Modern Greek (Version 8.4)

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Context statement

The place of the Modern Greek language and culture in Australia and the world
Modern Greek is the official language of Greece and Cyprus. It is spoken throughout the world – wherever there are Greek-speaking communities.

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PDF documents

Resources and support materials for the Australian Curriculum: Languages - Modern Greek are available as PDF documents. 
Languages - Modern Greek: Sequence of content
Languages - Modern Greek: Sequence of Achievement - F-10 Sequence
Languages - Modern …

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Years 7 and 8

Years 7 and 8 Band Description

The nature of the learners

Students are beginning their study of Modern Greek and typically have little prior exposure to the language and associated cultures. Many will have learnt a different language in primary school, while some will have proficiency in different home languages and bring existing language learning strategies and intercultural awareness to the new experience of learning Modern Greek. Students’ textual knowledge developed through English literacy supports the development of literacy in Modern Greek. Skills in analysing, comparing and reflecting on language and culture in both languages are mutually supportive. Students may need encouragement to take risks in learning a new language at this stage of social development and to consider how the experience impacts on the sense of ‘norms’ associated with their first language and culture.

Modern Greek language learning and use

Learners listen to, speak, read and write Modern Greek in a widening range of interactions for a variety of purposes. They participate in role-plays, discussions, games, practical activities and competitions, and are supported to use Modern Greek as much as possible. They use modelled and rehearsed language in familiar and unfamiliar contexts and increasingly generate original and personal language. They plan, draft and present imaginative texts, and design interactive events and collaborative tasks. They express ideas and feelings, exchange opinions, and manage shared activities. Learners work collaboratively and independently, exploring different modes and genres of communication with particular reference to their current social, cultural and communicative interests. They pool language knowledge and resources to plan, problem-solve, monitor and reflect. They focus on the different systems that structure language use (grammar, vocabulary, sounds, the Greek alphabet and script) and gradually build a vocabulary and grammatical base that allows them to compose and present different kinds of texts, such as posters, advertisements and songs. They make cross-curricular connections and explore intercultural perspectives and experiences through interaction with speakers of Greek. They are encouraged to reflect on language, ideas and their sense of self, and consider connections within and across languages and cultures.

Contexts of interaction

Modern Greek is used not only for classroom interactions and transactions, but also for broader interactive and intercultural experiences, for example, in school excursions, sister-school relationships, and study trips to Greece, Cyprus and other Greek-speaking communities. Extra opportunities for interaction are provided through purposeful and integrated use of information and communication technologies (ICT), for example, videoconferencing and online activities such as e-learning. Texts and resources

Texts and resources

Learners work with a range of texts designed for language learning, such as textbooks, audio recordings, teacher-generated materials and online resources. They also use materials designed for students of Modern Greek in different contexts, for example, blogs, newsletters, advertisements, magazines, video clips and apps. Authentic texts from different sources provide opportunities for discussion and analysis of the relationship between language and culture.

Features of Modern Greek language use

Learners become familiar with the sounds of Modern Greek, including pronunciation, rhythm, pitch and stress (Πώς πας Αντώνη; το αυτοκίνητό μου). They approximate the pronunciation and phrasing of vocabulary and short sentences (Σας αρέσει το παγωτό;) and develop their understanding and use of the Greek alphabet. They apply elements of Modern Greek grammar to the production of simple texts, such as subject–verb–object word order, simple verb forms (είμαι, παίζω, θέλω, γράφω), adjectives and adverbs (μεγάλος, μικρός, πολλή, πολύ) and conjunctions (και, αλλά) to link ideas. They make comparisons between Greek and English, for example, το αυτοκίνητο/automobile/car, το αμφιθέατρο/amphitheatre, and other languages they know, focusing on similarities and differences between languages and cultural systems. They make connections between texts and cultural contexts, identifying how cultural values and perspectives are embedded in language and how language choices determine ways in which people, issues and circumstances are represented (καλή όρεξη, καλό ταξίδι, με το καλό, με γεια).

Level of support

A multilevel and personalised approach to teaching and task design caters for the diversity of prior experience of learners. Support includes scaffolding, modelling and monitoring, explicit instruction and feedback, and structured activities for practising new language. Students are supported to develop autonomy as language learners and users, and to self-monitor and adjust simple language in response to their experience in diverse contexts. Opportunities to review and consolidate are an important component of learning at this level.

The role of English

Modern Greek is the main language of instruction and interaction, while English may be used for conceptually demanding explanations and discussions, particularly when making connections between Modern Greek and other languages and cultures.


Years 7 and 8 Content Descriptions

Socialising

Interact with peers and teacher to exchange information and opinions about self, family, friends and interests, and express feelings, likes and dislikes

[Key concepts: family, friendship, leisure; Key processes: introducing, interacting, describing] (ACLMGC001 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • engaging in conversations face-to-face or online, with peers and teacher, to exchange information about themselves, their family and friends
  • introducing self and others in real and imagined situations, for example, Αυτή είναι η μαμά μου, kissing on both cheeks when appropriate, and using the singular and plural form for example. Πώς σε / σας λένε;
  • expressing opinions and describing and exchanging information about interests, for example, leisure activities, using modelled language, for example, Παίζω μπάσκετ. Σου αρέσει η μουσική;
  • expressing likes and dislikes in classroom and school ground conversations, for example, M’ αρέσει/ Δε μ’ αρέσει η τσάντα
  • expressing how they are feeling, for example, Είμαι καλά, έτσι κι έτσι, πολύ καλά
Participate in collaborative activities, such as performances and presentations, that involve planning and making arrangements

[Key concepts: tasks, performance, transaction, collaborative learning; Key processes: planning and managing tasks, contributing] (ACLMGC002 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • using language to participate with others in everyday activities, for example, ordering at a restaurant Θέλουμε/Θα πάρουμε δύο σουβλάκια και μία λεμονάδα, shopping at a bakery, Πόσο κάνει; using public transport, Ένα εισιτήριο, παρακαλώ, or meeting at the movies, Ραντεβού στις πέντε
  • participating in role-plays relating to making arrangements, for example, Πάμε στην πόλη το Σάββατο;
  • collaborating with peers to present a birthday celebration song to a classmate, for example, Χρόνια πολλά!
  • creating presentations or performances for family, friends or school community to showcase Greek language learning, for example, a Greek Christmas carol such as Τρίγωνα Κάλαντα, Άγια Νύχτα or a current pop song
  • accepting or declining an invitation, for example, Ναι, ευχαριστώ, Συγγνώμη, δεν μπορώ
Interact in class routines and exchanges by asking and responding to questions, following instructions and seeking help and permission

[Key concepts: routine, roles; Key processes: participating, questioning, responding] (ACLMGC003 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • asking and responding to questions relating to the learning environment, for example, Πού είναι το βιβλίο σου; Είναι εδώ/εκεί, and how to say something in Greek, Τι είναι αυτό; Πώς λένε ...;
  • interacting in classroom routines by following instructions, for example, Άνοιξε την πόρτα!, Μάλιστα κυρία/κύριε, Σειρά σου/σας, and responding to the teacher during roll call, Εδώ κυρία/κύριε
  • using formulaic language to ask permission, Μπορώ να πάω ...; Θέλω να ...;
  • responding with actions or gestures to questions such as Τι θέλεις; Κατάλαβες;

Informing

Locate and use key points of information, such as main ideas, specific details and general descriptions from a range of spoken, written, visual, digital or multimodal texts

[Key concepts: interconnection across events and actions, discovery; Key processes: listening, reading, identifying, classifying] (ACLMGC004 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • reading, viewing or listening to texts, such as a map, song, poster, email or interactive game and responding to questions, for example, Πού είναι η Σαντορίνη; Τι χρώμα είναι τα ρούχα;
  • obtaining information on a range of topics, such as the life of a student in Greece or Cyprus, for example, Πώς τον/την λένε; Πόσων χρονών είναι;
  • identifying main ideas and key points of information in texts and using the information in new ways, for example, reading about an annual event in Greece or Cyprus and producing a program
  • identifying key and commonly used expressions in texts and using them in own texts, for example, Απίστευτο! Σπουδαίο! Φοβερό! Τέλειο!
  • gathering and collating information from sources such as class surveys, and presenting findings to others in digital formats, for example, posters, wall charts, profiles or timelines
Use spoken, written and multimodal forms of presentation to convey information on selected topics of interest

[Key concepts: representation, culture; Key processes: informing, reporting, speaking, writing] (ACLMGC005 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • creating texts relating to own experiences, for example, Easter celebrations, using appropriate and related greetings, Καλό Πάσχα, Χριστός Ανέστη
  • describing aspects of life in Australia for an audience in Greece or Cyprus, such as a teenage birthday party
  • presenting information in different formats for different audiences, for example, writing an email to a pen pal in Greece or Cyprus, introducing a new student to the class
  • reporting on events in their school life, personal world and immediate environment, for example, in a diary entry
  • using different modes of presentation to profile significant events, people or places related to Greek-speaking communities, for example, a flyer about a community event, a digital presentation on a favourite musician

Creating

Access imaginative texts such as cartoons, songs, stories or digital texts, and respond by describing aspects such as characters, events and ideas

[Key concepts: plot, character, experience; Key processes: interpreting, recounting, describing] (ACLMGC006 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • participating in imaginary exchanges between characters from a story in a performance for the class
  • accessing digital texts, and responding to questions about characters and events
  • describing characters, events and key ideas in a shared text using a scaffold, for example, a storyboard
  • listening to songs such as Greek versions of English language songs, for example, ‘Jingle bells’/’Τρίγωνα Κάλαντα’, and comparing aspects that may be similar or different
Create or represent and perform own imagined scenarios, characters and events, using stimulus materials and modelled language

[Key concepts: imagination, creativity; Key processes: expressing, performing] (ACLMGC007 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • creating own versions of familiar texts, such as greeting cards for imaginary special occasions or board games, for example, Greek version of Scrabble
  • creating and telling a story from a stimulus, such as a photograph, using speech bubbles, voice recordings or captions to accompany visuals, using digital technologies
  • creating and performing a short play or video clip to share with and entertain others, for example, a rap or role-play on Grandparents’ Day or Open Day for younger students
  • composing and participating in imaginary interactions, for example, a conversation between avatars or meeting a character from a Greek story or film for the first time

Translating

Translate and interpret texts such as emails, signs and notices from Greek to English and English to Greek, using contextual cues and familiar textual features and recognising aspects that are similar and different in the two language versions

[Key concepts: equivalence, representation; Key processes: interpreting, translating, explaining] (ACLMGC008 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • translating short, simple texts from Greek to English and English to Greek, identifying words and expressions that can be readily translated and those that can be ‘lost in translation’, for example, το κέφι, βρέχει καρεκλοπόδαρα
  • translating signs and notices from Greek to English and English to Greek, identifying similarities and differences in both language versions
  • identifying and explaining expressions that need interpretation rather than translation, for example, Γιάννης - Γιαννάκης, τσάκα-τσάκα
  • using bilingual dictionaries and electronic translation tools to become aware of alternative or multiple meanings of words and the importance of context when making meaning, for example, το κορίτσι/αγόρι μου
Create bilingual texts and resources to support their own learning, such as glossaries and personal dictionaries, digital resources and charts

[Key concepts: equivalence, context, meaning; Key processes: translating, interpreting, explaining] (ACLMGC009 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • creating bilingual resources for language learning, such as word banks or a personal Greek–English dictionary, with examples and explanations of language use
  • using dictionaries and electronic translation tools to create bilingual texts, such as posters, maps, menus and schedules, making decisions about language use that are appropriate for the audience
  • creating bilingual resources, such as picture dictionaries or photo stories with bilingual captions and labels, for example, recreating a village scene in Greece or Cyprus, depicting roads, shops, products and services
  • creating bilingual signs and notices for the school, such as το γυμναστήριο, η είσοδος/έξοδος, η αίθουσα
  • developing strategies to support understanding of language that cannot be directly translated, for example, in the use of actions and gestures

Reflecting

Engage with speakers of Greek recognising that interaction involves the expression of cultural experience and values as well as language

[Key concepts: exchange, awareness, interpretation, cultural frames; Key processes: noticing, reflecting, responding] (ACLMGC010 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • participating in and discussing experiences in intercultural interactions, for example, using appropriate greetings, terms and non-verbal gestures and explaining why they vary in different cultural and social settings and contexts
  • researching language used in different contexts, for example, informal texts such as text messages, recognising elements that reflect cultural attitudes and trends, for example, τα λέμε
  • reflecting on choices made when using Greek to interact with others, considering the relationship between language and culture, for example, when speaking in the formal and informal register Kαλημέρα σας κυρία/κύριε, Αγαπημένο μου ημερολόγιο ... σε φιλώ, φιλάκια
  • participating in intercultural experiences, for example, visiting a Greek cultural establishment, reflecting on etiquette, cultural expressions and language choices
Recognise their own and others’ ways of expressing identity, reflecting on the relationship between language, culture and identity

[Key concepts: communication, identity; Key processes: noticing, reflecting, comparing, connecting] (ACLMGC011 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • monitoring own development as a Greek speaker and exploring the relationship between identity, culture and language in relation to learning and using Greek
  • recognising and exploring how identity is expressed through languages spoken by people in various cultural contexts, including languages spoken by classmates and family or community members
  • participating in Greek cultural experiences, such as eating at a Greek restaurant, going to a concert or attending a function, and reflecting on cultural similarities and differences in own language and behaviours
  • reflecting on gestures and language choices used by speakers of Greek and considering when and how to use these in own communication, for example, shaking head in agreement, use of hands to emphasise points made in conversation

Systems of language

Identify similarities and differences between the phonological and orthographic systems of English and Greek, including accentuation and intonation in oral language, and decode and use the Greek script

[Key concepts: sound system, writing system; Key processes: recognising, imitating, comparing] (ACLMGU012 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • using the Greek alphabet, making connections between spoken and written forms, and recognising similarities and differences to the English alphabet
  • recognising accentuation and differences such as πού/που,πώς/πως, ή/η
  • developing and using Greek pronunciation, reproducing sounds and combinations
  • using the Greek alphabet for spelling out names and other words
  • developing awareness of Greek sounds, rhythms and intonation patterns
  • becoming familiar with the Greek vowel system
  • recognising intonation for questions, statements, commands and interjections
  • knowing when to use σ/ς
  • using vowels to create same sounds, such as ι, η, υ, ει, οι
  • understanding and using punctuation particular to the Greek language, for example, the question mark (;)
Recognise and use vocabulary and grammatical elements such as articles, pronouns and gender forms, and a limited range of common verbs in the present tense to create simple sentences and phrases

[Key concepts: vocabulary, grammatical structures; Key processes: understanding, making connections, applying] (ACLMGU013 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • using nouns and verbs, recognising agreement and word order, for example, Η μαμά μου είναι ...
  • understanding and applying the concept of verb conjugation by using appropriate verb endings
  • indicating quantity using plural forms, for example, ο, η, το, οι, οι, τα
  • using negative expressions such as δεν, μη
  • conjugating the present tense
  • using common verbs such as γράφω, θέλω, τρέχω to describe simple actions
  • using definite and indefinite articles, for example, ο, η, το,ένας, μία, ένα
  • applying appropriate gender to nouns
  • using singular and plural pronouns εγώ, εσύ, αυτός/η/ο, εμείς, εσείς, αυτοί/ες/α
  • developing knowledge of vocabulary related to personal world, for example, self, family, friends, school and home, leisure activities, food and drink
Recognise and understand characteristic features of common types of text, comparing them with equivalent texts in English

[Key concepts: equivalence, genre; Key processes: noticing, comparing, explaining] (ACLMGU014 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • comparing texts in Greek and English by identifying similarities and differences, for example, postcards, diary entries, short emails or a personal note to a friend
  • identifying characteristic features of familiar text types such as signs, instructions, songs, advertisements and invitations, and noting differences in expression and levels of formality, for example, a wedding invitation or a clothing sale at a store
  • transforming a simple text, such as a short song, into another text type, for example, a conversation or cartoon, applying the key features of the second text type and making comparisons with transforming a similar text in English

Language variation and change

Understand that Greek, like all languages, varies according to participants, roles and relationships, context and culture

[Key concepts: variation, register; Key processes: noticing, comparing] (ACLMGU015 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • examining differences between formal and informal language in social interactions such as greetings, introductions and farewells, for example, Γεια σου Γιάννη/Γεια σας παιδιά, Με λένε Μαρία, Καληνύχτα σας
  • recognising that language use varies according to context and situation, and variables such as gender, age and the relationship of participants, for example, language used with friends compared to language used in formal situations such as meeting a friend’s family for the first time
  • observing and noticing cultural differences in informal and formal situations and interactions, for example, at a Greek celebration such as a festival
Understand that Greek is a language that has influenced many global languages and continues to influence and change through interaction with other languages and cultures

[Key concepts: dynamic systems, communication, relationships; Key processes: recognising, comparing, discussing] (ACLMGU016 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • understanding that Greek is an official language of Greece, Cyprus and the European Union and is also spoken in Greek-speaking communities in the Greek Diaspora
  • exploring and discussing the influence of the Greek language on English, identifying examples of Greek words and morphemes used in English, such as prefixes, suffixes and base words, using strategies to work out meanings of unknown words, and considering why word borrowing occurs across languages, for example, anti-, astro-, auto-, bio-, cosmos, deca-, demo-, geo-, glossary, -gram-, -graph-, hyper-, hypo-, -ic, -ism, -itis, kilo-, -logue, mega-, -meter-, micro-, mono-, -morph-, neo-, octo-, -ology, pent-, peri, -phil-, -phobia, photo-, -poly-, psych-, -scope, tech-, tele-, -therm-, tri-
  • recognising loan words from English that are used in Greek, such as πάρτι, and other words used in Greek that have been borrowed from other languages such as μπλε, γκρι, ροζ, παλτό, ραντεβού, λέντι, κέφι, and discussing why these words have been borrowed

Role of language and culture

Identify connections between language, culture and communication, recognising how communication styles and practices vary across cultures and how intercultural exchange involves the exchange of meaning as well as words

[Key concepts: interdependence, values, norms; Key processes: analysing, making connections] (ACLMGU017 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Ethical Understanding
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • Sustainability
  • investigating own personal and community practices to identify connections with Greek language and culture, for example, in cooking, sport, music, dance or technology
  • discussing elements of culture in Greek language and their significance in reflecting values, attitudes and traditions, such as references to saints’ days
  • discussing, questioning and explaining understanding of own and other cultures, and considering how attitudes towards diversity and difference affect communication and the sustainability of communities
  • examining culturally specific terms and phrases, such as η παρέα , το κέφι, Στην υγειά σου, Με γεια, Γεια στα χέρια σου/σας, developing appropriate explanations for them and discussing equivalent terms in other languages

Years 7 and 8 Achievement Standards

By the end of Year 8, students use Greek to describe feelings (for example, Αγαπώ τη μουσική), express likes and dislikes (for example, Δε μου αρέσει η σοκολάτα) and exchange information about their personal worlds, including information about themselves (for example, λένε Γιώργο, Mένω στην Αυστραλία), their family (for example, O πατέρας μου είναι ψηλός), friends (for example, Ο Γιάννης είναι φίλος μου) and interests such as, Μου αρέσει η μπάλα. They interact with others in collaborative and classroom activities, using modelled language to carry out transactions (for example, Τι ώρα θα πάμε κυρία; Πόσο κάνουν οι καφέδες;), ask and respond to familiar questions such as, Το τρένο φεύγει στις δέκα; follow instructions, and seek help or permission (for example, Μπορώ να πάω σινεμά; Η τράπεζα είναι στο δεύτερο δρόμο δεξιά, Συγγνώμη κύριε αλλά δεν καταλαβαίνω). When interacting, students pronounce Greek sounds, and use intonation and accentuation such as, Το σχολείο, ο φίλος, οι φίλοι, Η Ελένη αγόρασε καινούρια μπλούζα. They obtain information and identify key points from different sources, using non-verbal and contextual clues to help make meaning. Students describe characters, events and ideas in imaginative texts using high-frequency vocabulary and create short informative and imaginative texts using modelled sentence structures and formulaic expressions (for example, Γεια σου μαμά / Καλημέρα κυρία Σοφία, Πώς είστε; χαιρετισμούς, Με αγάπη). They use the present tense (for example, Μένω στην Αυστραλία), common verbs (for example, γράφω, διαβάζω, θέλω, είμαι, έχω) and other grammatical structures such as verb endings (for example, ω, εις, ει, ουμε, ετε, ουν) and singular and plural forms (for example, ο, οι, η, οι, το, τα) to create simple sentences and phrases such as, Τί κάνεις σήμερα; They translate and interpret texts using contextual clues and textual features and create simple bilingual texts for classroom use. When interacting, students modify their language and behaviour and recognise that aspects of their own language and culture impact on intercultural exchange (for example, Το Πάσχα βάφουμε κόκκινα αυγά).

Students identify the similarities and differences between the sound systems of Greek and English (for example, γγ, μπρ, τσ, γκ, ντρ, ντ, γ, ζ, υ, ξ, ψ, χ, μυθολογία, ιστορία, οξυγόνο, χιλιόμετρο). They describe the key features of common types of texts, comparing them with equivalent text types in English. They give examples of how language varies according to participants, roles and relationships, and context and culture (for example, η μαμά, η μητέρα). They identify ways that Greek language and culture have influenced and continue to influence many global languages. They analyse words and expressions to identify and explain connections between language and culture such as, Στην υγεία σου/σας, Με γεια, Γεια στα χέρια σου/σας.


Years 7 and 8 Work Sample Portfolios