Greek Department - Introduction
Greek is one of the three major subjects taught at the English School. The programme covers all classes from Year 1 to 7 and aims to provide students with the language skills necessary for them to live and work in Cyprus. Further more the curriculum is designed to enable pupils to gain a broader education in Greek language and culture through their participation in various commemorations and relevant after-school activities.
The syllabi cover the programme taught at government schools, but also cater for the specific needs and aims of the English School. In Years 2 and 3 Classical Greek is a compulsory subject for all pupils and helps those who wish to take Classical Greek as an option in Years 4 and 5 (GCSE). In Year 6 (AS course) and in Year 7 (A2 course as from 2001). In Year 5 all Greek speakers take their O-Level Modern Green exam (as from September 2005) which is only part of the curriculum of this academic year.
Advanced Level Modern Greek is a two-year course as from September 2000 and will be taught in Years 6 and 7.
Additionally 6th Formers will cover a Modern Greek syllabus very similar to the one of government Lyceum. At the end of this academic year it will be compulsory for them to take a government exam which is called "Πιστοποιητικό πολύ καλής γνώσης της Ελληνικής", which is essential for employment in the public sector.
For non-Greek speakers the school provides a two-year A-Level course in Classical Civilisation in Years 6 and 7, taught in English.
Within the General Studies programme in Years 6 and 7 pupils can choose a Drama Module which is taught in Greek.
Τhe Head of Department is responsible for the management of the staff. Much informal discussion and weekly formal departmental meetings are held in order to keep the members informed and draw new policy on various aspects.
- Every member of the Department should attend departmental meetings and is expected to express his/her opinion and contribute to decision taking.
- The unofficial "centre" of the Department is the Staffroom and the official one is the Greek Centre (Lloyds Building); members are expected to "visit" them in order to communicate and get informed on various issues.
- The Departmental Library is situated in the Greek Centre. It is regularly enriched with books and magazines. The Department's library should mainly be used as a reference library and books normally cannot be borrowed.
- During the first Departmental Meeting of the Year, in September, the syllabi of all forms are presented and explained in detail to the members of the department by the Head of the Department and the mentors may give additional information, if necessary, during this meeting and throughout the academic year. Matters such as the speed of delivery of the material, the means of teaching, the bibliography, the teaching techniques the co-ordination among the members of the department and various other relevant topics are thoroughly discussed. Emphasis is given to the induction of new members and to the teaching planning and method of new subjects.
- The Head of the Department appoints the co-ordinators and distributes the various duties to the members of the Department according to the Development Plan.
- The Department is involved both in producing the Greek Entrance Exam paper (responsibility of the Head) as well as the marking of this exam which is the responsibility of the whole department.