TESOL
Course in Corinth, Greece
 Why
TESOL in Greece?
The word “Greece” conjures up images of azure blue waters of the
Mediterranean, sun-kissed days, vibrant nights; white washed building
glistening in the sun, Adonis like men and Venus like women.
An ancient culture that has withstood the test of time. It has given the
world Aristotle’s philosophy, Herodotus’ History, education of the
Spartans, democracy of Athens, the Helen of Troy, great literature and
of course the Olympic games.
Greece is a treasure trove of history, philosophy, art, architecture and
culture waiting to be explored and unfolding something new and
fascinating at every turn or corner.
What is in it for you?
If you are thinking “Greece” then one can assume that you are interested
in History. Corinth is all about the past. Ancient Corinth, founded in
the 10th Century BCE, had been the richest port and the largest city in
ancient Greece. Strategically located on the narrow isthmus that
connects the Peloponnesus (as southern Greece is called) to the
mainland, it was a powerful commercial center near two seaports. Corinth
is approximately 78 kilometres southwest of Athens.
Corinth is now the capital of the prefecture of Corinthia. The city is
surrounded by the coastal townlets of (clockwise) Lechaio, Isthmia,
Kechries, and the inland townlets of Examilia and the archaeological
site.
In 1858, the old city of Corinth was totally destroyed by an earthquake.
The new city of Corinth was founded on the coast of the Gulf of Corinth.
It has all the trappings of a modern city, restaurants, cafes and an
idyllic beach which gives it a hedonic ambience.
What is the attraction?
The real appeal here is Ancient Corinth. Ancient Corinth is a sprawling
site of major archaeological interest. Highlights include the fifth
century BC Temple of Apollo and remains of a Roman city.
Ancient Corinth's crowning glory is the Acrocorinth, which guards over
the lower town. It's a longish walk from Ancient Corinth's lower town to
the Acrocorinth, but it's definitely worth the exertion. It's packed
full of remains of buildings erected by various inhabitants. Chapels and
mosques provide some of the most striking evidence of the fortress's
many former inhabitants, though there are countless examples of
antiquity here. And for those who can't make it by foot, there are taxis
for hire.
On the tourist map
Commentators usually assume that Corinth was an especially licentious
city, a reputation it seems to have had in ancient times. Indeed, one of
the Greek verbs for fornicate was korinthiazomai,a word derived from the
city's name. Apparently this estimation was based on Strabo's report of
1,000 sacred prostitutes in the temple of Aphrodite on the Acrocorinth,
an 1886-foot hill that rises above the city to the south. Nothing is
left of the fabled temple to Aphrodite, but remains of the medieval
fortifications, which were built on earlier foundations, may still be
seen from the western side.
On the way to ancient Corinth from Athens is the Corinth Canal which had
been cut through the isthmus.
What finally killed ancient Corinth was the earthquakes, but it has been
extensively excavated. The museum contains many intriguing artifacts
found there, e.g., a room of items used in healing ceremonies and a room
of sculptures, including the beautiful Corinth sphinx and a portrait of
the young Nero.
Evening and Nightlife
Corinth is unique in its concept of amalgamation of the ancient with the
modern. Against the backdrop of its ancient history it is also a center
for nightlife, with lots of cafes, restaurants, bars and night clubs.
Weekend excursions
Weekends can be well spent exploring the neighboring ancient locations.
The most visited of them all is Athens. The spirit, the pace, and the
hubbub of Athens are all spellbinding. Despite the fact that so much of
Athens' glory lies in the past, today's Athens is unstoppably dynamic,
verging on hectic.
The next destination can be Kifissia. Though Kifissia is a suburb of
Athens, it provides a definite escape from the hubbub and pace of
Greece's biggest city. Kifissia sits at the end of the green metro line
about fifteen kilometers from the center of Athens. It has a relaxed,
genteel pace. For a suburb of Athens, Kifissia is remarkably well
shaded. Kifissia's park is inviting and cozy, and its narrow, leafy
streets are quaint.
One must visit Kifissia for its cafés and the pleasant ambiance. To find
the most appealing cafés, one must walk along the park across from the
metro stop. Kifissia is also home to the Goulandris Museum of National
History, a fabulous investigation of Greek wildlife.
Aegina, the closest sizeable island to Athens, makes for a fantastic day
trip. The island's main settlement, Aegina Town, manages to be lively
and relaxing, very much at odds with the hectic pace of the big city.
Pistachios are the trademark local food, and if you're not offered a
bowl of the local delicacy at a café, be sure to request a handful of
nuts. It features a lovely beach, Avra Beach, which is well serviced by
beach vendors and tavernas alike. About five kilometers south of Aegina
Town is the village of Marathonas, which has two great beaches of its
own. To reach Marathonas, catch a bus in Aegina Town. Buses depart every
hour from morning until late afternoon. Farther down is the Temple of
Aphaia, which was constructed in the fifth century BC.
About our TEFL Location
The TESOL classes are held at the Via Lingua training centre in Corinth.
The TEFL International accommodation is at Vrahati, is a small coastal
village. One can relax on the beach during the day and enjoy the
exciting life at night. Close at hand are the amazing sites of Mycenae,
Argos, Nafplio and Nemea. Another attraction is Epidavros, where ancient
tragedies are performed during the summer festival.
Connectivity
Corinth is situated ninety minutes from Athens International Airport. It
takes between 90 and 120 minutes to journey from Athens to Corinth by
train. A roundtrip train ticket between Athens and "modern" Corinth
costs as little as €5.20. Buses leave every hour from modern Corinth to
Ancient Corinth.
Weather
The Mediterranean climate is the most sort after climatic conditions and
therefore lying on the coast Corinth too has sunny days and cool
evenings. Spring and autumn weather is the most pleasant, while the
summer is hot and dry. The prevailing winds of summer are northerly. It
blows at its strongest in July and August. Violent storms occur only in
winter, February being a particularly bad month, but overall the weather
is pleasant and extreme conditions are rarely known.
|
It is a very compact experience. Extensive learning but
fun.
A gear experience with TEFL International and very
helpful to find placement
