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Greeks flocking to German language classes

Δημοσιεύτηκε: 4:00 πμ Ιούνιος 14th, 2012  


BESET by economic crisis, the Greeks may be angry with Germany, but they are still queueing up to attend German language classes so that they can emigrate to find jobs in Angela Merkel’s thriving economy.

The two German language schools in Athens – the State-funded Goethe-Institut and the private Germanika Institute – are experiencing a boom in business as well-educated younger Greeks try to avoid the bleak future at home.

«I think the situation in Germany and the way they live is of high quality,» said Elena Mavromatti, 23, a law student at the University of Athens, who is taking advanced night-classes at the Germanika language school.

«There are many similarities with the Greek language, which are easy to grasp,» she said. «Mostly with Ancient Greek. It’s the same grammar, syntax, everything. It’s really easy for a Greek child to learn German. I first learned German and then I learned Ancient Greek. This was very good for me because I could adjust to Ancient Greek better.»

Like many of her fellow students, Ms Mavromatti hoped to study in the German-speaking world – in Germany, Austria or Switzerland – and remain there to work.She spent six months last year as an Erasmus exchange scholar at Heidelberg University and plans to return to Germany for a Master’s degree.

Ms Mavromatti is sceptical of Greek complaints about German-dictated austerity programs.

«I think there is an over-reaction on behalf of the Greeks. They are always complaining about their situation. In my opinion, it’s their fault,» she said.

Greeks, who still harbour resentment from the Nazi occupation of the Second World War, have worn Nazi uniforms to anti-austerity protests and caricatured Mrs Merkel, the Chancellor, as Hitler. But figures from Germany’s Federal Statistics Office show a 90 per cent rise in arrivals from Greece in 2011, from 12,550 in 2010 to 23,800 in 2011. Immigration also rose 23 per cent from Italy, 28 per cent from Portugal and 52 per cent from Spain.

Ulrike Drissner, who runs the program at the Goethe-Institut, said: «The fact is we have 30 per cent more students compared with the (northern) summer semester last year. We had 370 last year and we have 480 this year. The main increase is in the age between 20 and 30.»

Spyros Koukidis, the director of the Germanika Institute, which has 150 students, described the Greeks learning German to move to Germany as «academic gastarbeiter» or guest-workers.

«English is the first foreign language,» he said. «There are many second foreign languages – French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Turkish. But German is the clear number two behind English in the last two years. We are preparing the academic ‘gastarbeiter’ of tomorrow.»

Many who emigrate are doctors fed up with the long hours and poor pay of the Greek public health system. The Goethe-Institut has just opened a new specialist course in medical German.

«We can say it’s a brain drain,» Mr Koukidis said.

Lydia Tsioli, 20, another law student studying German, said that her friends all planned to study and work outside Greece, where youth unemployment is more than 50 per cent. She said that Greeks needed to change their attitude to Germans.

«Most Greeks are a bit angry or worried, but I think that we must be a little grateful as well,» she said. «It’s the German people and all the European people who contribute to our help. We should not be aggressive or angry.»

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/greeks-flocking-to-german-language-classes/story-fnb64oi6-1226394194553


 

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