At Alexander Greek School, we believe that language is not just learned—it is lived. One of the most inspiring ways we bring this philosophy to life is through our Teaching Greek Our Way sessions, where lessons move beyond the classroom and into the heart of Greek history and landscape. This April, under a sky gently veiled by spring clouds, we held a truly unforgettable lesson in Sounio.
Known for the majestic Temple of Poseidon, Sounio sits at the southernmost tip of Attica, where the land meets the Aegean Sea. Ancient Greeks believed this was one of the last points where sailors saw land before entering the open sea. It’s a place rich in mythology, where legend says King Aegeus leapt to his death, giving the Aegean Sea its name.
Our students explored this legendary setting not just as tourists, but as active learners. The environment became the classroom: we adapted our Greek lesson to suit the surroundings, working directly from our chapter materials while drawing vocabulary and grammar inspiration from the sea, the mythology, and the dramatic cliffs.
We shared a delicious seaside lunch of freshly grilled fish, discussing food, flavors, and expressions—all in Greek. Through conversation and context, language learning becomes natural and intuitive.
This is what makes our method innovative: we bring together culture, place, and people. Every excursion is an opportunity for total immersion—students don’t just learn Greek, they experience it.
Some Sounio trivia we covered in class:
- The Temple of Poseidon was constructed in 444 BC and is made of local marble from Agrileza.
- Lord Byron carved his name into one of the temple’s columns.
- On a clear day, you can see as many as seven islands from the temple’s promontory.
Our students didn’t just leave with stronger grammar and richer vocabulary—they left with a memory, a story, and a feeling of connection to the Greek land and language.
This is Greek, our way.
