By Joseph Lo Bianco, President of the Pharos Alliance
Introduction
This Pharos Tip arose from a parent at a ‘bilingual homes’ seminar who asked how to encourage children to actively use the Greek they were learning. I noted the shortage of immersion experiences, contexts in which Greek is the natural medium of communication. Using the metaphor of swimming, I explained immersion requires design and intent: “not just splashing about having fun, but fun with purpose.”
This guide outlines how to plan and implement effective immersion activities for school-aged learners of Greek. A very alert parent, let’s call her Maria, smiled and challenged me as follows: “you promise, it’s not just splashing about having fun, is it?”, to which I replied, “not at all, it’s designed for learning, but there should be some fun”. Maria laughed and stated: “ok, let’s go swimming. So, what’s the best way to do it?”
Maria’s Question: How to Do Immersion?
So, to answer Maria’s question, what is the best way to do immersion? More specifically, what are the ingredients of a successful activity of language for school-aged children studying Greek?
Focusing on the Greek language required I will divide it into three groups: the planned language, that you need to do before the activity, the taught language, that you teach before the activity or during the activity at strategic times, depending on the length of time of the immersion experience, and the enacted language, meaning what actually goes on between the learners and the tutors, or the swimmers and the coaches. These are not strictly sequential but overlap in dynamic and reinforcing ways.
I will answer the question by specific examples: a physical activity (sport, or dance), a mini theatrical performance (such as discussing a Greek myth and enacting it with dialogue), or a visit, such as to a Greek old people’s home. Different activities draw on different learning styles and practices and can be pitched at different interest levels and ages.
You should include evaluation to give you information on how to refine the activity on future occasions. The main thing to keep in mind is that an immersion activity supplements and enriches the teaching of Greek in a formal environment, but even though it is supposed to be enjoyable, I promise, you and Maria, that “it’s not just splashing about having fun.”
Immersion can be designed around three overlapping dimensions:
- Prepared language – vocabulary, expressions, and phrases identified in advance.
- Taught language – explicit instruction given before or during the activity.
- Enacted language – what happens between learners and facilitators during the experience.
Planning Involves Linguistics and Logistics
While language is central, other aspects matter:
- Linguistic goals – target proficiency, key functions, and vocabulary.
- Cultural goals – greetings, politeness, and body language common in Greek-speaking communities.
- Social goals – encourage interaction, confidence, and group cohesion.
Know your participants: assess age, exposure, and comfort with immersion. Identify heritage speakers and give them leadership roles. Include students with special needs, as immersion mirrors real-world communication. Choose immersion-appropriate settings: sports fields, community centres, or aged care homes. Ensure spaces provide visual, physical, and social supports for Greek.
Training Facilitators and Volunteers
Staff should model Greek-only communication, practicing common dialogue patterns for instructions, encouragement, or comfort. Fallback strategies include gestures, paraphrasing, or visual aids, these are part of what we can call scaffolding, see below.
Sample training phrases:
- Μη χρησιμοποιείς Αγγλικά. Δοκίμασε να το πεις στα Ελληνικά.
- Χρησιμοποίησε χειρονομίες ή δείξε αυτό που εννοείς.
- Μίλα αργά και καθαρά.
Scaffolding the Experience
Scaffolding supports learners in reaching beyond their current level of Greek. Over time, this support is reduced as competence grows.
- Begin with a short English briefing if necessary, explaining immersion and reassuring participants.
- Provide tools such as:
- Greek passports for collecting stamps after each successful exchange.
- Cue cards with key phrases.
- Visual signage in Greek (Νερό – Water, Τουαλέτα – Toilet).
Evaluation methods include reflection phrases (“Σήμερα έμαθα…”), staff logs, or video review.
1. Prepared Language
Identify in advance the vocabulary, expressions, and phrases learners need to participate. Run simulations of the activity with facilitators to predict likely linguistic demands.
- Theme-specific vocabulary: e.g. for sports—jump, run, pass; for theatre—character actions and emotions.
- High–frequency chunks: “Έλα εδώ!”, “Καθίστε”, “Ξεκινάμε τώρα!”.
- Visual scaffolding: flashcards, labelled props, gesture cues.
- Function-based phrases: negotiation, turn-taking, giving praise.
- Age-appropriate expressions: engaging and usable across age groups.
2. Taught Language
Prepare learners through explicit instruction that introduces and practices the prepared language.
- Pre-teaching sessions: brief, visual, and interactive.
- Multimodal learning: speech, gesture, movement, props.
- Choral repetition and role-play: dynamic group practice.
- Games and drills: reinforce vocabulary in playful ways.
- Focus on comprehension first: understanding before production.
3. Enacted Language
During immersion, facilitators ensure Greek is used meaningfully and reflect afterward on what worked.
Key features include:
- Authentic use in context – Greek for instructions, cheering, performing.
- Natural exchanges – communication among peers and facilitators.
- Embodied language – linking movement to words (e.g. “πηδάω ψηλά” with a jump).
- Peer modelling – observing others using Greek.
- Immediate feedback – light and supportive correction.
Examples
Sports Camp
- Vocabulary: τρέχω (I run), παίζω (I play), πέταξε (μου) την μπάλα! (throw (me) the ball!), διάλειμμα (break), ομάδα (team), μπράβο! (well done!).
- Inputs: instructions (Τρέξτε μέχρι τη γραμμή!), team language (Είμαστε ομάδα!), encouragement (Δεν πειράζει, προσπάθησε ξανά).
- Activities:
- Warm-up chants with verbs and counting.
- Relay tasks requiring Greek answers.
- A “language referee” ensuring Greek use, giving playful fouls for English.
Aged Care Visit
- Vocabulary: Καλημέρα σας (Good morning), Πώς είστε σήμερα; (How are you?), Ευχαριστώ πολύ (Thank you very much).
- Inputs: greetings and respectful forms (Σας, Κύριε/Κυρία).
- Activities:
- Memory sharing with photos or songs.
- Crafts or cooking described in Greek.
- Exchange of poems or blessings (Να έχετε υγεία και χαρά!).
Grammar focus should include imperatives (Περίμενε!, Έλα εδώ!), present tense verbs (παίζω, τρέχω), and politeness structures (Μπορώ να…;, Θα ήθελα…).
Conclusion
Immersion requires more than exposure; it needs scaffolding, trained facilitators, and intentional design. Whether through sport, theatre, or intergenerational dialogue, the aim is authentic communication that strengthens fluency and cultural understanding.
Children should be immersed in activities where Greek is essential to participate. Facilitators prepare and model language, pre-teach critical vocabulary, and provide supportive cues. Students progress from recognising Greek, to practising it, to using it meaningfully.
Expectations should remain modest: short immersions cannot produce fluency but can validate Greek as a living medium for engagement. Repetition, redundancy, and embodied experience help input become intake. English use should not be harshly penalised, but facilitators remain Greek-only models.
Finally, recruiting fluent peers as mentors can greatly enhance the experience, showing children that Greek is a natural language of friendship and collaboration.
*Joseph Lo Bianco is President of Pharos Alliance, and Professor Emeritus in Language and Literacy Education at the University of Melbourne.
Do you have a question you would like the Pharos Alliance to answer, send your query to editor@foreignlanguage.com.au.
FULL PHAROS TIPS SERIES:
TIP 1: My child doesn’t want to go to Greek school. What can I do?
TIP 2: Help! After 7 years of Greek School, my child still doesn’t know the alphabet
TIP 3: How can I support my child’s Greek language learning at home?
TIP 4: I failed Greek as a kid, can I learn Greek as an adult?
TIP 5: How to make sure kids get language learning on their Greek holiday
TIP 6: I try to use Greek, but they always reply in English…
TIP 7: My partner doesn’t speak Greek – Can we still raise bilingual kids?
TIP 8: Are apps like Duolingo enough to learn Greek, or do we need a tutor?
TIP 9: I understand Greek but struggle to speak it – how can I overcome that barrier
