The path through the 6 levels of a Greek course
General Greek courses follow the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), from A1 for beginners to C2 for near-native command. The state certificate Ellinomatheia uses the same levels and gives them Greek names.
| Level | Name in Ellinomatheia | Typical course content |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Στοιχειώδης Γνώση, elementary knowledge | alphabet, greetings, numbers, simple questions |
| A2 | Βασική Γνώση, basic knowledge | everyday life and shopping, first past tense |
| B1 | Μέτρια Γνώση, moderate knowledge | experiences and plans, both verb stems secure |
| B2 | Καλή Γνώση, good knowledge | news, work, discussion |
| C1 | Πολύ Καλή Γνώση, very good knowledge | specialist texts and formal letters |
| C2 | Άριστη Γνώση, excellent knowledge | almost all texts and registers |
In Greece, levels C1 and C2 are written Γ1 and Γ2, because Γ is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. You will meet these labels in Greek course descriptions.
For holidays and a second home, A2 is often enough. For professional working proficiency, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), the language school of the US Department of State, estimates about 1,012 class hours for English speakers. A general course with five hours a week needs almost four years for that distance.
Alphabet, tonos and keyboard in the first lessons
A general Greek course starts with the alphabet. You know many letters from maths and science, but some look like Latin letters and sound different, such as Η, which sounds like ee, and Ρ, which sounds like r. Good courses practise the alphabet from the first lesson with real words, such as place names, menus and signs.
At the same time you learn the tonos, the only stress mark of Modern Greek. It sits on the stressed syllable and can change meaning. Courses therefore have you read every new word aloud with its accent.
In an online course you type Greek on your computer or phone from the start. For this you add the Greek keyboard that your operating system already includes. On that keyboard you type the tonos with a separate key before the vowel.
Avoid courses that show Greek in Latin transliteration for a long time. Transliteration makes the first days easier, but it delays fluent reading and leaves out the tonos.
Verbal aspect step by step from A1 to B1
Verbal aspect is the biggest hurdle in Greek. It shows whether an action is seen as a process or as a completed whole. Many verbs therefore have two stems, such as γράφ- for writing as an activity and γράψ- for a single act of writing. English speakers know a partial parallel from I was writing and I wrote, but Greek marks the difference in every tense, so courses introduce it in stages.
- A1: You learn the present tense, which uses the process stem, as in γράφω, I write.
- A2: The aorist follows, the past tense of a completed action, as in έγραψα, I wrote. Next to it stands the imperfect έγραφα, I was writing or used to write.
- A2 to B1: You form the future and wish clauses with both stems, as in θα γράψω and να γράψω.
- B1: You choose the stem by meaning, also in longer sentences.
Learn every verb with both stems from the start, even if your course needs the second one only later. That way you do not have to catch up on word lists at level A2.
4 online formats for general Greek courses
Greek calls for speaking with feedback from the start, because a wrongly stressed syllable can change the meaning of a word. The formats differ mainly in how often a teacher hears your stress.
| Format | Strength for learning Greek | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Video group course | steady rhythm through the levels, speaking with other learners | little time for your own stress errors |
| Private lessons | correction of stress and verbal aspect in every sentence | higher price per hour |
| Conversation course | speaking pace and everyday phrases from A2 | requires the alphabet and basic grammar |
| App or self-study course | alphabet, words with accents, daily review | no conversation with real follow-up questions |
Many learners combine a group course with short daily sessions in an app. The app trains words with their accents, while the course trains speaking. Make sure listening texts come from native speakers, so that you hear stress in connected speech.
Conversation courses for everyday Greek
Conversation courses usually require level A2, meaning secure reading of the alphabet and the main tenses. They train what a general course gives less time to: speaking pace, follow-up questions and everyday phrases.
One topic matters particularly in Greek, the form of address. You use εσύ with friends and family and εσείς with strangers, older people and customers. A conversation course practises when to switch, for example in shops, at the doctor's or with neighbours.
Online courses teach the Standard Modern Greek of Greece. Teachers from Cyprus often speak Cypriot Greek in daily life, which differs clearly in pronunciation and vocabulary. A course in Standard Modern Greek is still the right foundation for Cyprus, because Standard Modern Greek is the written language there.
Online you find a teacher from Greece or Cyprus more easily than in your home town. You hear the speaking pace you will meet in the country from the very first lesson.
Greek courses for children and heritage learners
For children, the Ellinomatheia certificate has its own version of level A1 for ages 8 to 12. Children should be able to exchange information about themselves, their friends and their classmates in simple sentences. A children's course that leads to this exam works with exactly these topics.
Heritage learners are children and adults from Greek families who hear Greek at home but have had little formal teaching. They often understand a lot and speak fluently, but write with uncertainty. A suitable course builds on their listening skills and closes the gaps in spelling and grammar.
- ✓Heritage learners speak with natural pronunciation and stress.
- ✓Online courses connect families abroad with teachers in Greece or Cyprus.
- ✗The six spellings of the i sound cause heritage learners the most errors.
- ✗A beginners' course bores them, while a B1 course overwhelms them in writing.
Frequently asked questions about general online Greek courses
When do you learn the Greek alphabet in an online Greek course?
You learn the Greek alphabet in the first lessons of an online Greek course, using real words such as place names and menus. At the same time you practise the tonos, the stress mark. Conversation courses already assume you can read the alphabet.
What does an online Greek conversation course require?
An online Greek conversation course usually requires level A2, the second of the six CEFR levels. You should read the alphabet securely and know the main tenses. The course then trains speaking pace, follow-up questions and everyday phrases.
Is there a Greek language exam for children?
There is a Greek language exam for children within the Ellinomatheia certificate: a separate version of level A1 for ages 8 to 12. It tests whether a child can exchange information about themselves, friends and classmates in simple sentences. The Centre for the Greek Language awards it.
Does an online Greek course teach Cypriot or Standard Modern Greek?
An online Greek course usually teaches Standard Modern Greek, the language of schools, media and government in Greece. Cypriot Greek differs clearly in speech, but Cyprus also writes Standard Modern Greek.
In what order does a Greek course teach the tenses?
A Greek course usually teaches the tenses in this order: the present at A1, then at A2 the aorist for completed past actions and the imperfect, followed by the future and wish clauses with both verb stems. At B1 you choose the stem securely by meaning.
Which Greek level is enough for holidays and a second home?
For holidays and a second home, Greek at level A2 is often enough. At A2 you handle simple conversations on familiar topics such as shopping, directions and neighbours. Work or citizenship requires at least B1 and an official certificate.
Sources
The information is based on these sources. Check fees and dates with the provider before you register.