Modern Greek at La Trobe is off life-support

Melbourne.–  Modern Greek at La Trobe university is off life-support and has been given the all-clear at a function at the university’s Agora. Representatives of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Neos Kosmos, teaching staff from the Modern Greek department, the Greek Teachers’ Association and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese were present to hear the announcement from the university’s vice chancellor.

Professor John Dewar, La Trobe University’s Vice Chancellor (VC) paid his respects to First Nations people then welcomed the Greek Community and members of the committee devised three years ago, who helped revive Modern Greek on campus.

Prof. Dewar emphasised the significance of the event held at “the heart of our campus, the place where students meet, where staff catch up with each other, the Agora.”

“The original architects of the campus, drew inspiration from the public meeting places in Ancient Greece when designing the campus,” Prof. Dewar said.

“As many of you know in Greek the agora means gathering place and we gathered here today in this space, inspired by the ancient Greeks to deliver an announcement about the modern Greek language programme,” the VC said.

He then acknowledged his Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, the president of the GCM Bill Papastergiadis, Anita Ladas the president of Modern Greek Teachers’ Association and all others like Kat Theophanous MP, “who did so much work but could not be with us here today.”

Prof. Dewar reflected on how three years have gone past and with “so much water under the bridge.”

“It was three years ago when we partnered with the Greek Community, the Greek Archdiocese of Australia and the Victorian government to support the modern Greek language program.”

“A community committee was formed with members of the Greek community, and we have been working together over the three years, and the Victorian government also provided bursaries to support students in the programme.”

“The good news is that over the last 18 months, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of students studying modern Greek at the university, since 2020 enrolments in modern Greek have increased by more than 20 percent and because of that we are delighted to announce that we will be continuing with the Modern Greek programme,” Prof. Dewar said.

Prof. Dewar said that the probationary period on which the program was on has ended. Due to the combined efforts of the community, and the “good work of [Prof.] Nick Bisley,” the Dean and Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, “the program was now on secure footing.”

Bishop Evmenios then spoke and said it was a special day, “it is Saint Dimitrios’ Day, the patron saint of Thessaloniki, which is Melbourne’s sister city.”

“It’s a blessing to be here today and to hear of your decision” the bishop said to Prof. Dewar.

“The Orthodox Christian Church has been instrumental in the survival of Greek through war, poverty and occupation,” the bishop said.

Bishop Evmenios also made the surprise announcement that he will enrol in the La Trobe program “to ensure that my Greek is improved.” The announcement was met with laughter and resounding approval.

When the President of the Greek Community Bill Papastergiadis rose to speak he glanced at the bishop and said that he would “not be enrolling,” as his Greek was fine. Bishop Evmenios joked, “You go back and forth to Greece, I am too busy here.”

Mr Papastergiadis said that growing up as a “second generation Greek Australian, education was a very important part of our upbringing.”

“It had something to do with the way our parents, that first generation, understood their own civilization and their relationship with modern, Byzantine and ancient Greece.”

The president of the Greek Community referred to Aristotle’s truism that “education was an important part of developing ethical consciousness.” He also spoke of how Plato saw education as important prerequisite to “individual and social justice.” Mr Papastergiadis also praised the efforts of the Greek business community, Greek media, the Church, and the committee who helped resuscitate Modern Greek. He made a special effort to thank Konstantine Kalymnios for being a sponsor and “strong advocate for the program.”

Three students of Modern Greek attended, Cathy Edwards, Kayla Careri and Andrew Viagias.

Cathy, who is not Greek, is now almost a fluent speaker. She wanted to travel to Greece and Cyprus, and study. She said Modern Greek was “a finely structured degree, so I went with Greek.”

“I was going to enrol in the diploma, but when I looked at the whole batch of languages, linguistics and it was so rich, so interesting.”

Cath who works also as a tutor, said “the linguistic side of it really helped.”

“I am interested in travelling to Greece, but equally interested in Greek contemporary art, and music from the island of Crete.”

“Modern Greek helped everything fall into place, and just understanding about the Greek context of things has been so good, from Women of Troy, mythology, art, and philosophy,” she said to Neos Kosmos.

L-R Kayla Careri, Andrew Viagias and Cathy Edwards, students of Modern Greek at La Trobe University. Photo: Supplied

Kayla Careri, who is part Italian, enrolled in Modern Greek while studying to be an audiologist.

“I grew up speaking Greek at a basic level, and I’d take my yiayia to hospital and we’d always get an interpreter, and she would look at them instead of the doctor,” she said.

Kayla wants to “help those Greeks of her yiayia’s generation” as an audiologist. Andrew Viagias told Neos Kosmos that he always loved his heritage and language but had never learned it properly.

“So, when I came to uni I had a spare elective and I said ‘why not?’” Andrew has started Modern Greek as a beginner and said, “I am loving it.”

Prof. Dewar later spoke to Neos Kosmos and said that the partnership that La Trobe has developed with the Greek community “is by far the deepest of any community partnerships.”

“We serve a multicultural community here from the north of Melbourne, but we do not have anything in terms of partnerships of the depth and scale that we have with the Greek community,” Prof. Dewar said.

The VC said three years ago, the “community answered what was really a plea for help.”

“Numbers were falling to the point where we didn’t see how we could continue here, but as you heard today numbers have risen by 20 percent.”

“The Greek Community, the Church, the business community, and the language teachers community, all rallied behind the program, and that’s why we can make this announcement today.”

“I look forward to expanding, so that other students who want to study modern Greek can also enrol,” he said.

Prof. Nick Bisley told Neos Kosmos that the support from the Greek community provided a “really strong foundation.”

“The active and vibrant relationship with the Greek community will drive enrolments and ensure a solid flow of students.”

“What’s more important though, in terms of the broader things that we do in university and in the language programmes, is that the relationship with the community, the Greek media, and the church ensures that Greek is part of a living heritage.”

“It makes it more meaningful for students to study Greek because it’s not just grammar, syntax and vocabulary, it’s a living thing that is out there in the community and can help students advance their careers, as well as make meaningful contributions to their society,” he said.

Prof. Bisley emphasised the Modern Greek program’s flexibility and said one does not have to be an “in-depth Greek speaker.”

“We have three levels, you can come in with nothing, you can be intermediate or advanced, we’ve got the full spectrum that can take you from zero to complete fluency,” he said.

Neoskosmos.com