Primary Education

Building upon the Foundation’s commitment in support of Greek Language, Culture and Education, the Hellenic Heritage Foundation has pledged a significant amount of funding directly towards Primary Greek Language School Programs across Canada:

Textbooks for our students

Even in the digital age, textbooks remain an essential learning tool for young students. In the past, these resources were provided from the Greek Government but this funding has since ceased.  In response, the HHF has provided funding for Greek School Books to students in the following communities, from pre-school to high school:

  • $30,000 = The Toronto District School Board – 1,530 students
  • $30,000 = The Greek Community of Metropolitan Toronto “Paideia Program” – 865 students
  • $12,500 = The Hellenic Canadian Community of York Region – 325 students
  • $10,000 = The Metamorphosis Greek Orthodox School – 300 students
  • $8,500 = Hellenic Community of Ottawa –190 students
  • $7,500 = Hellenic Society of Calgary – 170 students
  • $5,000 = Hellenic Community of Halifax – 110 students
  • $3,000 = Edmonton Hellenic Community – 85 students
  • $3,000 = St. George’s Language Schools in Edmonton – 90 students
  • $2,500 = Hellenic Community of Winnipeg – 70 students
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Effective Teacher Training

Extensive community outreach revealed that there is no standardized curriculum in place for the teaching of Greek language in Canada. The HHF determined that one way to address this is through pedagogical training of Greek-language instructors.  In collaboration with the Faculty of Education at York University, the HHF has developed a 36-hour Effective Teacher Training Course, available in-class and online for Greek teachers living across Canada or outside of the Greater Toronto Area

Through HHF funding, this course is offered free of charge to all Greek-language teachers. All successful candidates receive a certificate from York University upon completion.

The HHF funded program, geared to teachers of elementary children, emphasizes the following skills:
  1. Create learning environments where students are active participants as individuals and in collaborative groups;
  2. Display effective and efficient classroom management promoting appropriate student behavior;
  3. Design lesson plans that allow students to participate in empowering activities; understanding that learning is a process and mistakes are a part of learning;
  4. Identify and employ a wide variety of instructional, assessment and evaluation strategies;
  5. Create an environment where student work is valued, appreciated and used as a learning tool;

Due to the overwhelming demand of the introductory ‘Part 1” course, the HHF has also begun to offer a “Part 2” module which offers more advanced techniques and teaching tools as well as the use of online material.

Here are some teacher comments about this course:

“This module was a great opportunity to upgrade – for myself as a teacher but also as a person and as a mom.  It was complete, clear, meaningful and interesting from beginning to end.  The only thing I recommend is that all teachers have to take this course.”

“(The instructor) was an exceptional teacher, prepared and organized. She put a lot of thought and care into providing information and teaching effective techniques which met our needs and the needs of our students. In 40 hours we acquired knowledge which will last a lifetime.”

“This module helped me a lot and I learned so many new things and techniques which I can apply to the classroom.”

“Course was resourceful, fun, productive, professional, active and enjoyable.”

“This course should be a prerequisite for all instructors teaching Greek as a second or foreign language.”

Greek School teachers interested in taking future course offerings are encouraged to contact the Hellenic Heritage Foundation offices for more detail.

National Greek-Education Online Portal

Greek school online can be challenging in the best of times.

As part of our commitment to enhance and improve Greek language education, the HHF has funded the development of a new online resource  - www.greeklanguage.ca

Created in collaboration with Professor Themis Aravossitas and the Hellenic Studies Program at the University of Toronto, www.greeklanguage.ca  is a free online educational portal that can help provide teachers, students and parents alike with Greek learning material and interesting Greek content to watch and help kids get back to their studies.

To learn more and find out how to use this online tool, we’ve created a number of easy to follow videos below:

Video 1:  How to Use GreekLanguage.ca

Video 2:  How to Use - Greek version

Video 3: Using Greek Language.ca to help you learn Greek

We hope you enjoy using this resource and thank you for your continued support of our efforts to promote, preserve and advance Hellenic language, culture and education in Canada.