Greek Today: A Course in the Modern Language and Culture

by Peter A. Bien, Chrysanthi Yiannakou-Bien, John Rassias

Greek Today presents an up-to-date communicative approach for students of Modern Greek. Aimed at the introductory to intermediate levels, it is a completely revised and expanded edition of the popular Demotic Greek I. Presenting material that relates to a wide range of cultural interests, the textbook offers twelve lessons with a total of sixty grammar points, all conveyed through dialogues that present the realities experienced by young people and adults in contemporary Greece. Lessons are supplemented by songs, poems, realia, images, and cultural texts. A large number of cartoons by Greece’s eminent artist Kostas Mitropoulos provide a running commentary on modern Greek culture and its relation to Europe and the ancient Greek past. Employing a vocabulary of more than 2,000 words and introducing students to the most current Greek idioms, Greek Today also includes etymological notes on the evolution of the Greek language and the Greek roots of many English words.

608 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2004

About the author

Peter Bien (often credited as P.A. Bien when translating) is Professor Emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at Dartmouth College, and a former president of the Modern Greek Studies Association.

Reviews

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm working through the book now, along with the workbook. I'm trying to improve my Greek, not learn Greek. It's a well thought out, structured textbook. It challenges me just enough, without frustrating me.

This is clearly written to be used in a classroom. With a few simple editions, it would be a terrific book for self-learners such as myself.

I still think it is one of the better books out there. However, it is NOT for beginners.

[Sia Karamalegos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is overall a great self-study modern Greek text book. It explains the grammar, incorporates Greek culture, and includes little etymology notes that help me remember my Greek. I do think my other text book from the Athens Centre in Athens got me to the next level faster, but that was partially because I was in intensive classes for 4 weeks.