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CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND VARIOUS OTHER FUNCTIONS

Every month, starting from October until the end of May, (for winter and spring courses), as well as from June until the end of July (for summer courses), visits to Museums and archaeological sites as well as day trips to places of archaeological interest are organized by the Language Teaching Center, (Sounion, Thorikos, Delphi, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nauplion, Hydra). The archaeological tours, usually conducted by archaeologists, are issued in the form of a lesson, corresponding to the level of students ( elementary, intermediate, advanced). Students are prepared for these visits beforehand, in class, working with their teachers, employing printed and photographic material, reading and listening to historical references and short introductions to each subject. Relevant exercises, which involve language skills, are carried out, and discussions, which are held in class, help them to form a complete image of the Greek civilization. Thus, these activities are incorporated in the basic program of studies.

Students are able to form an image of the Greek civilization on the whole, since they have the opportunity to have information from various historical periods. The museums and archaeological sites visited cover the whole range of Greek history (Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, National Archaeological Museum, Museum of the Athenian Agora, Cycladic Art Museum (where the exhibition with the findings of the Athens Metro), Benaki Museum, Byzantine Museum, Folk Art Museum, University of Athens Museum, Museum of the City of Athens, National and Historical Museum).

Students of all levels participate in the educational programs of the Ministry of Culture on the creation and the function of ancient theatre and the public life of ancient Athenians. Films on historical subjects are shown (ancient cities of Macedonia: Dion, Pella, Vergina). Students also visit the National Gallery, where they become familiar with the different periods of Greek painting (as well as with Greek painters who lived in foreign countries, like Doninicos Theotokopoulos), and the Greek Parliament, where they can form a concrete image of how Greek democracy functions.

Students attend annual concerts and theatrical shows, presented at the School of Philosophy by the Musical a Theatrical Departments of the University of Cyprus.