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Lingua Cyprus

Greek and English Language School

Lingua Cyprus Learn A New Language the Smarter Way

Discover how to access our full range of classes to learn a new language, be it for travel, school, business, or social. We have a language class option to suit your needs.

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Main Content

A fast, effective way to learn English and Greek.

From one-to-one to group, online and certification language lessons,
I can help you to achieve success.

Interactive Learning

Simple, step-by-step, lessons with everything you need so you make real progress, starting today!

Online Lessons

Join me via Skype/Zoom live lessons. Tailor- made for you with speaking and listening practice and support.

Community

If you wish, you can network, discuss, and share your new language skills with your peers.

One to One or Group

Dive deep with our tailor-made lessons that take you through everything you need to know, from the basics all the way to certification.

Homework and Support

Cement your knowledge with homework, worksheets, and support. Don't forget a thing and know how to implement what you learned effectively.

Bonus Materials

Want to go further? We have you covered, with certifications, bonus materials, and recommended resources.

Find out more about our Language Classes…

Class Details

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I have many customers who love my work…

  • 5

    I enrolled with Samantha for Greek lessons a few years ago. At first I decided I just wanted to learn to speak the language rather than the whole thing so I could just say the odd sentence but it’s a fascinating language and I started to enjoy it and wanted to learn more, so eventually changed my class to learning how to read, write and speak the language. I haven’t got a good memory so worried about keeping up, but Samantha was always patient, repeating things I struggled with. She is always organised, structured, working through a programme, and clear and concise in the pronunciation of each letter and word. She has the ability of making a class interesting and fun rather than stressful. I’m sure I would have given up halfway through with a different tutor. Samantha encouraged me to have confidence in using the language all the way through the course. She made the course enjoyable, as well as educational. I highly recommend her as a tutor for learning the Greek language.

    Gillian Carbine
  • 5

    We started learning Greek with Samantha 5 years ago, with the proviso that we could "drop out" if it was boring or too difficult. From the first lesson we were hooked!! Samantha is a dedicated, enthusiastic teacher who makes learning a language such fun. She is an excellent motivator and facilitator who is always patient, no matter how many mistakes we make. Many of Samantha's listening exercises are based on her own experiences which provide endless entertainment! Our lessons have continued through lockdown via Skype, so even though we are unable to visit Cyprus, these lessons have proved a lifeline.

    Shirley Sissens
  • 5

    I studied Greek with Samantha of Lingua Cyprus for 2 years and found it hugely enjoyable and rewarding. Now that she has returned to Cyprus, I hope to resume my studies with her. If you are interested in learning the local language or any of the other subjects she has to offer, you simply can't do better than sign up with her, she is a great teacher. It’s good fun and good for the brain!

    Doug Craig
  • 5

    Samantha is great at her job. She helped me with some English during my Msc studies and especially with my dissertation! I definitely recommend her not only as a teacher but also as a person!

    Mariella Pericleous
  • 5

    Whilst living in Cyprus, I attempted to learn Greek at night school and really struggled. Then I went to Samantha, and I rapidly improved. She's an excellent teacher and made a difficult language much simpler and easier to learn.

    Joan Hunt
  • 5

    I started learning with Samantha quite a few years ago, initially with a large group, followed by small groups with friends and also via Skype. All types of lessons were brilliant! Samantha has a gift for teaching. She is encouraging, appropriately challenging and incredibly patient. But most of all, her lessons are fun!

    Liz Blezard
  • 5

    Learning a new language is always difficult especially when any formal learning was a long time ago! I had tried other forms of learning to speak Greek, but due to not hearing well and mixed groups found that this was not for me. Then I heard about Samantha and started a programme with her on a one-to-one basis. Samantha tailors a learning programme to meet your individual needs and supports and encourages you to gain confidence and make progress. She also makes it an enjoyable process. No surprise then that I have no hesitation in recommending this; how lucky to have this opportunity available here in the Polis area.

    Julia Wells
  • 5

    Samantha is a wonderful teacher. Her skill, enthusiasm and support is excellent. She adapts her sessions to the individual requirements of her students and she is without doubt one of the most dedicated teacher I know. She is very supportive and motivates her students, making her sessions fun and enjoyable. I highly recommend her if you want to learn Greek or English.

    Carol Stretch
  • 5

    Professional lessons at great rates.

    Lisa Burton
  • 5

    Samantha is a brilliant teacher and caters for all types of teaching. I have been learning Greek with Samantha Phonetically and it's been brilliant.I was soon able to converse with my Cypriot friends. At my young age 62. I felt this was the best course for me.Now I'm ready to learn to read and write as well as continuing with my vocabulary. So once Samantha is up and running I'm returning to school. Samantha is very patient, just brilliant. I can't praise her enough.

    Julie Hughes
  • 5

    Samantha is a lovely and experienced teacher. She helped me prepare and pass my IELTS test brilliantly. She also helped me perfect my English. I definitely recommend her.

     
    Fekam Kane
  • 5

    I met Samantha in Crete a few years ago and since that time I have been studying English with her online. I was very shy to speak in English before I met Samantha, but she has helped me a lot. I tried English lessons before, but I learnt many things that I did not need. Samantha always makes the lessons about me and I use the English I learn. We have fun in the lesson, and I look forward to it every week. In my work there are many English tourists in the summer and now I can speak with them and make new friends. I would recommend Samantha to anybody who wants to learn or improve their English, she is wonderful!

    Kallioppi Kontoyianni

About the Instructor

Welcome to Lingua Cyprus. My name is Samantha, and I am English; however, I have spent half of my life overseas including 20 years in Greece and Cyprus. I have been teaching languages for almost 10 years now and have recently returned from the UK after obtaining a Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Linguistics from the University of Birmingham.

My passion for languages began at a young age during my first summer working in Crete. I was fascinated by the curious alphabet on the road signs and the animated speech of the locals.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I learn Greek phonetically or with the Greek alphabet?

For those of you wanting to learn Greek, I am pleased to be able to offer the additional option of phonetic teaching whereby all words will be written using the English alphabet. For some people, this takes away the fear of having to learn the Greek alphabet and allows them to start learning to speak the language straight away. On the other hand, learning the Greek alphabet is not as difficult as you may think and once you have learnt the sounds of the 24 letters (and a small number of letter combinations), you will soon realise that most Greek words are pronounced exactly as they are written. This means that once you have learnt the letter sounds, you will be able to pronounce the majority of words unlike in English whereby many letters and letter combinations have multiple pronunciations. The advantage of using the Greek alphabet is the access that this gives you to books, printed materials, and the ability to read signs, notices, and so forth. For those of you who choose the phonetic option, you will still be given some printed materials written using the English alphabet. For both options, the primary focus is on speaking, communication, and listening with great results having been achieved using both methods.

Should I join a group or learn one-to-one?

It is a good idea to ask yourself what you want to learn. If you want lessons that are tailor-made for you where the focus is purely on your needs then a one-to-one lesson is the best option. If you do not like working in a small group, are easily distracted or want my full attention then having a lesson alone might be better for you. If you are a sociable person who likes meeting new people then a small group may be ideal for you. On days where you feel tired, learning with others can help to motivate and inspire you. A group lesson is also a more cost-effective option for you. Whatever you choose, the most important thing is the need to be in the right environment for you so if at any stage you decide that the other option is better for you then we can look at transferring you to that lesson type.

I do not remember any grammar from school and am nervous about learning?

Firstly, do not worry, our lessons will not be at all like being at school! The word ‘grammar’ is enough to deter many people from learning a new language. I like to avoid the word ‘grammar’ and think of it in terms of ‘language rules’ that are necessary to speak a new language. In our lessons, I will explain everything you need to know as we go along, and I will not overwhelm you with information that is not helpful at that moment. For those of you who will be learning in a small group and find that you are having difficulty with a certain rule, I can arrange additional homework for you and/or arrange a time to further explain the item to you.

How long does it take to learn a new language?

This is a very common question yet a very difficult one to answer. Initially, this depends on your native language and the language you will be learning. The phrase ‘it is all Greek to me’ is not there by accident as Greek is a challenging language for English speakers to learn yet far less difficult for a Russian where the two languages share some similarities in their grammar and phonology. It also depends on your motivation and how well you want to learn the new language. Our lessons together will make the language learning process enjoyable and enable you to take control of your learning. This means that if you want to make quicker progress, you should revise what we cover in the lessons little and often (approximately 30 minutes 4 times a week), speak as much as possible in the new language, and find ways to incorporate the new language into your daily life – perhaps by listening to the radio or watching short advertisements/videos on YouTube. So whilst there is no straightforward answer to this question, the sooner you get started, the sooner you will learn the language!

Do Cypriots speak Greek or Cypriot?

For those of you wanting to learn Greek, this is a common question I often get asked. Although Standard Modern Greek (SMG) is the official language of the Republic of Cyprus, the majority of Cypriots also speak the Cypriot dialect. The Cypriot dialect is not a language on its own but a variety of SMG with many words deriving from Ancient Greek. Due to Cyprus’s distance from mainland Greece and its isolation from Greece during many periods in history, the Greek spoken in Cyprus has developed some linguistic differences from SMG. The majority of Greek-speaking Cypriots are diglossic (they speak two distinct varieties of a language) and were taught using SMG in schools and higher education. Therefore, by learning SMG, you can successfully communicate with most Cypriots. You may be wondering why not just learn the Cypriot dialect instead. Well, this would be like running before you learn how to walk. In order to learn a dialect of a language, you need to understand and learn the language that underpins it. So whilst we will be learning SMG, the Cypriot dialect will not be ignored in our lessons as there will be references to some words and phrases used in the Cypriot dialect and to differences in the pronunciation of commonly-used words.

How can I sound more like a native speaker?

Firstly, it is important to understand that unless you learn a foreign language before the ‘critical period’ (approximately 13-15 years of age), you are unlikely to achieve a convincing native accent due to physiological reasons. Your speech relies on neuromuscular functions which you gradually developed from the time you started speaking. As an adult, you are unlikely to be able to able to attain all of the new neuromuscular functions (movements of your tongue and mouth) required for the phonology of the foreign language. However, it is not necessary to eliminate all traces of your native accent as effective communication is more important than pronunciation. The speaking practice in the lessons will help you with pronunciation and ensure that you will be understood when speaking in your new language.

Am I too old to learn a foreign language?

Many people believe that once they reach a certain age, it is virtually impossible to learn a new language. However, extensive linguistic research has shown that although you would have to learn a foreign language before the age of 18 to achieve the grammatical fluency of a native speaker, the ability to learn new vocabulary remains constant throughout your life regardless of age. There is no evidence to suggest later learners of a language are any slower in absorbing new information. On the contrary, many linguists believe that personal motivation, practice, self-confidence, and the language learning environment are more significant factors in successful language learning than age.