It was a real pleasure to have Katharina and Heiko with us at Alexander Greek School as they completed their intensive Greek language course under the guidance of our outstanding teacher, Rania. Their classroom presence brought warmth, enthusiasm, and a sense of shared purpose that truly enhanced the learning environment. As their time with us came to a close, the final photo we took together captured more than just smiling faces—it captured the remarkable progress they achieved in a short span of time.
Katharina and Heiko joined us as participants in the Bildungsurlaub program, a professional development initiative available to employees in Germany. This program grants eligible employees extra paid leave (beyond their standard annual holiday entitlement) to pursue educational activities that enhance their skills—language learning being a popular choice.
Our school is proud to be officially recognized and accredited to offer courses eligible for Bildungsurlaub. This means we are able to welcome learners from various German federal states, including Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and more, who wish to take full advantage of this opportunity.
Katharina and Heiko embraced an ambitious and well-structured schedule. In addition to our standard 20-hour weekly group intensive program, they undertook an additional 6 hours of specialized instruction to meet the requirements of Bildungsurlaub, along with 7 hours of weekly cultural and educational activities outside the classroom. This holistic approach allowed them not only to improve their Greek language skills rapidly, but also to connect more deeply with Greek culture and everyday life in Athens.
Their dedication and consistency were evident in every lesson, and their enthusiasm was contagious. It has been truly rewarding to witness their growth—from early struggles with pronunciation and grammar to confidently engaging in conversations and navigating real-life situations in Greek.
We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of their language journey and hope to welcome them back to our school and to Greece in the near future.
Καλή συνέχεια και καλή αντάμωση – until we meet again!
