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It is with great pleasure that I welcome today's event with the distinguished Professor of Linguistics, Mr: "Speaking "with language for language" in poetry: Elytis, Dimoula, Montis", which is the first of a series of lectures for the general public, teachers and students, which the Professor will offer during his stay in Cyprus.
Dear Professor, I welcome you to our island and thank you personally for sharing with us your rich knowledge and experience, having immersed yourself in the Greek language through your many years of study and research.
Your presence once again in our country for this series of lectures, as a result of the close cooperation you have developed over the years with state, academic and other institutions and actors, is proof of your selfless love for our country, as well as your concern for the progress and improvement of our educational system.
The interest expressed by teachers, students and pupils, as well as the general public, is indicative of the appreciation and love that your personality enjoys in Cyprus.
According to the Austrian philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein, "The limits of my language determine the limits of my world", while the Swiss linguist, Ferdinand de Saussure, writes that "...without language our thought is like a nebula, where nothing can be clearly defined...".
Invariably, language is man's highest value, a precious commodity and one of his greatest conquests. A creative and arduous conquest. A life's work, as you have characteristically stated, Professor, in an earlier interview.
Man perceives and interprets the world around him through language, expresses and exchanges thoughts, opinions, ideas, feels and expresses his emotions.
On another level, and according to the Nobel Prize-winning Greek poet, Odysseus Elytis, language "is a tool of magic and a carrier of moral values", while for us Greeks it is our identity, the most important characteristic of our age-old culture, our homeland, as the poet Kiki Dimoula has stated in an interview.
The Greek language, forged for thousands of years in its oral and written manifestation, resistant to the passage of centuries, has acquired a timeless character and "from Homer's sandy beaches" to modern times, has remained alive, one, unified, indivisible and indivisible language.
For this very reason, the Greek language has been praised by many Greek writers, among them Odysseus Elytis, the Cypriot Costas Montis, whom you will talk to us about next, Professor, and many others, such as our national poet Dionysios Solomos and Constantine Cavafy. All of them, through their poetry, acknowledge the greatness and power of the Greek language, which may have been born in "a poor house", "on a stony promontory in the Mediterranean" and "very few people read it", yet it compensates for the sense of pride we feel as Greeks, since we can express ourselves and write in Greek.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We feel the same pride, having the privilege of speaking and writing in the language that has been the vehicle of human thought and intellect throughout the centuries. In which, among other things, unparalleled intellectual creations, Christian and literary texts, as well as important philosophical considerations, scientific theories and discoveries have been recorded. The language that lent and enhanced others, which contributed decisively to the foundation of both European and world civilisation. It is this privilege that entrusts us with the obligation to promote, preserve and disseminate our rich linguistic heritage and to teach the proper use of language by the wider community.
In this context, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (MPAN), attaching the importance to the Greek language as a carrier of communication and cultural values and at the same time as an educational force, has over time set as one of its main objectives the cultivation of the language and the development of students' language skills at all levels of education.
The main aim of the syllabus for the teaching of Greek in primary school is the acquisition of mechanisms for the use of the Greek language, as it is used in different communicative situations and environments, so that students can use it effectively and engage in corresponding forms of literacy.
Literature occupies an important place in the language course in primary school, with the main purpose of literacy as a form of literacy that contributes to the broader language education of children, including their ability to critically explore texts.
Similarly, the syllabus for the teaching of the subject of Greek language in secondary school and high school has as its general aim the understanding, acquisition and excellent use of the language, aiming in particular to make students understand that language learning is an active and continuous process, which is not limited to the boundaries of the school environment.
At the same time, the aim is to make them understand the timelessness of the Greek language and its importance as a carrier of culture and values, always in conjunction with the teaching of literature.
Bearing in mind that the educational system, as a living organism, must evolve and adapt to the developments and requirements of each era, the Ministry of Education and Science sets as a priority, as stated in the Governance Programme, the further strengthening and reinforcement of the learning of the Greek language by our students.
To this end, we have already announced the updating of the Syllabus of the Language, in terms of content and teaching methods, based on modern pedagogical principles, in order to bring about the necessary improvements.
In this effort, we will make use of the results of international research, such as, for example, the results of international surveys. The PIRLS 2021 survey on the reading and comprehension skills of 4th grade primary school students.
In addition, we will use the results of the Greek test programme for all 1st grade primary school students, as well as the Greek Attainment Programme.
At the same time, with regard to students with an immigrant biography, this school year, the Programme for the learning of Greek as a second language will be offered in a more targeted manner and with more hours in Primary and Secondary Education, for which guides for teachers and specific curriculum planning have been developed.
In addition, and by decision of the Council of Ministers on 23 June 2023, the Ministry of National Economy will proceed with the strengthening of the Programme for the Reinforcement of Greek Language Teaching for children with an immigrant biography in primary schools that do not participate in the DPA.SE.+
In cooperation with the Directorates of Primary, Secondary General and Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training and the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, the "Greek Language Decembrance Day" is planned for this school year, which has been established since 2017 to take place in February, due to the celebration of the Greek Language Day every 9th of February.
During the Decembrance Day, as every year, a variety of educational and cultural activities will take place, such as literary workshops, reading clubs, scientific lectures, book exhibitions, vocabulary games, student competitions, theatrical performances, etc.The aim of the activities is to highlight the synchronicity and timelessness of the Greek language and the value of language education, which undoubtedly contributes to the consolidation of our linguistic identity and the upgrading of our cultural and intellectual level.
What I would like to emphasize is that at the heart of our priorities, as the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, is the continuous, qualitative strengthening and upgrading of the language education of students of all levels.
In order to achieve this goal, we will continue to work by adopting further policies and actions, giving new perspectives to the effective teaching of the Greek language throughout its lifetime.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,
In closing, I would like to thank and congratulate the Pedagogical Institute and Frederick University for organizing today's event and the three lectures that will follow in the coming days.
The presentation of these lectures by Professor George Babiniotis, a deeply intellectual man who has consciously devoted his life to the research, study, scientific recording and further promotion of language, will be a unique experience for all those who will have the opportunity to attend them.
Dear Professors,
There is no doubt that, through your own analysis and approach to the topics chosen, in addition to the knowledge we will gain, we will travel through the beauty, richness and expressiveness of the Greek language.
And for this, as well as for your wider contribution to our culture, we thank you.
IP
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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