The Ministry of Education’s Institute for Lifelong Education (IDEKE) offers free Greek language lessons or μαθήματα ελληνικών (levels 1-4) to EU and non-EU immigrants at 49 58 locations* around Greece, in addition to Greek history/culture lessons lasting 25 hours at the same locations.

After completing 100-150 hours of instruction and passing a written and oral examination, successful students are issued a Greek language certificate that residents/professionals can use to show proficiency and non-Greek EU 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, though applicants who paid for lessons elsewhere or already have sufficient knowledge of Greek can potentially skip A1 (Introductory) and/or get an A2 certificate by passing an exam.

Classes are ongoing but typically held in the morning and afternoon, so anyone with full-time work may have a difficult time finding an evening class.

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 Greek police. The yearly total enrollment limit — not for each class, not for each location, but for the whole country — is only 3,000 students, so don’t be surprised if there is a waiting list.

*Article last updated February 11, 2012; IDEKE website says there are only 56, but I count 58 and a main office.

Note from the Author

The program continues to offer classes, but some may have been discontinued due to a reorganization of municipalities. Staff have been unable to provide me with a current list by mail, fax or email after several requests; and the IDEKE list has not been updated since 2010.

Where to register for courses

Main Office: Acharnon 417 & Kokkinaki
11143 Αthens
Tel: (213) 1311526 or (210) 258 4803
Fax: (210) 253 0349 or (210) 2284433
Email: kee@gsae.edu.gr or ideke@ideke.edu.gr

In Athens:

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

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

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

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

Paiania
Ioannou Metaxa 1
Tel/Fax: (210) 666-4788
Email: mail@keen-anatol.att.sch.gr

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

Elsewhere on the Mainland

Agrinio
Favrou 3/Deligiorgi 27
Tel: (26410) 64912
Fax: (26410) 64915
Email: mail@keen-thest.ait.sch.gr or mail@keen-mesol.ait.sch.gr

Amfissa
Flouriou 47
Tel: (22650) 29308
Email: amfisa4@otenet.gr

Argos
Tsokri 63
Tel: (27510) 69131
Email: kee-arg@otenet.gr

Arta
Street of the Perifereia & Fleming
Tel/Fax: (26810) 21453
Email: keeartas@otenet.gr

Drama
Prefecture building
1st Iouliou & Chrysovergi Corner
Tel/Fax: (25210) 58313
Email: keedra@otenet.gr

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

Florina
Megalou Alexandrou 111
Tel: (23850) 25133
Email: mail@keen.flo.sch.gr, keeflor@yahoo.gr

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

Ioannina
Konstantinoupoleos 1
Tel/Fax: (26510) 65905
Email: keeioa@otenet.gr

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

Karditsa
Ypsilantou 7
Tel/Fax: (24410) 77614
Email: kee-kar@otenet.gr

Karpenisi
Next to OAED
Ksirias
Tel/Fax: (22370) 80894
Email: mail@keen.eyr.sch.gr

Kastoria
Megalou Alexandrou 11
Tel: (24670) 22216
Fax: (24670) 22020
Email: keenkas@otenet.gr

Katerini
Andrianoupoleos 14
Tel/Fax: (23510) 25605
Email: mail@keen.pie.sch.gr

Kavala
Prefecture Bldg.
Eth. Antistaseos 20
Office 532 – 5th floor
Tel: (25102) 32481
Email: keekav@otenet.gr

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

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

Lamia
Leof. Kalyvion 154
Tel/Fax: (22310) 31163
Email: keelam@otenet.gr

Larissa
Aiolou 2
Tel/Fax: (2410) 555247
Email: mail@keen.lar.sch.gr

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

Nea Selefkeia
Tel: (26650) 29024
Email: keethesp@otenet.gr

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

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

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

Polygyros (Halkidiki)
K. Papageorgaki 1
Tel/Fax: (23710) 21772
Email: keehalk@otenet.gr

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

Preveza
Kolokotroni Street – 2nd Eniaio Lykeio
Area of the Hospital
Tel: (26820) 89449
Email: keepre@otenet.gr

Ptolemaida (Kozani)
1st km. Ptolemaida-Galateia Hwy – Bulgaria Bldg
Tel/Fax: (24630) 55709
Email: mail@keen.koz.sch.gr

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

Serres
Dytikis Thrakis 11  & Avdiron
Tel: (23210) 97520
Tel: (23210) 97524
Email: kekser@otenet.gr

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

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

Thessaloniki (Polichni)
Chr. Smyrnis 20 (Corner of Αg. Panteleimonos)
Tel/Fax: (2310) 587004
Email: keepol@otenet.gr

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

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

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

Volos
Cheironos & Anapavseos Streets
Magnesia
Tel: (24210) 24167
Email: keemagv@otenet.gr

Xanthi
Plateia Emporiou 44
Tel/Fax: (25410) 83143
Email: keexan@otenet.gr

On the islands:

Chios
Michali Livanou 25
Tel: (22710) 81615
Email: keechiou@otenet.gr

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

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

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

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

Crete
Rethymno
Pl. Pigis – Arkadi
Tel/Fax: (28310) 71454
Email: kee-reth@otenet.gr

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

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

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

Lesvos
Mytilini
Vournazon 2
2nd floor
Tel: (22510) 47633
Fax: (22510) 47634
Email: keelesvo@otenet.gr

Rhodes
An. Damaskou 102
Tel/Fax: (22410) 31727
Email: keerodos@otenet.gr

Samos
Vathi
Patriarch Damianou near the 1st & 2nd Kindergarten
Tel/Fax: (22730) 27776
Email: keesamou@otenet.gr

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

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

Want to see it in Greek?


Go to the IDEKE website.

Where and when examinations are given

Greek language, culture and history examinations are announced in Greek at “News/Announcements,” and given at least once a year in June/July at select locations for non-EU citizens who need A2 certificates as proof of completion to apply for long-term EU-wide permits/cards or Greek citizenship.

Tests are usually given at these locations but will vary: Athens, Chios, Corfu (Kerkyra), Corinth, Giannitsa, Irakleio (Crete), Ioannina, Kefallonia, Komotini, Kozani, Lamia, Larissa, Neapoli, Patra, Piraeus, Rhodes, Thessaloniki, Trikala

Candidates must register in advance, be at least 16 years of age and hold a valid Greek residence permit sticker/card.

What’s on the final test?

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 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

This article was plagiarized word for word without my permission by a Greek newspaper, educational institution in Crete and the Greek Consulate of Sydney, after I published it in May 2007.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Athens Journalist Union (ESIEA) would not intervene or mediate. The Greek consulate removed it after four letters and 18 months, the educational institution gave excuses before revising their reports, and the Greek newspaper never acknowledged what occurred. No one apologized or took responsibility.

Since then, it has also been plagiarized by a number of other websites and forums about Greece. Owners refuse to remove the material, despite admitting it was copy/pasted without permission. Be careful who you trust.

Sources

– ΦΕΚ 160/Α, law 150/2006
– ΦΕΚ 163, law 3879/2010, passed September 21, 2010
– IDEKE website
– My first-hand experience
– EU/non-EU foreigners who tried to or did enroll in classes

Related posts

“The importance of speaking Greek in Greece”
“Why don’t you speak Greek fluently?”
“Conversations from my life as a foreigner in Greece”

The Author

Kat is a well-traveled American journalist and author. To learn more, see “About Me.”

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