, and the letters by reading subtitles when watching TV.
It all disappeared quickly after moving away though.
I got the ear by sitting around listening to folks chatting, and the letters by reading subtitles when watching TV.
It all disappeared quickly after moving away though.
Apr 4th 2011, 9:29 pm
#3
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Re: Learning Greek
Cyprus is no different to any other country when it comes to learning another language. If you want to have better contact with the locals, whose native language is not English, then i advise you learn the local language.
Greek is not an easy language to learn, but there is a free BBC course you can follow at home, to learn at least the basics. From then on, maybe you can join another course, and also pick up some more words from daily life in Cyprus.
You can find the course here http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/greek/talk/
Greek is not an easy language to learn, but there is a free BBC course you can follow at home, to learn at least the basics. From then on, maybe you can join another course, and also pick up some more words from daily life in Cyprus.
You can find the course here http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/greek/talk/
Far better to learn it once you arrive in Cyprus at local colleges who offer Greek lessons to foreigners at a very low rate. Cypriots speak a totally different form of Greek, a very old style of Greek. Greeks speak a more modern version and to learn it if you are going to live in Cyprus only leads to confusion. Also different areas of Cyprus have slightly different dialects.
Apr 5th 2011, 8:16 am
#4
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Re: Learning Greek
Learning Greek as it is spoken in Greece is not to be advised.
Far better to learn it once you arrive in Cyprus at local colleges who offer Greek lessons to foreigners at a very low rate. Cypriots speak a totally different form of Greek, a very old style of Greek. Greeks speak a more modern version and to learn it if you are going to live in Cyprus only leads to confusion. Also different areas of Cyprus have slightly different dialects.
Far better to learn it once you arrive in Cyprus at local colleges who offer Greek lessons to foreigners at a very low rate. Cypriots speak a totally different form of Greek, a very old style of Greek. Greeks speak a more modern version and to learn it if you are going to live in Cyprus only leads to confusion. Also different areas of Cyprus have slightly different dialects.
It is the same everywhere, if somebody abroad learns English the way it sounds on the BBC News, they will probably have a problem understanding somebody from Newcastle say, not being detrimental to people from Newcastle, but Geordie is not easy to follow for many people.
Apr 5th 2011, 8:34 am
#5
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Re: Learning Greek
Learning Greek before you go to Cyprus, helps with reading signs, and browsing Cyprus Government websites, which sometimes have no English translation. There are Cypriot newspapers in the UK, where you can practice reading and get used to the alphabet.
It is the same everywhere, if somebody abroad learns English the way it sounds on the BBC News, they will probably have a problem understanding somebody from Newcastle say, not being detrimental to people from Newcastle, but Geordie is not easy to follow for many people.
It is the same everywhere, if somebody abroad learns English the way it sounds on the BBC News, they will probably have a problem understanding somebody from Newcastle say, not being detrimental to people from Newcastle, but Geordie is not easy to follow for many people.
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Apr 5th 2011, 11:42 am
#6
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Re: Learning Greek
May 20th 2011, 2:28 pm
#7
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Re: Learning Greek
Cyprus is no different to any other country when it comes to learning another language. If you want to have better contact with the locals, whose native language is not English, then i advise you learn the local language.
Greek is not an easy language to learn, but there is a free BBC course you can follow at home, to learn at least the basics. From then on, maybe you can join another course, and also pick up some more words from daily life in Cyprus.
You can find the course here http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/greek/talk/
Greek is not an easy language to learn, but there is a free BBC course you can follow at home, to learn at least the basics. From then on, maybe you can join another course, and also pick up some more words from daily life in Cyprus.
You can find the course here http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/greek/talk/
Thanks this is a great start point. Really useful.
Jun 8th 2011, 1:20 pm
#8
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Location: uk
Posts: 21
Re: Learning Greek
hi all,
i am a wee bit confused here,
i was under the illusion that brits could get by in cyprus without the language (apparently most cypriots speak english ?)
but it seems that greek is needed ?
this was one of the reasons i am thinking of plumping for cyprus rather than spain, cos i understand that to live succesfully in spain you need at least some spanish.
i am too lazy and busy to learn a new language, can i survive ok in cyprus without learning the lingo too much ?
cheers
i am a wee bit confused here,
i was under the illusion that brits could get by in cyprus without the language (apparently most cypriots speak english ?)
but it seems that greek is needed ?
this was one of the reasons i am thinking of plumping for cyprus rather than spain, cos i understand that to live succesfully in spain you need at least some spanish.
i am too lazy and busy to learn a new language, can i survive ok in cyprus without learning the lingo too much ?
cheers
Jun 8th 2011, 1:49 pm
#9
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Re: Learning Greek
Greek is not needed to get by here.
Most Cypriots speak English as do most of the other nationalities who live here.
If you do not wish to learn Greek you can get by perfectly well without it.
However it is nice to learn at least the basics such as greetings etc as the Cypriots do appreciate that.
Most Cypriots speak English as do most of the other nationalities who live here.
If you do not wish to learn Greek you can get by perfectly well without it.
However it is nice to learn at least the basics such as greetings etc as the Cypriots do appreciate that.
Jun 9th 2011, 1:30 pm
#10
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Re: Learning Greek
It helps, but it wont ruin your life
Jun 16th 2011, 10:07 am
#11
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Re: Learning Greek
If you want to reach the locals, then it is always better to at least try to learn their language, they always appreciate it if they see you are at least trying.
Nov 21st 2011, 10:24 am
#12
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Re: Learning Greek
Hi.
I'm new to this site and have spent many hours reading alot of the topics on here. Really interesting information. Alot of very helpful members. I hope someone can help me with my question.
It's been pointed out on this thread that it's confusing to learn Greek before arriving in Cyprus as the spoken lingo is different from normal Greek. What about reading and writing Greek, is that different too? Would it still be worth me learning to read and write Greek?
I'm hoping to retire to Cyprus ( but not for a few years yet ) so I have plenty of time to learn.
Carol
I'm new to this site and have spent many hours reading alot of the topics on here. Really interesting information. Alot of very helpful members. I hope someone can help me with my question.
It's been pointed out on this thread that it's confusing to learn Greek before arriving in Cyprus as the spoken lingo is different from normal Greek. What about reading and writing Greek, is that different too? Would it still be worth me learning to read and write Greek?
I'm hoping to retire to Cyprus ( but not for a few years yet ) so I have plenty of time to learn.
Carol
Nov 21st 2011, 10:37 am
#13
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Joined: Jan 2006
Location: On the edge
Posts: 20,460
Re: Learning Greek
Hi.
I'm new to this site and have spent many hours reading alot of the topics on here. Really interesting information. Alot of very helpful members. I hope someone can help me with my question.
It's been pointed out on this thread that it's confusing to learn Greek before arriving in Cyprus as the spoken lingo is different from normal Greek. What about reading and writing Greek, is that different too? Would it still be worth me learning to read and write Greek?
I'm hoping to retire to Cyprus ( but not for a few years yet ) so I have plenty of time to learn.
Carol
I'm new to this site and have spent many hours reading alot of the topics on here. Really interesting information. Alot of very helpful members. I hope someone can help me with my question.
It's been pointed out on this thread that it's confusing to learn Greek before arriving in Cyprus as the spoken lingo is different from normal Greek. What about reading and writing Greek, is that different too? Would it still be worth me learning to read and write Greek?
I'm hoping to retire to Cyprus ( but not for a few years yet ) so I have plenty of time to learn.
Carol
Nov 21st 2011, 12:30 pm
#14
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Re: Learning Greek
Thank you Mitzyboy
Nov 21st 2011, 1:15 pm
#15
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Joined: Nov 2008
Location: Cyprus
Posts: 367
Re: Learning Greek
Hi.
I'm new to this site and have spent many hours reading alot of the topics on here. Really interesting information. Alot of very helpful members. I hope someone can help me with my question.
It's been pointed out on this thread that it's confusing to learn Greek before arriving in Cyprus as the spoken lingo is different from normal Greek. What about reading and writing Greek, is that different too? Would it still be worth me learning to read and write Greek?
I'm hoping to retire to Cyprus ( but not for a few years yet ) so I have plenty of time to learn.
Carol
I'm new to this site and have spent many hours reading alot of the topics on here. Really interesting information. Alot of very helpful members. I hope someone can help me with my question.
It's been pointed out on this thread that it's confusing to learn Greek before arriving in Cyprus as the spoken lingo is different from normal Greek. What about reading and writing Greek, is that different too? Would it still be worth me learning to read and write Greek?
I'm hoping to retire to Cyprus ( but not for a few years yet ) so I have plenty of time to learn.
Carol
The language is of course basically the same but with different dialects and some words which are peculiar to Cyprus, even to different regions of the island. Its a bit like learning to speak Queens English and then suddenly finding yourself in the heart Geordieland.