The Ministry of Education’s Institute for Lifelong Education (IDEKE) offers free Greek language lessons (levels 1-4) to EU and non-EU immigrants at 59 locations around Greece.

After completing all four levels consisting of 100 150 hours instruction and passing a written and oral examination, successful students are issued a certificate that EU citizens can use to show proficiency and non-EU citizens need as one element to apply for a long-term EU-wide residence/work permit and Greek citizenship.

IDEKE classes are the only ones recognized by the government, although applicants who paid for lessons elsewhere can potentially skip to the appropriate level or get a certificate by testing out.

EU citizens need only show their passport, while non-EU citizens must show a valid residence/work permit and a letter from their employer certified by police. The yearly total enrollment limit — not for each class, not for each location, but for the whole lot — is only 3,000 students, so don’t be surprised if there is a waiting list.

*Article last updated August 8, 2010

Where to register for courses

In Athens:

Aigaleo
24 Mavromichali & Kountourioti
1st floor
Tel/Fax: (210) 598-0060
E-mail: kee-aigal@sch.gr

Halandri
Rizareios Ecclesiastic School
1 Rizari
Tel: (210) 682-3964
E-mail: kee-hal@otenet.gr

Ilioupoli
521 Vouliagmenis Ave
5th Gymnasium, 3rd floor
Tel/Fax: (210) 996-0905
E-mail: keeili@otenet.gr

Kato Patissia
53 Dagkli Street
Tel: (210) 854-0566
Fax: (210) 854-1078
E-mail: kee.ath@ideke.edu.gr

Paiania
1 Ioannou Metaxa
Tel/Fax: 2106664788
E-mail: mail@keen-anatol.att.sch.gr

Piraeus
88 Tzavella Street
3rd floor
Tel/Fax: (210) 422-0056
E-mail: keepeir@otenet.gr

Elsewhere on the Mainland

Agrinio
Deligiorgi 27
Tel: 26410-64912
Fax: 26410-64915
E-mail: mail@keen-thest.ait.sch.gr

Amfissa
47 Flouriou
Tel: 22650-29308
E-mail: amfisa4@otenet.gr

Argos
63 Tsokri
Tel: 27510-69131
E-mail: kee-arg@otenet.gr

Arta
Street of the Perifereia & Fleming
Tel: (26810) 21453
E-mail: keeartas@otenet.gr

Drama
Prefecture building
1st Iouliou & Chrysovergi Corner
Tel: (25210) 58313
E-mail: keedra@otenet.gr

Edessa
Nees Ergatikes Katoikies – Stop ‘Smareka’
Tel: 23810-28842 or 23810 29536
E-mail: mail@keen-pellas.pel.sch.gr

Florina
111 Megalou Alexandrou Street
Tel: 23850-25133
E-mail: mail@keen.flo.sch.gr, keeflor@yahoo.gr

Grevena
End of K. Taliadouri Street
Prefecture Bldg
Tel/Fax: 24620-76520
E-mail: mail@keen.gre.sch.gr

Ioannina
Konstantinoupoleos 1
Tel: 26510-65905
E-mail: keeioa@otenet.gr

Kalamata
Messinias
Old Dimotiko School – Antikalamos
Tel/Fax: 27210-94236
E-mail: mail@keen-kalam.mes.sch.gr.

Karditsa
7 Ypsilantou
Tel/Fax: 24410-77614
E-mail: kee-kar@otenet.gr

Karpenisi
Next to OAED
Ksirias
Tel: (22370) 80894
E-mail: mail@keen.eyr.sch.gr

Kastoria
11 Megalou Alexandrou Street
Tel: (24670) 22216
Fax: (24670) 22020
E-mail: keenkas@otenet.gr

Katerini
Andrianoupoleos 14
Tel/Fax: 23510-25605
E-mail: mail@keen.pie.sch.gr

Kavala
Prefecture Bldg.
20 Eth. Antistaseos
Office 532 – 5th floor
Tel: 25102-32481
E-mail: keekav@otenet.gr

Komotini
Hatzikonstanti – Zoidou 6
Rodopi
Tel: 25310-81809
Fax: (25310) 81599
E-mail: keekomo@otenet.gr

Korinthos (Corinth)
Anno Assos
Taxiarhon Street
Tel: (27410) 89427
E-mail: mail@keen-korinth.kor.sch.gr

Lamia
154 Leof. Kalyvion
Tel/Fax: 22310-31163
E-mail: keelam@otenet.gr

Larissa
2 Aiolou Street
Tel/Fax: 2410-555247
E-mail: mail@keen.lar.sch.gr

Megara
1 Mouseiou – Ground floor
Tel: (22960) 81018
Fax: (22960) 81019
E-mail: keedytat@otenet.gr

Mesolongi
3 Favrou Street
Tel: (26310) 55386
Fax: (26310) 55387
E-mail: mail@keen-mesol.ait.sch.gr

Nea Selefkeia
Tel: (26650) 29024
E-mail: keethesp@otenet.gr

Οrchomenos
3 Minyou
Tel: (22610) 35122
Fax: (22610) 35121
E-mail: mail@keen.voi.sch.gr

Orestiada
Evros
Evripidou & Markou Botsari
Tel: (25520) 22224
Fax: (25520) 28994
E-mail: kee-evr@sch.gr

Patra
Pontou & Kalavryton Streets
Tel: (2610) 317236
E-mail: kee_ach@otenet.gr

Polygyros (Halkidiki)
K. Papageorgaki 1
Tel/Fax: 2371021772
E-mail: keehalk@otenet.gr

Polykastro (Kilkis)
Megalou Alexandrou & Αsklipiou
Tel: (23430) 23556
E-mail: keekil@otenet.gr

Preveza
Kolokotroni Street – 2nd Eniaio Lykeio
Area of the Hospital
Tel: 26820-89449
E-mail: keepre@otenet.gr

Ptolemaida (Kozani)
1st km. Ptolemaida-Galateia Hwy – Bulgaria Bldg
Tel/Fax: 2463055709
E-mail: mail@keen.koz.sch.gr

Pyrgos
Petropoulou and Patron Streets – Floor ‘A’
New City Hall
Tel/Fax: (26210) 36001
E-mail: keeil@otenet.gr

Serres
11 Dytikis Thrakis & Avdiron
Tel: 23210-97520
Tel: 23210 97524
E-mail: kekser@otenet.gr

Sparti
Lakonia
3rd km. Sparti – Prefecture Office 11
Tel/Fax: (27310) 25475
E-mail: mail@keen-lak.lak.sch.gr

Thessaloniki
8 Ethnikis Amynis
Tel/Fax: (2310) 219939
E-mail: keenthe@sch.gr

Thessaloniki (Polichni)
Chr. Smyrnis 20 (Corner of Αg. Panteleimonos)
Tel: (2310) 587004
E-mail: keepol@otenet.gr

Trikala
Kalampakas 28 (Green corner)
Tel/Fax: 24310-27790
E-mail: mail@keen-trikal.tri.sch.gr, keetrik@otenet.gr

Tripoli
Metamorfoseos & Aleou (Ierou Naou)
Tel/Fax: (2710) 232524
E-mail: kee-ark@sch.gr

Veria
Stadiou 51
Tel: (23310) 75330
Fax: (23310) 75331
E-mail: keenima@otenet.gr

Volos
Cheironos & Anapavseos Streets
Magnesia
Tel: 24210-24167
E-mail: keemagv@otenet.gr

Xanthi
44 Plateia Emporiou
Tel/Fax: 25410-83143
E-mail: keexan@otenet.gr

On the islands:

Chios
25 Michali Livanou
Tel: 22710-81615
E-mail: keechiou@otenet.gr

Corfu (Kerkyra)
Alykes River
Prefecture building
Tel: (26610) 23345
Fax: (26610) 23315
E-mail: keekerk@otenet.gr

Crete
Hania
Plateia 1866
40 Kriari – Megaro Pantheon – 1st floor, Office 2
Tel/Fax: 28210-72707
E-mail: keexania@otenet.gr

Crete
Ag. Nikolaos
Ksirokampos – 2nd Gymnasium
Tel: (28410) 25719
E-mail: keelas@otenet.gr

Crete
Nea Alikarnassos
13A Dionysiou
Tel: (28102) 44500
E-mail: keeirakl@otenet.gr

Crete
Rethymno
Pl. Pigis – Arkadi
Tel/Fax: 28310-71454
E-mail: kee-reth@otenet.gr

Evia
Halkis
2 Karagiannis & Antigonou/Vourkos
Tel: (22210) 77724
E-mail: keeevia@otenet.gr

Kefallonia
Argostoli
9 Pl. Vallianou
Prefecture Office – Ground floor
Tel: (26710) 25402
Fax: (26710) 29075
E-mail: mail@keen.kef.sch.gr

Lefkada
11 Kapodistriou (TEI)
Lefkas
Tel: 26450-23494
E-mail: keelefk@otenet.gr

Lesvos
Mytilini
2 Vournazon Street
2nd floor
Tel: (22510) 47633
Fax: (22510) 47634
E-mail: keelesvo@otenet.gr

Rhodes
102 An. Damaskou Street
Tel/Fax: (22410) 31727
E-mail: keerodos@otenet.gr

Samos
Vathi
Patriarch Damianou near the 1st & 2nd Kindergarten
Tel/Fax: 22730-27776
E-mail: keesamou@otenet.gr

Syros
Ermoupoli
2 D. Vafeiadaki
Tel: (22810) 89224
Fax: (22810) 89225
E-mail: keekykl@otenet.gr

Zakynthos
Dionysiou Roma/Dhm. Plaz EOT
Tel/Fax: (26950) 25600
E-mail: keezak@otenet.gr

Want to see it in Greek?


Go to their website at IDEKE.

What’s on the final test?

According to the Athens News, the final exams are held twice yearly in February and October; those who don’t pass the first time can retake the exam for an undetermined fee. The test is “transparent” and consists of two sections and their respective parts.

Section 1

Part I: Reading comprehension
- Demonstrate the ability to comprehend simple texts from everyday life, such as announcements, instructions and directions
- Match a photograph or illustration with the appropriate written description

Part II: Aural Language
- Listen to recorded dialogue and match answers to pictures

Part III: Basic Writing Skills
- Write short paragraphs
- Fill in a mock application form with personal details
- Write a complaint
- Describe a daily event

Part IV: Knowledge of Greek history and culture
- Answer questions about basic historical events and culture
(Format is unknown)

Section 2

Active dialogue/conversation with a proctor consisting of questions about work/studies, describing a person or objects familiar to the applicant.

* I do not have a copy of the test and am under the impression there are different versions, in addition to variations depending on the proctor.

Plagiarism note

This article was plagiarized word for word without my permission by a Greek newspaper, educational institution and the Greek Consulate of Sydney, after I published it in May 2007 (their version wasn’t even customized to their audience in Australia, leaving my local phone numbers in place).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Athens Journalist Union (ESIEA) would not intervene or mediate, and the consulate ignored repeated written requests and claims to remove my content, give credit where due or pay me for the right to use it. After four letters and 18 months, it was finally removed without acknowledgment or apology.

Please note my copyright and policy to attribute sources properly, or I and adept legal advisers will contact you for removal.

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