Not all scrolling is bad for you – especially when you’re learning Greek. Language learning content feeds are popping up left, right and centre these days, so you can hop online and feel wholesome rather as you swipe and learn.
Instagram is probably my platform of choice for lingua-content, not least because of the number of language learning channels on it. Insta has nifty, intuitive bookmark folders, which allow you to save content in separate streams for each of your languages.
My Greek folder has seen a lot of recent action, thanks to a raft of edu-taining reels that are only getting better and better. They range from everyday grammar tips to mini lessons on colloquial, slangy phrases – the kind of thing that really sets your language apart from ‘book Greek’.
So what’s worth sharing in my bookmarks?
GREEK WITH DIMITRIS
If you’re new to the language, then Greek with Dimitris makes for a nice way in. He focuses on building basic vocabulary with some excellent, clearly narrated videos, but also runs regular pop quizzes in his stories.
GLOSSONAUTS
Props to Glossonauts for the wonderful channel name – etymologically hellenic and evocative of us all as language explorers (γλώσσα glossa = language, ναύτης náftis = sailor). The content is more geared towards beginner and lower intermediate learners, but with some great bonus content on people and culture.
GREEK OUT WITH MARIA
Greek Out With Maria falls firmly into the ‘learn the language like a local’ camp, and is excellent if you’re an intermediate learner looking to speak more idiomatically. Maria focuses on expressive, colloquial phrases that you won’t find in a textbook. What’s especially great about this channel is the amount of cultural content and nod to the ‘hellenic soul’. I particularly loved this explanation of one of the lyrics from this year’s superb Eurovision entry by Greece’s Klavdia.
LEARN GREEK WITH KALLIA
Learn Greek with Kallia is another wonderful source of colloquialisms, with a growing catalogue of micro-lessons on sounding like a native. The language is informal and really colourful – exactly the kind of thing you’ll be reaching for if you’re spending any serious time in Greece.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7JnXiMbd0/
THE GREEK SCHOLAR
In contrast to the other channels here, this feed takes a more traditional text / infographic approach to content that works really well as a mini-lesson format. Of particular interest is its great library of swipe-through guides to colloquial vocabulary usage. Take this video on φτάνω (arrive) – who knew it could be such a versatile verb?
GREEK LEARNING HUB
Greek Learning Hub has a really good range of content from vocab for beginners to longer, in-context dialogues. Some of the channel’s best reels are those where vocabulary is introduced through subtitled conversation, like this supermarket topic lesson.
So that’s what’s been filling my bookmark folder up. Have you found any other essential channels στα ελληνικά? What have I missed? Let me know in the comments!