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.

Season's Greetings

Our warmest wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

May this holiday season sparkle and shine, may all of your wishes and dreams come true, and may you feel this happiness all year round!

Reminder: Classes stop on Tuesday 22^nd December. We resume our sessions on Monday 11^th January.

LS "Parnassos" - 150 years of history

The Literature Society “Parnassos” celebrates  150 years of continuous history, presence and active involvement  in cultural and social life of Athens. Through a series of events highlighting its legacy, LS “Parnassos” opens its doors to adults and children inviting them to enjoy a wide range of artistic, musical, literary and social happenings. For a detailed list of the events throughout November 2015, please have a look here or at LS "Parnassos" official site.

True to the dream of its founders we hope tha LS Parnassos along with its School will continue offering culture and affordable education in Greeek and Foreign languages for many years to come.

English Language Exams: December 2015

September is the month of registration for the December language exams. So, you should be aware of the process and the dates of the upcoming exams.

Michigan University – December 2015

Eξέταση	Ημερομηνία	Eξέταστρα	Περίοδος εγγραφών
ECCE	12 Δεκεμβρίου 2015	160 €	1/9/2015-30/9/2015
ECPE	13 Δεκεμβρίου 2015	180 €	1/9/2015-30/9/2015

For more information please visit this  page.

As for Cambridge exams, here are the dates and the fees:

As for Cambridge exams, here are the dates and the fees:

Cambridge English: First for Schools

ΓΡΑΠΤΕΣ ΕΞΕΤΑΣΕΙΣ	ΕΞΕΤΑΣΤΡΑ	ΕΓΓΡΑΦΕΣ
05/12/15	€160	21/09/15–16/10/15

Cambridge English: Advanced

ΓΡΑΠΤΕΣ ΕΞΕΤΑΣΕΙΣ	ΕΞΕΤΑΣΤΡΑ	ΕΓΓΡΑΦΕΣ
05/12/15	€175	21/09/15–16/10/15

Cambridge English: Proficiency

ΓΡΑΠΤΕΣ ΕΞΕΤΑΣΕΙΣ	ΕΞΕΤΑΣΤΡΑ	ΕΓΓΡΑΦΕΣ
06/12/15	€180	21/09/15–16/10/15

For more details you can visit the British Council page.

Registration for October 2015 English language classes

Dear all,

Registration for the English language classes has already started. This school year there will be offered only B’ (level A2), C’ (level B1), D’ (Lower – level B2) & Proficiency (level C2) classes. The fees are 300 euros per year. For the time being, you can register at LS Parnassos School premises, Themistokleous & Katakouzinou 2, near Kaningos square, Monday to Friday 17:00-21:00.

Because there are limited places available we operate on a first come – first serve basis, so make sure that you apply asap!

For more information  you can call 210 38 04 853 

& 210 38 21 507.

Congratulations!!!

Once again I’d like to congratulate our students on their success in language exams! 
More specifically, 4 out of 4 candidates passed successfully the state exams (kpg) for level C, and 5 out of 5 have been awarded the Michigan Proficiency certificate.  I’m sure that candidates of B1 & B2 levels, as well as candidates of the other foreign languages exams have been equally successful. (Unfortunately, I’m not aware of the respective statistics).

European Day of Languages

Join European Day of Languages Multilingual Festival!

Celebrate the European Day of Languages at Klafthmonos Square on Saturday 26 September 2015 from 10.00 to 15.00!

Twelve EUNIC Greece institutes and embassies in collaboration with the City of Athens and the Representation of the European Commission in Greece will present a multilingual festival of song, dance, storytelling and interactive games for all the family, as well as a treasure hunt with a prize draw every hour.

You can take part in the online competition to celebrate this year's European Day of Languages – you could win a free language course in English, French, German, Polish, Swedish, Czech or Italian!

The end of an era?

It has been a long-dreaded and persistent rumour: our school is not going to open next year. We lived with that threat for almost two years, both teachers and students sharing the same bitterness. Today the rumour was confirmed and the threat was carried out. So it is definite, not a mere speculation any more, but a plain matter of fact. The foreign languages school downsizes. No more French, German, Italian or Spanish classes.

The only department which seems to survive in a cut-down version – for how long who knows? – is that of the English language. So my near and dear readers of these lines, you should be aware that in September you will be able to register only for B, C, Lower & Proficiency classes, which will probably be held at the central building of LS Parnassos, at St. George Karytsi square.

We’ll be in contact to let you know every small detail asap.

But before finishing off, I can’t help lamenting the closure of our school. Some of you may still remember December 2008 riots. When downtown Athens was on fire and enveloped in a cloud of tear-gas, only a bunch of mad devotees, teachers and students of Parnassos School of Foreign Languages, defied any sense of danger, ignored the barricades, and not once but many a time came to classes faithful to their duty. And since troubles have never left this land, many of you can recall times that reaching the school seemed impossible, because you had to walk through crowds of demonstrators, under the blaze of Molotov cocktails. But even under these harsh conditions, you still kept coming to your classes. It was the feeling of community we all shared, an incentive for you as students and us as teachers.

I want to thank you all for your keen interest and your faithful and sincere support. It is a feeling and a memory I will always treasure. 

Our classroom - 2015 by Kelly V.

Quirky places to stay

 Either we like it or not, summer is here. So, inevitably, we start thinking about and making holiday plans. If you are interested in staying somewhere with some  real character,  here are some suggestions for alternative holidays and unusual places to stay in Britain. What about a night in a luxury treehouse instead of the more conventional 5star hotel room? Or maybe a stay in a castle is more your thing?

Get inspired by Britain’s quirky places to stay.

Mouthwatering Sunday lunches

Sunday lunch is a big deal for many people around the world, and Britons seem to take it very seriously. The celebrated main meal is the Sunday roast, which of course could be eaten on any day of the week. Consisting of roasted meat, roast or (rarely) mashed potato and accompaniments such as Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, vegetables and gravy, the meal is often comparable to a less grand version of a traditional Christmas dinner.

You could enjoy it at home, with your family and friends, or eat out. If you happen to be visiting London, you could check out one (or more) of the  21 unmissable spots recommended. In any other case, you can still enjoy a Sunday lunch recipe by Jamie Oliver.

Sci-Fi, AI & Proficiency exams

Studying for the exams can sometimes be good fun! It has to do of course with the nature of the text you are supposed to read and comprehend; (since the majority of exam tasks relates to reading comprehension). Ocassionally we stumble across a text that sparks up interest and a web research with unexpected results. That happened recently with a text about the father of Artificial Intelligence.

John McCarthy (September 4, 1927 – October 24, 2011) was an American computer scientist and cognitive scientist. McCarthy was one of the founders of the discipline of artificial intelligence; he actually coined the term "Artificial Intelligence" (AI). He also developed the Lisp programming language family, popularized Timesharing, and was very influential in the early development of AI.

On a Stanford University web page he talks about his sci-fi story “The Robot and the Baby”:

“This is the first science fiction story I have put up for the public to look at. While it was written just as a story, it partly illustrates my opinions about what household robots should be like… The movie AI illustrates one disadvantage of having robots with emotions or which elicit human emotions. Unless you make them really human they will not fit into human society. Better just make them suitable as a kind of tool…”

If you are interested in reading more, or the short story itself, here is the link: The Robot and the Baby

Forthcoming English Language Exams

May 2015 Exams: Schedule, Fees & Registration Periods

The ECCE and ECPE are administered in Greece twice a year; the ECCE is administered in May and December and the ECPE is administered in May and November.

Written sections are administered on weekends (Saturday-Sunday). Speaking sections are administered on the same or a different date, before or after the written section.

Below please find the dates, fees and registration periods for the upcoming ECCE and ECPE administered in Greece under the auspices of the Hellenic American Union:

May 2015

Examination	Date	Exam fees	Registration Period
ECCE	May 23, 2015	160 €	2/2/2015 – 27/2/2015
ECPE	May 24, 2015	180 €	2/2/2015 – 27/2/2015

For more information and instructions on how to register for the exams follow the link Registering for the Exams  and choose "Individual candidates".

Also, you can find examination dates, fees and the registration period for forthcoming Cambridge English examinations below.

Cambridge English: First for Schools

EXAM DATE	FEE	REGISTRATION
09/05/15	€160	30/01/15–18/03/15
05/12/15	€160	21/09/15–16/10/15

Cambridge English: Advanced

EXAM DATE	FEE	REGISTRATION
09/05/15	€175	30/01/15–18/03/15
05/12/15	€175	21/09/15–16/10/15

Cambridge English: Proficiency

EXAM DATE	FEE	REGISTRATION
10/05/15	€180	30/01/15–18/03/15
06/12/15	€180	21/09/15–16/10/15

For more information please visit How to Register

The exams for κπγ (the Greek state certificate) are to be held on Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th May 2015. You can register between  19/2/2015 & 9/3/2015. For more details you can have a look at κπγ-Μάιος 2015. You can also follow the link for Διευθύνσεις Δευτεροβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης where you should register.