By Stamatina Notaras
Memories of Greek school are clear as day, yet the language itself feels a little bit foggy. I remember being picked up from school in the afternoon, only to be driven straight to another classroom – one that was a little bit different, though. It was usually held at a church, and felt more like a bi-weekly catchup with cousins and friends from the Greek community. Your aunt might have even been the teacher.
Flash forward 15 years, and I find myself wondering if it was all a dream as I battle my way through conversations with my grandparents’ friends, and older Greek relatives, relying on nothing but hand gestures and my very best broken Greeklish.
All it takes is a trip to Greece to realise the importance of keeping the Greek language alive. It’s more than a tradition – it’s our identity. The nuances in the way we speak breathe life into stories that, without it, would otherwise feel mundane. No matter what the tale is coming your way – whether it’s a recap of someone’s ordinary day, or an induction into the Hall of Fame – their voice will lower when necessary, only to rise a moment later. It’s less about a perfectly structured sentence and more about the messy, expressive parts in between.
And if we’re being really honest – raise your hands up if one of the biggest perks of being fluent in Greek is to finally understand what the yiayiathes are discussing at Greek community dances. The conversations that make them gasp, tsk, and shake their heads as if they themselves are being asked to solve world peace.
It’s hard to ignore the realisation that not being able to understand or speak Greek with our loved ones, means missing out on a whole other side of them. A side that doesn’t have to pause before speaking. Imagine what you’ll get to hear when it’s coming straight from the source.
In recent years, there’s been a renewed longing to better understand the language of our people. Perhaps that’s why so many young adults have decided to go back to school – Greek school, that is.
Kate Kallinicos enrolled into Greek school in her late 20s, attending weekly adult classes at the Greek Orthodox Church in Brisbane. Her motivation to learn the language more deeply came from a mixture of experiences.
“I went to Greek school in my early 20s after a few trips to Greece and spending time with family over there,” she says.
“Many hours were spent listening to my parents speak to them in Greek, and I thought it would be nice to better understand these conversations.
“At the same time, my yiayia was diagnosed with dementia and stared losing her ability to speak English. I enjoyed being able to have conversations with her, even if they were in a limited capacity. I could see how much she appreciated it, too.”
From a parent’s point of view, sending your child to Greek school – even if it might not stick and they have to go back later – is an essential part of their upbringing, So, I asked my mum, Dimitria, why she felt so strongly about my sisters and me attending.
“Learning another language is just another way to connect you to your Greek heritage,” she says.
“It gives you a sense of belonging and enables you to communicate with your Greek-speaking family and community. And beyond that, learning Greek strengthens your overall language skills.
“I also thought about when you’d go on holidays to Greece – or if you ever wanted to live there. It was about giving you another skill set, another language tied to your heritage. Greek, being an ancient language, cements the culture and keeps you close to family. It allows you to feel that Greekness and gives you a deeper sense of identity.”
You heard it here first – I think we’re going back to school.
