Listening and speaking are essential to mastering any language, and Greek is no exception. This lesson focuses on honing your listening and speaking skills to improve pronunciation, rhythm, and fluency. The exercises will help you familiarize yourself with the flow of Greek words and sentences.

Goals of the Lesson

1. Improve listening comprehension of Greek words and phrases.
2. Develop accurate pronunciation and rhythm.
3. Build confidence in speaking Greek through practice.

Step 1: Active Listening

1. Start with Simple Words

   • Listen to recordings of basic Greek words, such as:
     • καλημέρα (kaliméra, good morning)
     • ευχαριστώ (efcharistó, thank you)
     • νερό (neró, water)

2. Identify Stress and Pronunciation

   • Focus on where the stress falls in each word and how the vowels and consonants are pronounced.

3. Practice Repetition

   • Repeat each word after listening to it. Mimic the intonation and rhythm of native speakers.

4. Use Audio Resources

   • Utilize Greek language apps, YouTube videos, or podcasts designed for beginners.

Step 2: Speaking Practice

1. Start with Common Phrases
   Practice speaking simple, everyday phrases:

   • Γεια σου! (Yiá sou! – Hello!)
   • Τι κάνεις; (Ti kánis? – How are you?)
   • Καλά, ευχαριστώ. (Kalá, efcharistó. – Fine, thank you.)

2. Focus on Fluency, Not Perfection

   • Don’t worry about making mistakes. Focus on speaking confidently.

3. Record and Compare

   • Record yourself saying words and phrases.
   • Compare your pronunciation with that of a native speaker.

Step 3: Listening Comprehension

1. Short Sentences

   • Listen to short, simple sentences and try to understand their meaning.
   • Example: Η Μαρία πίνει νερό. (I María píni neró. – Maria is drinking water.)

2. Context Clues

   • Use the context of the words to infer meaning, even if you don’t understand every word.

3. Answer Questions

   • After listening to a short passage, answer simple questions about it.
   • Example:
     • Listening: Ο Γιώργος είναι στο σπίτι. (O Yórgos íne sto spíti. – George is at home.)
     • Question: Πού είναι ο Γιώργος; (Pou íne o Yórgos? – Where is George?)
     • Answer: Στο σπίτι. (Sto spíti. – At home.)

Step 4: Conversational Practice

1. Practice with a Partner

   • Engage in simple dialogues with a study partner or language exchange partner:
     • A: Καλημέρα! (Kalímera! – Good morning!)
       B: Καλημέρα! Πώς είσαι; (Kalímera! Póse íse? – Good morning! How are you?)

2. Use Flashcards

   • Create flashcards with phrases to practice conversational skills.

3. Simulate Real-Life Scenarios

   • Practice ordering at a café, introducing yourself, or asking for directions.

Practice Activities

Activity 1: Repeat and Record

• Listen to the following phrases and repeat them aloud:
  • Καλησπέρα (Kalispéra – Good evening)
  • Σ’ αγαπώ (S’ agapó – I love you)
  • Παρακαλώ (Parakaló – Please/You’re welcome)

Activity 2: Match the Sound

• Match the Greek word you hear to its written form:
  • Audio:
  • Options:
    1. Καλημέρα
    2. Ευχαριστώ
    3. Νερό

Activity 3: Role-Play

• Pretend to meet someone for the first time. Practice introducing yourself:
  • Γεια σου, με λένε Νίκος. (Yiá sou, me léne Níkos. – Hello, my name is Nikos.)

Fun Fact

Greek is a phonetic language, meaning words are pronounced as they are written. This makes it easier to practice pronunciation once you learn the alphabet and basic rules.