Anna Ginosyan, a faculty at AUCA will be teaching Greek, a freshly introduced language course

September 7, 2018

Originally from Krasnodar, Russia, she graduated from department of Modern Greek Philology of the Kuban State University. Last year she taught English language courses at the Continuing Education Center. In the following interview, Anna talks about teaching and opportunities related to Greek courses.

Anna, what is teaching for you?

Teaching is a rewarding and exciting profession. I appreciate most the personal interaction with students and colleagues, which allows me to become part of another person’s development. In my view, teachers are, first and foremost, guides and advisors, whose main purpose is to create an interactive and cooperative learning experience, in which students find encouragement and support for improving their analytical and communicative skills.

How long you are staying in Kyrgyzstan? Do you like Bishkek?

I came to Bishkek last year. It has been great so far. I almost feel as if I am at home, in Russia. People speak Russian, the infrastructure as well as the food is quite similar. Yet, Bishkek is unique for me because of its stunning mountain view surrounding the city and because of AUCA.

What are your impressions about AUCA?

AUCA is a beautiful place to teach. Its diverse student body, its open and friendly atmosphere make it a very distinct teaching and learning environment. Students enjoy the close contact with their teachers. They also like the student-centeredness of the university, where they are being taught how to tackle the challenges of 21^st century. I much appreciate the emphasis on critical thinking and academic freedom at AUCA, which allows not only for flexibility in the classroom but also for innovation in the curriculum; it allows for new classes to be launched, such as a class on the Greek language.

How did you decide to move to Kyrgyzstan and start teaching Greek language here?

I moved to Kyrgyzstan because of AUCA. The university was recommended to me because of its liberal arts orientation, its student-oriented curriculum and its marked emphasis on language instruction. All these are important to me as a teacher. At AUCA students can study not only Russian and Kyrgyz, but also German, French, Spanish, Chinese, to only name a few. After having taught for a year at AUCA I came to realize that the Greek language was missing from the curriculum. Greek is a foundational language for the liberal arts and a background in Greek philology greatly facilitates one’s understanding of the key concepts that form the bread and butter of AUCA’s liberal arts agenda. ‘An academic analysis of economic policies, philosophical methods or political organizations should be based on the critical, orthological and autonomous practice of our noetic potentialities.’ Every word in the last sentence (except for the prepositions and articles) has its origin in the Greek language. Teaching Greek helps students to better appreciate the every-day vocabulary used at AUCA. Moreover, it shows to students how widespread and pervasive the Greek heritage is, not only in the English language but also in Russian. Greek forms a central and shared pillar of the Anglophone and Russophone world.

Can you tell more about the new Greek language course?

Modern Greek for Beginners is a course designed for students with no previous knowledge of Greek. We begin with the alphabet and steadily develop a basic command of Greek vocabulary and grammar. By the end of the term, students will have acquired skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing at an elementary level (A1). Throughout the course, students are introduced to some key features of Greek culture, including Greek music, film and literature. I continuously try to relate the class material to the students’ preexisting knowledge, showing them that all of us already know a fair amount of Greek even if we do not realize it.

What will students gain by the end of the course?

The most important thing students will gain from this course is an appreciation of the vast impact and energizing beauty of the Hellenic (Greek) language. By the end of the term, students will be able to hold basic conversations on daily matters; they will be able to place an order at a restaurant or to ask for directions. Furthermore, students will discover the ‘Greekness’ behind many names, concepts and customs. In terms of opportunities, modern-day Greece is student-friendly country, where no tuition fees exist and where students are given books and food for free. Greeks consider education to be a democratic right that should not depend on one’s financial background. As a result, there are various stipends, also for foreigners to study in Greece. There are summer programs and whole-year courses that are supported with scholarships, to which AUCA students can apply. As to any future project, I can imagine to organize a Greek cultural day at AUCA with music and food, if there is enough interest.

<< go to news list