Au Revoir

Quite often in life things come to a “telos”, not just an end but also a completion, a fulfillment of their purpose. So, my presence as an English language teacher at Parnassos School has come full circle. Unfortunately this coincides with our School’s coming full circle or telos.

So dear friends, all you that supported with your presence and active participation the Foreign Languages School  of LS Parnassos, you must be aware that our School has ceased to operate. It was a beautiful but not such a long trip. The foreign languages department started its operation back in the early 70s offering English language courses to adults. Throughout this period there were offered courses in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and even Russian and Arabic languages. Some thousands of students attended the various courses and many of them were awarded certificates by the official examination boards.

It’s hard to say goodbye, so I just want to express my gratitude and say a big THANK YOU. I will always treasure the wonderful moments we shared at our School!

Registration for Winter 2016 Exams

If you plan to participate in December 2016 English language exams, bear in mind that in most cases you should register during September.

More specifically:

For Michigan University Exams:

Eξέταση	Ημερομηνία	Eξέταστρα	Περίοδος εγγραφών
ECCE	10 Δεκεμβρίου 2016	160 €	1/9/2016-30/9/2016
ECPE	11 Δεκεμβρίου 2016	180 €	1/9/2016-30/9/2016

Follow the link  to find more information about how to register for the exams.

For Cambridge English Exams:

Cambridge English: First for Schools

ΓΡΑΠΤΕΣ ΕΞΕΤΑΣΕΙΣ	ΕΞΕΤΑΣΤΡΑ	ΕΓΓΡΑΦΕΣ
03/12/16	€160	19/09/16–17/10/16

Cambridge English: Advanced

ΓΡΑΠΤΕΣ ΕΞΕΤΑΣΕΙΣ	ΕΞΕΤΑΣΤΡΑ	ΕΓΓΡΑΦΕΣ
03/12/16	€150	19/09/16–17/10/16

Cambridge English: Proficiency

ΓΡΑΠΤΕΣ ΕΞΕΤΑΣΕΙΣ	ΕΞΕΤΑΣΤΡΑ	ΕΓΓΡΑΦΕΣ
04/12/16	€180	19/09/16–17/10/16

Find here how you can register for Cambridge Exams through the British Council.

Finally City & Guilds offer exams for all levels in October and December 2016, as well as in January and March 2017. Visit their page to find out more about exam dates and fees.

I'll let you know about MSU and kpg exams as soon as we get informed by the respective examination boards.

Final Exams 2016

Summer is coming! So it’s time we drew to a close; but this cannot be done without taking our final exams. Please, see below the exam timetable.

Τελικές Εξετάσεις Αγγλικών 2016

·        Proficiency: Δευτέρα 30/5 => 19:30-21:00

·        Δ’ τάξη (Lower): Τρίτη 31/5 => 19:00-21:00

·        Β’ τάξη: Τετάρτη 1/6 => 18:00- 19:30

·        Γ’ τάξη: Πέμπτη 2/6 => 18:00-20:00

Αποτελέσματα: Τρίτη 7/6 => 18:30-20:30

400 years after

 

Today it’s a day to commemorate the death of two celebrated authors who dramatically changed European literature. The Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes – mostly known for the adventures of Don Quixote-  died on April 22, 1616.  William Shakespeare, perhaps the greatest playwright in the English language, died on April 23, 1616. By the way, he is believed to have been born on April 23, 1564.

You can easily understand that it’s a great day to celebrate. As a result there are so many events you can watch and participate, learning a little bit more about the “Bard of Avon”, his world and his work. The British Council in partnership with the BBC present Shakespeare Day Live. You can visit the BBC website to see more details. On The Telegraph, Helena Horton tells us about 15 great William Shakespeare insults which are better than swearing; while Rob Brydon reveals popular Shakespeare phrases in everyday use. Finally, if you would like to "visit" the place where Shakespeare was born and educated, you should have a look at Shakespeare birthplace trust. You can discover things and join the celebrations that mark 400 years of Shakespeare's legacy.

     

                 

Spring 2016: English Language Exams

If you plan to take part in English language exams this spring, February is the right time to register for one of them. More specifically:

Below please find the dates, fees and registration periods for the upcoming Michigan University ECCE (B2) & ECPE (C2) exams administered in Greece under the auspices of the Hellenic American Union.

Examination	Date	Exam fees	Registration Period
ECCE	May 21, 2016	160 €	1/2/2016 – 29/2/2016
ECPE	May 22, 2016	180 €	1/2/2016 – 29/2/2016

You can register online, by post or in person. For more details, please visit the HAU site.

The MSU exams for CELC (B2) and CELP (C2) will be held at the same weekend.

·         MSU CELP written exams: May 21^st, 2016.

·         MSU CELC written exams: May 22^nd, 2016.

Depending on the test center, MSU oral exams will take place from May 14th to June 5th.

The examination fee for the MSU-CELC (level B2) remains at €145.
The examination fee for the MSU-CELP (level C2) remains at €160.

For more details on the registration procedure you can visit the Michigan State University webpage.

Talking about Grammar

 Either we like it or not, it is a fact that grammar is essential in communication (written or oral). Consider for example the following:

At the same time it is also true that even after years of learning it, grammar is just one of these things people still mess up.

If you are one of those who feel that they would like to brush up their fundamental grammar skills, why don’t you join the “Grammar and Punctuation” MOOC, offered free of charge by University of California, Irvine? Through video lectures, quizzes, and games, this course will help you to identify the correct verb tenses to use, as well as utilize commas and many different sentence types. This course is suitable for learners at B level (B1-B2), but it could also be used as a refresher, independently of your level in English.

If you are interested in getting more involved, you could also try Verb Tense tutorial or attempt grammar and vocabulary quizzes for ESL students. Don't forget to have a look at LearnEnglish: Grammar & Vocabulary.

Exploring English: Shakespeare

2016 marks the 400^th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. The British Council invites all learners of English language to join for events and activities celebrating Shakespeare’s work.

A new free online course  (MOOC) starts on January 11 2016. This six-week course looks at the life and works of William Shakespeare and takes you from his birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon to the Globe Theatre in London, from where he secured his central place in English literature. 
The course looks at five of Shakespeare’s plays with the help of actors and experts from around the world. They will explain and explore the universal themes Shakespeare addressed in his work. Also, the video tutor will guide you through the course and look at some of the words and expressions that Shakespeare introduced to the English language.

For more events and activities you can take a look at ShakespeareLives website.