Greek Language Platform Expands for More Foreign Speakers

The online Greek-language platform teaching Greek to foreigners abroad is now available for French and German speakers as well, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Monday.

The staellinika.com platform, which provides language and culture lessons, is now available in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, besides Greek.

According to the ministry, the platform is a result of collaboration between the ministry’s General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (the initial donor), and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre for Hellenic Studies at Vancouver’s Simon Fraser University. The French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish versions were funded by the ministry.

All applications on it are free and are addressed to individual users as well as schools, for which there are specialized services to support teachers.

The platform staellinika.com is constantly being developed with new teaching apps and new languages.

Greek language platform is “a huge power for diaspora Greeks”

“The Greek language and Greek culture are a huge power for diaspora Greeks, an integral component of our identity,” Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgos Kotsiras said.

“Therefore, promoting Greek learning is our constant aspiration,” Kotsiras said. “In this direction, we are using up-to-date technology, especially the Internet, to provide the young people of the diaspora and foreign speakers the opportunity to get in touch directly with the Greek language and our cultural resources.”

The expansion into French and German, he said, will open up this digital tool to an even greater audience globally. The enrichment of staellinika.com is part of the Strategic Plan for Greeks Abroad (2024-2027), he noted. Secretary General John Chrysoulakis invited young diaspora Greeks who live in French- or German-speaking regions to make use of the tool and boost their connections to Greece.

Since its inception, Staellinika has sought to provide individuals ranging from preschool-aged children to young adults with an innovative and engaging product designed to reconnect Greeks around the world with their heritage language and culture.

The platform’s creators have now realized their goal with the launch of a full course curriculum for beginner heritage learners in schools and for individuals at home. The platform can be used either as a stand-alone program to assist schools or to supplement their existing curriculum.

Its suite of applications consists of a series of language and culture courses targeting learners from various age groups. These courses include Beginners Greek for Ages 4+, Beginners Greek for Ages 6+, Beginners Greek for Ages 9+, Beginners Greek for Teens and Adults (Ages 13+), and Greek Mythology.

Related: The History of the Greek Language Throughout Time