Speaker
Description
The fusion of music, art, and grammar serves to strengthen language proficiency while stimulating creativity and personal expression. Teaching the imperfect/Past Continuous tense in Modern Greek as a Foreign/Second Language, particularly to adult Chinese learners at the B2 level, presents challenges due to morphological complexities and potential confusion with the Simple Past tense. To address these challenges, an experiential learning approach was adopted following a thorough coverage of morphological types. Beginning with the song "In my old neighborhood," notable for its diverse grammatical forms, students analyzed and visualized the lyrics, integrating melody and imagery into the classroom experience. This method facilitated a deeper understanding and application of target grammatical structures. Subsequently, students shared personal narratives, recounting childhood memories, experiences, fears, struggles, and moments using the imperfect/Past Continuous tense. Through this multi-faceted approach, which emphasizes morphological nuances and active student engagement, significant educational outcomes were achieved. This strategy underscores the effectiveness of integrating arts and experiential learning in language education, fostering both linguistic proficiency and creative expression.
CV
Dr. Viviana Tzovara has been engaged in the instruction of Modern Greek as a foreign/second language at both the National and Kapodistrian University and Harokopio University. She is also an author of textbooks for Greek as a foreign language. Her scholarly pursuits include the exploration of technological advancements and various art forms such as photography, painting, music, and drama as applied to educational practices.
