“Classical Greek: When the Past blends with the Future” is a very important conference about Greek Classic Studies that will be realized virtually on 20 December, 17:00EE.
The symposium
is taking place in celebration of a series of successful initiatives, spearheaded by
PeopleCert throughout 2021, which ignited renewed excitement around
Classical Greek. Starting back in
May 2021, PeopleCert presented the launch of the Global First Certification of Classical Greek and all exams were offered free of charge throughout 2021,
in recognition of the Bicentennial of the Greek
Revolution. Following this launch, the Certification of Classical Greek
portfolio has been further enriched with a
new certification level.
The symposium will focus on the universal, timeless
nature of Classical
Greek and the challenges and opportunities
involved in teaching it internationally.
Five world-leading Classical Greek professors
will come together online, to present their experiences in teaching Classical Greek
and will explore with attendees’ opinions around the applications of
Classical Greek in everyday
life.
We asked Prof. Gerardo Guzmàn, who teaches Ancient Greek at the Accademia Vivarium
Novum a few key questions:
1.According to the symposium's title, The
Past Blends with the Future. Is this really feasible? Could
literacy of Classical Greece truly blend with an uncertain future?
“By seeing
that the future is always uncertain and unpredictable, we find ourselves in the
need of getting acquainted with our past in order to learn from the
vicissitudes, experiences, and ideas of those who came before us that can help
us understand the present while also being able to look forward to things to
come. Classical literature, therefore, is an opened door through which we can
have access to these treasures full of wisdom and examples. Yet, the key that
opens that door is the active and direct reading of the classics in the
original language. Anyone that goes as far as suggesting that this collection
of knowledge should be better off forgotten or “cancelled” incurs in the danger
of forgetting not only the mistakes previously made by others but also
solutions already found to some of our current problems and difficulties. As
Isocrates says, “When you are about to make a decision, take a look to the
past, lay hold of examples, for uncertain things can be clarified by situations
already made clear”.
2.How would you visualize a world in which
Classical Greek were abolished?
“If we were to
take the decision of abolishing the study of Ancient Greek, we would condemn
all future generations to obey preestablished opinions. It is through language
that we have the means to talk face to face with an author through an exchange
of views, as well as way of comparing our modern ideas with the thoughts of
writers from classical times. Without this capacity, it is impossible to go
freely on the quest for truth, for we must only passively receive and repeat
doctrines handed down by others through the narrow frame which is translation.”
3. How do you envision the future of
Classical Studies Internationally?
“If “specialists” were the only to take care
of these studies, we would be creating the notion that Classical Studies only
pertain to a small, reduced and elite group despite that it is in fact a
discipline that concerns the whole human race. By being able to renovate the
pedagocgical methodologies, we shall be able to enrich the generations to come
with the treasures that this language has to offer. Thus, in the spirit of
every young person, the desire of studying the Classics which subsequently
paves the way to many other fields of human knowledge, will be sowed. “
The Keynote speakers will be :
·
Prof. Georgia Xanthaki-Karamanou, Professor Emerita of Ancient Greek
Literature at the Faculties of Philology, Universities of
Athens and of the Peloponnese
·
Prof. Luigi Miraglia, Founder and President of the Accademia
Vivarium Novum
·
Prof. Christophe Rico, Faculty Member of the Université de
Strasbourg, Ancient Greek Professor
at École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem (EBAF), and Dean at
the Polis Institute
·
Prof. Mauro Agosto, Professor
of Classical Philology
at the Pontificia Università Lateranense
·
Prof. Gerardo Guzmàn, Professor
of Ancient Greek at the Accademia Vivarium
Novum
Following the
keynote speeches, a Committee of Experts in the ways and methods of learning
Classical Greek will discuss
universal views and their day-to-day own experiences with their Classical Greek students.
These experts are:
§ Prof Christoforos
Charalampakis, Professor of Linguistics at the National
& Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Philosophy,
Faculty of Philology
§ Prof. Jacques Bouchard, Professor of Modern Greek Literature & Director of the Center for Neohellenic Studies at the
University of Montreal Canada
§ Prof. Juan Coderch, Senior Language Tutor in Ancient Greek & Latin, Univesity of St
Andrews, Scotland
§ Prof. Andrew Morehouse, Ancient Greek and Latin
Language Tutor Boston MA,
§ Prof. Jenny
Teichmann | Ancient Greek and Latin Language Tutor, Berlin Germany The discussion will be moderated by journalist Irene Nikolopoulou.
To extend
their warm welcome, we will be honoured
to have with us:
§ Mr Byron Nicolaides, Founder and CEO of PeopleCert
§ Mr. Angelos Syrigos, Deputy Minister
of Education
§
Mr. Ioannis Chrysoulakis, Secretary General
for Greeks Abroad
and Public Diplomacy
To join the event,
you may click on the link below:
To those of you who decide
to honour us with your presence, we are happy to offer a free online
voucher
for our LanguageCert Classical Greek A1 certification
