Frequently Asked Questions
Courses and lessons
What is the difference between Regular and Intensive
courses?
Normal courses are arranged in one 1,5-hour session,
per week.
Intensive courses are arranged in 2 sessions of 1,5h each per week
How long do the sessions last and what about the
breaks?
Every one-hour session has a break of 10 minutes. Sessions start at the exact of
the hour
and the break comes after 50 min or after 45 min -if it is a 1,5-hour session-.
For example, if a lesson is scheduled from 17.00-19.00, the session starts at
17.00 and the
break comes at 17.50. 18.00 starts the second hour and the sessions finishes at
18.50.
Where are the lessons given?
The lessons are mainly given at 35 in Amsterdam, which is perfect
accessible
by public transport.
This info is always given in the details of the chosen course. If due to
unforeseen
circumstances the course has to be relocated, you will be informed by e-mail.
How often are new courses offered?
Group courses are offered two times per year:
Winter Semester (mid-September – end December) and
Spring Semester (January –May).
Semi-private or Private lessons can start any time during the year. Contact us in order to send you an e-mail with the rates, terms and conditions.
Winter Semester (mid-September – end December) and
Spring Semester (January –May).
Semi-private or Private lessons can start any time during the year. Contact us in order to send you an e-mail with the rates, terms and conditions.
Are there annual courses?
All Lato’s courses are organized in two semesters (Winter & Spring). The second
semester
begins exactly after the end of the first and together they constitute a years'
course. This
way, those who prefer an annual course can enroll in both semesters. They can do
it from the
beginning (earning a discount of 5% on the total course fees), or they can just
renew their
enrolment before the end of the first semester. You can have a look at the
annual schedule
HERE
How big are the group courses?
Lato’s courses remain small (4-9 students).
If there are less than 4 participants for a specific course this course will be
cancelled or
will be offered with reduced hours. In any case, Lato will inform the
participants by e-mail
giving all the possible alternatives. If the participants are not satisfied by
the
alternatives, Lato will refund the course fee in full.
Can somebody join a course after the starting date?
To start a course after the 3 first hours is not recommended. If there are
specific reasons
for wishing to join a course after the first three hours, this can be discussed
with Lato
and a different assessment or agreement can be made, which will invalidate the
general rule
for that specific case.
In which language the lessons are given?
he lessons are given in the language which is being
taught
(which means Greek). Extra explanations (where and when it is necessary) are
given in a
second language: English -if the group is mixed- or Dutch.
Are the teachers native speakers?
All the teachers are native Greek and professionals
in teaching
not only Greek but specifically Greek as a foreign language. They have an
official
certification or they are graduates of the corresponding departments of Greek
Universities.
To whom are the Conversational courses addressed?
Conversational lessons are addressed to everybody who wants to practice further
the
knowledge that s/he takes during his language lessons or s/he already has a
knowledge of the
language and s/he wants to take the next step. Conversational courses are open
to everyone.
Those who participate in a running course of Lato can follow the lessons free of charge.
Those who participate in a running course of Lato can follow the lessons free of charge.
What is the level of the Conversation courses & when
do they
take place ?
The minimum required level in order to
participate in a
Conversation course is A1/
CEFR level.
The courses have an ideal result for all
participants
whose level is lower than
B2/ CEFR level. (See How Lato’s courses aim at the CEFR
levels ).
The lessons run during the second
semester and
students have the opportunity to speak with each other under the guidance of
a teacher
and to express their opinion on specific topics.
Is it possible to follow a trial lesson?
If you wish to follow a trial lesson this is
possible only upon
agreement and is considered as a (semi) private. The price is €30, it is to be
paid in
advance as is customary with all fees and in case that somebody decides to join
in the class
this amount is not deducted from the total tuition.
What happens if I need to miss two or more lessons
in a row?
In regular group courses, missed lessons cannot be
refunded or
replaced on another moment or with another group. However, it’s possible to join
the lessons
via Skype if this is an option for you.
Regarding the material, students remain always responsible for their study and
their
progress, that's why they are responsible to find through other students the new
material.
The teacher will always be available before or after the lesson to answer any
questions.
In case of inevitable situations or reasons which have been discussed in
private, the
general rule can be waived and your tutor can offer you a private catch-up
lesson, but this
cannot exceed 2 hours during the whole course.
Payment and Discounts
Can I pay per lesson?
If this concerns a group course, this is not
possible. Fees are
to be paid in advance.
If it concerns conversation courses it’s sometimes possible to pay only for the
lessons you
are going to attend. This happens only after special arrangement with Lato and
before the
course starts. For Private or Semi private lessons, from the beginning there is
an
arrangement for a specific number of courses and the payment takes place in
advance unless
otherwise agreed.
Is it possible to pay in terms (instalments)?
This is possible only for annual courses and only
after special
agreement with Lato.
Can I get a discount and if yes, how?
If you enroll from the beginning of the year in both semesters you are eligible
for a
discount of 5% on the total course fee.
You are also eligible for a discount of 5% if you already participate in one or
more of
Lato’ s courses and a friend of yours enrolls.
If you participate in more activities (workshops etc), ask for more
possibilities or send a
mail with your question.
NOTE: Only one discount per enrollment applies.
Inschrijving
How can I enroll in a course?
The only thing you need to do is to have a look
at the
courses we offer and to find the right one for you. At the end of each level
listed
there is a ‘Sign up directly’
link. Use it
in order to enroll.
If you have any doubts about your level,
send us a
message in order to take a
placement
test.
How can I evaluate my level?
If you are not sure about your level, you can
always Contact Us for
an appointment in order to take a
placement
test. By means of a
multiple-choice test
and a short (10 min) conversation, the tutor will be able to evaluate
exactly your level
and to talk with you about all points of attention, helping you to take the
best
decision.
The charge for the test is 20 euros.
This sum will
be deducted from the course fees upon enrollment.
Books
Do I need books
In all courses, except the Conversational Courses, a
specific
method is followed. At the end of the description of each course, you will find
the name of
the method which will be used. After the first lesson, no copies of the books
are delivered
and every student is considered to have his or her own books.
Where can I buy the books?
If you want to buy your books, click on the title of
the Book
(under a course). The site we suggest has the lowest prices we could find on the
Dutch
market. If however you find a site that offers them cheaper, we would love to
hear it!.
Is the cost of the books included in the fees?
The cost of the books is not
included in the
tuition and the students should acquire the books themselves. For extra material
which will
be handed out from time to time during the course, there are no extra charges.
Exams of Attainment / CEFR
What if I want to participate in CEFR exams?
CEFR exams are organized by the Center of Greek
Language in
Thessaloniki (ΚΕΓ) and in Netherlands they are organized at the
UvA. Exams at
all levels are held once a year, in mid-May and if you want to participate
you need to
apply (applications are accepted usually from mid-February until end
March).
Examinations for the Certificate of Attainment in Greek for
Professional
Purposes are held three times
a year, in
January, May, and November.
There is always an announcement when the
exact dates
are known.
If you need more info, please ask one of
the tutors
and he/ she will be more than willing to help you.
Registration for the Examination
The examination for the Certificate of Attainment in Greek is organized by the
Center for
Greek Language, which is a Private legal entity and the authorized
representative of the
Ministry of Education. The examination takes place once per year, in the middle
of May. if
you want to participate you need to apply. Applications are accepted usually
from
mid-February until the end March and you can do it online.
In addition, there are examinations for Professional Purposes which are held
three times per
year, in January, May, and November. This is something which concerns those who
are
interested to study in Greece or to apply for a job there.
The exact dates are made known through announcements on the web site of KEG. So,
if you are
interested to work in Greece or to study there, do not hesitate to ask for more
info.