cyathens.org | #cyathens ebook.pdfthe cya experience 2 cyathens.org about cya environment through a...
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cyathens.org | #cyathens
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 2
cyathens.org
ABOUT CYA environmentthroughahands-onlearningopportunities.
CYAstudentsviewtheirstudyabroadinGreeceasalife-changingexperience,onethathasincreasedtheirawarenessandperceptionsmakingthembetterpreparedtoliveintheglobalcommunity.
CYAisanot-for-profiteducationalinstitutionbasedinCambridge,Massachusetts,andgovernedbyaBoardofTrustees.ItoffersthisprogramthroughtheAthens-basedInternationalCenterforHellenicandMediterraneanStudies(DIKEMES).CYAisamemberoftheForumonEducationAbroad,theNationalAssociationofForeignStudentAdvisors(NAFSA),theEuropeanAssociationofInternationalEducation(EAIE)andtheAssociationofAmericanEducationalandCulturalOrganizationsinGreece(AAECG).ThelanguageofinstructionisEnglish,thefacultyisEuropeanandAmerican,andthemajorityofthestudentscomefromNorthAmerica.
CYA(CollegeYearinAthens)isanot-for-profitstudyabroadinstitutionofferingsemester,academicyear,andsummerstudyabroadprogramstaughtinEnglish.
Sinceitsestablishmentin1962ithasofferedUSuniversitystudentsanacademicallyrigorousprogramofstudiescombinedwiththevibrantexperienceofday-to-daycontactwiththepeople,monuments,andlandscapeofGreeceandtheMediterraneanregion.
Theacademicprogramisenhancedbyhighlyqualifiedfacultywhohaveapassionatecommitmenttotheirsubjectandtheirstudents.Coursesareofferedinavarietyofdisciplinescoveringbothancient&modernareasofstudies.
TheprogramisdesignedtohelpstudentsachievetheiracademicgoalswhileimpartingadeeperunderstandingGreeceandtheregionthroughtheages,andtogainanewperspectiveontheglobal
A hallmark of the CYA program is its emphasis on experiential learning. Through faculty led field trips and on-site teaching the students come into immediate contact with the subjects.
Experiencetheoriginals
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 3
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
A CYA ALUMNUS RETURNS TO TEACH
TUNING INTO STUDENTS’ MINDS AND FEELINGS
TOO MUCH VOCABULARY!
AMERICAN STUDENTS LEARN GREEK!
UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY
A YOUNG ALEXANDER THE GREAT PASSING BY…
INTENSE EXPERIENCES FOR BOTH TUTORS AND STUDENTS
OUTSIDE THE COMFORT ZONE
A WORLD FULL OF BEAUTY
ENGAGING WITH THE CITY OF ATHENS
IN GREECE, KNOWLEDGE COMES ALIVE…
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES
LIVING LIFE AS A SOCRATES’ FOOL
URGING STUDENTS TO GO BACK TO THE FUTURE
ABOUT THE CYA EXPERIENCE
BE THAT PAINTER…
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 4
cyathens.org
ABOUT THE CYA EXPERIENCE
CYASTUDENTSviewtheirstudyabroadinGreeceasalife-changingexperience,onethathasincreasedtheirawarenessandperceptionsmakingthembetterpreparedtoliveintheglobalcommunity.
Inthiseditionyouhearfromsomeofthepeoplethatmakethingshappen.MembersofCYAFacultytalkaboutthewaytheydeliverthemessagesoriginatingfromtheiracademicdisciplinesinclassoronsite.
Greeceisblessedwithseveralcomparativeadvantages.Ithasarichhistoryandculture–veryattractivetostudentsofalldisciplines,afascinatingancientlanguage-anepigraphist’streasuretrove.EverydigforconstructionunearthsGreece’sdistantpast-anarcheologist’sdelight.Itisacountryfullofmuseums.Whatbetterplacetostudymanagementofnationalheritagepreservationorurbansustainability?
Tomostofusitisclearthateducationisnolongeranactivityconfinedtothewallsofthecampusorthefrontiersofacountry.
Inourchangingworld,thetraditionalformoftheuniversity,asweknowitisrapidlybeingtransformed.Thefourwallsofacampuswithinwhichstudyandresearchweredonearegivingtheirplacetonewwaysofconductingstudyandresearch.Theuniversityisbreakingoutofitstraditionalbordersandreachestotheworldoutside.
Americans,morethananybodyelse,havebecomeawareoftheneedtointernationalisethemselves.CYAhasbeenactingasaculturalandeducationalbridgebetweenNorthAmericaandGreeceforoverhalfacentury,andhasbeenhelpingstudentstodevelopnewperspectivesontheworld,theirowncountriesandthemselves.
ThisisthecausetowhichCYA(CollegeYearinAthens)isdedicated:makingitsstudentsglobalcitizenswhounderstandandappreciateothercultures.Socratesputitsowelltwoandahalfthousandyearsagowhenhesaid,“IamnotanAthenianoraGreek,IamaCitizenoftheWorld”.
ALEXIS PHYLACTOPOULOSPresidentCYA/DIKEMES
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 5
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A CYA ALUMNUS RETURNS TO TEACH
THISFALL,Iamteachingacoursecalled“GreekVase-Painting:Gods,HeroesandMonsters”withatheamofenthusiasticstudents,mostofthemClassicsmajorsfromfirst-rateschools.
Itishardformetobelievethatforty-eightyearsago,asastudentatCYA(’69),ItookasimilarcoursetaughtbyTessaDinsmoor.OneoftheoriginalfacultyofCYA,TessawasayoungGreekarchaeologisteducatedatUCLA,wifeofthearchitectBillDinsmoor(wholatertaughtforCYA),anddaughter-in-lawofthemostdistinguishedscholarofGreekarchitectureofthe20thcentury,WilliamBellDinsmoor.
Tessawasaverytoughandrigorousteacherwhoforce-marchedusthroughthehistoryofGreekvases,chastisedusfornotbeingabletoreadGermanscholarship,andmadeuscommittomemoryhundredsofslides.
Onestudent,whowasatalentedartist,madealargecaricatureofTessaasaGorgonwhogloweredfromthewallofanapartmenthousingsevengirlsonXenokratousStreet.Butitwasthisclassthatsetmeonthepaththatwoulddefinemyscholarlycareer,includingstudiesoftheiconographyofGreekvasesthatwouldfillseveralbooks,dozensofarticles,andthreeexhibitioncatalogues.
Tessaisretiredanddoingwell,livingintheWashingtonD.C.areanearhersonPaul,whowasbornduringthesemesterIwasinhercourse(withouthermissingaclass).
Mycareerhastakenmetomanypartsoftheworldforperiodsofteachingandresearch:Germany,NewZealand,China,SouthAfrica,andvariousAmericanuniversities,mostrecentlyJohnsHopkins,whereIretiredfromtheClassicsDepartmentin2015.
ThissemesterhasallowedmetocomebacktoCYA,whereitallstarted,andsharesomeofmyloveofGreekvaseswithanewgenerationofstudentswhomightonedayfollowapathlikemine.
ALAN SHAPIRO(CYA’69)isProfessorofClassicsandW.H.CollinsVickersProfessorofArchaeologyEmeritusatJohnsHopkins.
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 6
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
TEACHINGbecomesapassion,especiallyconcerningtheModernGreekLanguage.
Whyapassionthough?BecauselearningModernGreekatCYAcontributesdecisivelytotheidentityofstudents,regardlessoftheirbackgroundorethnicity.StudentsstarttolearnmoreabouttheirownlanguagerealizingsuddenlythattheyalreadyknowsomanyGreekwords(suchas;idea,music,theatre,geometry,theory,justtonameafew).GreekCultureinstantlybecomespartoftheircultureandtheworldtheirclassroom.
StartingbyexplainingtheGreekAlphabet,Iproceedwithteachingstudentshowtoread,write,andspeaksimultaneously.Thus,fromtheveryfirstlesson,studentsknowhowtogreetpeopleandthiseventuallydevelopsintocommunicating,creatingnewfriendships,andabetterunderstandingofthecustomsandthehabitsofGreekSociety.
Lifeinthisforeigncountryisslowlyunveiled,sinceitisthroughlearningthelanguagethatstudentsareabletoeffectivelypenetrateintothementalityofthepeopleofGreece.
Inmyclasses,theprocessoflearningModernGreekisalwayscomplimentedbyHistory,Art,Music,Architecture,Etymology,Religion,CustomsandHabitsviasomeimportantandmeaningfuldetails.Inthisway,studentslearnthelanguagebytravelingthroughtime,jumpingfromPrehistorytoModernSociety,havingpassedthroughClassical,Hellénistique,Roman,Byzantine,OttomanOccupation,Independence(theGreekLanguagehasbeencontinuouslyspokenwithoutanyinterruptionfor2500years)landingintoday'sworld.
StudentexperienceisthrillingtotheextentthatlastyearagroupofmystudentswenthikingonMountParnassos.Theyarrivedatavillage,whichwasatthefootofthemountainandaskedaladysittingatherporchfordirections,addressinghernaturallyinGreek.Shehelpedthemouteagerly.Ontheirwayback,afewhourslater,thereshewaswaitingforthem.Sheinvitedthemallinsideherhouse,where,totheirhugesurprise,somefriendsandrelativesofhershadpreparedvariousdeliciousGreekdishesandtheyspenttherestoftheeveningeating,drinking,laughingand...practicingtheirGreek.
WecaneasilyseehowimmenselyenrichingitistolearnModernGreek.ItdefinesthestudyabroadexperienceinGreece.Missionaccomplished:Mypassionbecamecontagious.
ELENI KARVOUNISorbonne(ParisI)withaMaitriseinArtHistory.
THE CYA EXPERIENCE
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TUNING INTO STUDENTS’ MINDS AND FEELINGS
TEACHINGatanintellectuallydemandingprogramlikeCYAisexciting.Mygoalistomakestudentssharemygenuineenthusiasmforthehistoryofreligion.TothisendItrytotuneintothemindsandfeelingsofmystudents,eagerlyinteractwiththem,activelyinvolvethem,encouragecriticalandcreativethinking,intriguethem,'reachandnotjustteach'everystudentundermycare.
ThecourseIhavebeenteachingeveryfallsemestersince2007is‘TheReligionsoftheMiddleEast:AComparativeApproach’whichservesasanintroductiontoJudaism,Christianity,andIslam,anditisorganizedthematicallyasameansoftryingtocapturethekeydifferencesaswellassimilaritiesamongthethree‘Abrahamic’religions.
EveryspringsemesterIteachtheOrthodoxChurchcourse.IventuretoexplorealongwithmystudentsOrthodoxyinitshistoricalandmoderncontexts.IacquaintstudentswiththelandmarksofthehistoryoftheOrthodoxChurch,inspirethemtoappreciatecriticallytheinfluenceofOrthodoxChristianityinshapinghumanexperience,invitethemtoexplorehowOrthodoxyislivedandpractisedinGreece,callthemtoexhibitawarenessoftheirownexperienceofreligioustraditionandcommitmentanddifferencesinperspectiveandopinion.
Frequenton-sitevisits,providingopportunitiesforhands-onexperienceandvolunteerworkandchallengingstudentstogetoutoftheircomfortzoneisvitalforbothmyclasses.WevisitOrthodoxchurchesandobservehowthecongregationexpressesitspiety;wevisitmonasteriesandinterviewmonksandnunsoftheiruniquereligiousexperience,visitmuseumsthathousetypicalandrarereligiousartifacts.
Recently,astudentinspiredbyaclasshespentsomedaysataMt.Athosmonastery,(whereChristianityispracticedwiththestricteststandardsavailable,likenothinghaschangedsinceearlyChristiantimes,andwhereservicescanlastupto12hours)andfollowedthedailyscheduleofthemonks.Whenhereturnedheexpressedhisenthusiasmabouttheuniqueexperience.
DESPINA IOSIFisahistorianofTheology.SheholdsaPh.D.inEarlyChristianityfromUniversityCollegeLondon.
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 8
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BE THAT PAINTER…
AsanAthenian,whowaseducatedintheU.K.andcurrentlyworkinginGreeceandCyprus,Istronglybelievethatthebestteachingmethodistheonethatincludesexperientialactivities.Myinteractionwithstudentsfromvariouseducationalandsocialbackgroundsandtraditionshasmademeastrongsupporterofhands-onactions,sitevisits,theexchangeofviewsandideaswithskilledindividualsandspecialists.Havingthatasacentralidea,thestudentsexperienceagreatvarietyofactivities(dependingonthecourse)fromworkingonmetal,suchascopperandlead,followingMycenaeantechniques,tomakingtheirowncoloursandapplyingthemontheplasterinordertocreateaMinoan-stylewallpainting.Thecombinationofa)readingaboutanobject,letussayasmallmetalhorsestatuettemadeinthe7thcenturyBCEwiththe‘lostwax’technique,b)examiningtheobjectfromaclosedistanceattheMuseumandthenc)recreatingtheactualtechniqueitselfwithintheCYAfacilities,definitelygivesthestudentsthefullpictureastheybecomepartofitsmanufactureprocess.
Thisapproachcanbeappliedtogreaterfeaturesaswell,notjustportableworksofart.Arecentclassvisittothereplicaofthe5thcenturyBCE‘Olympias’attheFloisvosHarbour,afterdiscussingitsconstructioninclass,reallyboostedthestudents’enthusiasmandatthesametimeithelpedthemunderstandandremembereasierwhen,howandwhysuchawarshipwasmade.
Finally,thesepersonalexperiencesrevealthehumanelement:thecraftspersonbehindablack-figurevessel,theoarsmanonboardthetrireme,themasonorthepotterwholeftamarkonabuildingoravaserespectively.
AsastudentmyselfIwasfascinatedbythemagnificentmuralpaintingsfoundatthesiteofAkrotirionThera(atownofthe17thc.BCEthatwascoveredbythevolcanicmaterialduringamajoreruption)totheextentthatthisisthereasonwhyIbecameaprehistoricarchaeologist.
Severalyearslater,hereatCYA,togetherwithcolleaguesandcollaborators,IamteachingthefrescotechniquetostudentswhoreallyfeellikeaBronzeAgepainter,astheyaretrulyfindthemselvesinhisshoes.
ANGELOS PAPADOPOULOSisanarchaeologist(MA,UCL,PhDUniversityofLiverpool)
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 9
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TOO MUCH VOCABULARY!
THEREAREsparklingmomentsinyourlife,whichmarkyourcareer:teachers,books,friends,theater,family,college.IwasluckyenoughthatIhadaroundmegreat,ordinarypeople(teachers,professors,friends,family)fullofenergyandimagination,fullofknowledge,responsible,fightersoflife,notafraidtoexposethemselves,laughingattheirownmistakes.Allthisexperiencehelpedmeineducation,marriedlife,friendship,work,writingtogetherwithmyfriendDimitra(Mimika)theseriesofbooksEllinikaTora,1+1and2+2.
WhenIstartmybeginnersModernGreekclass,Ifeelmystudents’panicforthelanguageclassandtheirinnerdialogues.-MyGod!Toomuchvocabulary!Anddifferentpronunciation..!-Nounsdon’thaveonearticlethe,andgenders:masculine,feminine,andneuter.I’mKostas(οΚώστας)asabakery(οφούρνος)andmygirlfriendη(ηφίλη)asasalad(ησαλάτα)andthechildto(τοπαιδί)asatable(τοτραπέζι)...-Theverbs!Youhearanendingandyoumustunderstandwhomitisreferringtoinordertoanswercorrectly…themomentallthesesoundtomeasnewvocabulary…Shespeakstooloudlyandallhermouthmusclemovesupdown,upanddown…Ihavetosmilenottohavethicksounds;smilingchocolate…Nowsheteachestheendingsoftheverbsandsheismovingherhandslikearap…-Andwhenshesays“Gladtomeetyousheshakesmyhandverystrongly!-Ohand…shesaysthattheGreeksdon’tsayOh,butA!Becausetheyopentheirhearts.WhydomostofthemcallthemEla(Έλα)?Andnow…shesaysitmeanscome..!AndwhenIsaid,“Ιunderstandnothing”shesaidthatIspokelikethePhilosopherSocrateswhoknewalotandhewaswise…Aretheylogical?ShesaysthisisaGreekword(λογική)andwhenIspeakEnglishIusemanyGreekwords…Languageiscultureandcultureislanguage...islife.
YiannisRitsossaidinapoem(translationbyEdmundKeeley):
The Meaning of Simplicity Το Νόημα της Απλότητας
Every word is a doorway Η κάθε λέξη είναι μια έξοδος to a meeting, one often cancelled για μια συνάντηση, πολλές φορές ματαιωμένη and that’s when a word is true: When it insists και τότε είναι μια λέξη αληθινή, σαν επιμένει στη συνάντηση
MARINETA PAPAHIMONA (Dipl.UniversityofAthens), InstructorofModernGreeklanguage.
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 10
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AMERICAN STUDENTS LEARN GREEK!
AMERICANstudentslearnGreek!Itisanadventureinitselfthisdecision-obligation.
Alltheseverbs,articles,nouns,singular,plural.Butisitpossible?“It'sallGreektome,”Englishspeakerssay.
Andyet!
ThethrillisincrediblewhentimidlytheystartutteringwordsandsentencesinGreekwhentheygototavernsandcafesandplacetheirordersbyspeakingGreek!Whencatchingtheconversationsofpeopleonthestreet,inthebakery,andinsmallshops.
Oneyear,duringthefinaloralexamination,studentsdecidedtocreateanimprovisationalcomedyshowintheclassroom.Twostudentsplacedtwodeskssidebysideandpretendedtheywereinataxi.Onestudentplayedthetaxidriverandtheother,apassengerandthepassengerstartedgivingdirectionstothedriver.Itwassuchahilariousscenebecausethe"Greektaxidriver"wassinging,"smoking"andnotpayingattentiontohisclient'sdirections.Ofcourse,theymadeeveryoneburstintolaughter,buttheimportantissueherewasthatallthedialoguewasinGreekandwithouterrors!
Otherstudentsmadeasceneatacafeandlateratatavern.Theybroughtprops,plasticcups,dishesandimprovisedimaginaryfood.Othersmadeupasceneinaclothingshop.Theyhadbroughtblouses,pants,shoes,etc.
Itwassuchabeautifulandpleasantmoment.Althoughitwasanexamday,thestudents,withcheerfulnessandlivelinessmanagedtoovercometheirhesitationwiththelanguageandprovethattheycansucceed!
STELLA PAPAYIANNI B.A. in French Language & Philology, Aristoteleion University of Thessaloniki, D.E.A. in Experimental Phonetics, Strasbourg University.
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 11
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UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY
“ANTHROPOLOGYmakesthefamiliarstrange,andthestrangefamiliar.”Anthropologistslovetoputthisquoteintheirtextbooks,preparingstudentsforthedoubleeffectofthediscipline:whenyoustudyculturesthataredifferentfromyourown,younecessarilyendupseeingyourownworldviewinanewlight.Thisnewperspectiveisnotjustasideeffect,butapurposefulendeavor,asone’ssenseofwhat’s“natural,”“logical,”and“common-sense”intheworldhastobechallengedonthewaytorealizingthattherearemanydifferentwaystobeahumanbeing.
Thisisexactlywhatstudyabroadisabouttoo,theideabehindthe“broadenedhorizons”and“newperspectives”thatasemesterawayismeanttocreate.Andthusteachinganthropologytostudyabroadstudentsisajoy—they’reallproto-anthropologists,eveniftheydon’tknowityet.Understandingthissocietythey’vechosentomaketheirtemporaryhomeistheirfieldwork,theirfocusfromthemomenttheyarrive.ThroughmyclassIgettodirectthatfieldwork,tosendthemplacestheywouldn’totherwisego,andtogivethemanalyticaltoolstoexplorethewhyandhowbehindwhattheyparticipateinandobserve.
Everymomentoffrustrationorsurpriseisanopportunitytoexploretheirownunexcavatedpreconceptions,expectations,andprejudices.TheirownculturalpatternsofthoughtarelaidbareastheymakeGreecefamiliartothem—exploringthemeaningsoffriendshipthroughinterviewingGreekcollegestudents;breakingdowntheriotofnoise,song,andritualatafootballgame;engagingwiththefull-sensoryexperienceofaGreekOrthodoxliturgy;turningthestrangenessoftheirneighborhoodintoanetworkofacquaintancesandfriends.
Learningandlivingtheseotherworldviews,otherlogics,makesclearthatthelifetheylivebackhomeisonlyonepossiblewaytobeintheworld,oneofmany.Watchingthatunderstandingdevelopintheclassroomisamazing,butevenbetteraretheemailsIreceivefromformerstudents,abouthowtheideasandpracticestheytookhomewiththemcontinuetobeamajorpartoftheirlives.
AIMEE PLACAS, Ph.D.inAnthropology,RiceUniversity
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 12
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A YOUNG ALEXANDER THE GREAT PASSING BY…
IHAVEBEENamemberoftheCYAfacultyforalmost14yearsnowand,formypart,thishasrepeatedlyproventobealifealteringexperienceforme.MuchofwhatmakesthisexperiencesoworthwhilehastodowiththereactionandthefeedbackIgetfrommystudents,beitinclassormoreoften,onsite.
Icanvividlyrecallthelookandtheaweonmystudent'sfaceswhenweentertheinteriorofancientbuildingssuchastheParthenon,thePropylaiaortheTempleofHepahaistus.OrtheirjoyandastonishmentwhentheygettorunontheancienttracksofOlympiaorNemea.Therehappenhowever,tobecertainincidentsormemorablemomentsthatIwouldstillsingleoutasperhapsthemostmemorableones.
FormyAncientGreekathleticscourse,Itellmystudentsfromtheverybeginningabouttheenviable,prestigious,almostdivinelikepositionthatAncientGreekathletesenjoyedwithintheircontemporaryperspective.Beinganathleteisatitletheyshouldcarrywithpride.Oneofmystudentstookthisalittletooliterally...WheninthePanathenaicStadiumandaswewerepreparingto“re-enact”theStadionrace(ancientsprint)withinitstrack,agroupoftouristsapproachedusandaskedsaidstudentwhatweweredoingand,mostimportantly,iftheycouldparticipate;Sheturnedaroundandreplied,rathernonchalantly,“No,sorry,youcan't;thistrackisonlyreservedforAncientathletes–onlywedeservetorunonit”!
AnotherincidentIfondlyrecallhappenedduringavisittoPella,thecapitalofAncientMacedoniaandthebirthplaceofAlexandertheGreat.Afterguidingthestudentsaroundthesite,Igavethemthecustomary15-20minutestoroamaroundbythemselves.AfterawhileInoticedoneofmystudents,sittingneartheVillaofDionysus,headbetweenlegsandalmostintears.IaskedhimifhewasOKandhereplied:
“Professor,thefirstbookIeverrememberreadingwasonAlexandertheGreat.Eversincethen,IhavereadallthereisonAlexander,bothancientandmodern;IknowallthereisabouthimandonedayIhopetobecomeanAlexandrinescholar.Yet,nothingcouldhavepreparedmeforthis:beingontheveryspotwhereAlexandergrewup,whereayoungAlexanderlivedanddreamedoffuturegreatness.IthinkthatifIclosemyeyes,ayoungAlexanderwillpassby…Ifyoudon'tmindjustletmesitherealittlewhilelonger...
JOHN KARAVAS, Ph.D.,UniversityofDurham
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 13
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INTENSE EXPERIENCES FOR BOTH TUTORS AND STUDENTS
IJOINEDTHECYAcommunityinSpring2009.HavingjustreturnedfromLondonandtheCourtauldInstituteofArt,Iwasstrugglingwithlittlesuccess,Iconfess,toadjust,buildanewlifeandcareerinAthens:itwasevidentthatamassivecrisiswasonthehorizon.
TeachingatCYAasanArtHistoryProfessorspecializinginByzantineHistory,ArchaeologyandArt,hadaprofoundimpactinenhancingmyprofessionalskills,aswellas-Ibelieve-thecurriculumandeducationalexperienceofmystudents.
Togetherwerevisited,inaseriesofclassmeetingsandon-site/museumvisits,aspectsofthecultandcultureofthemillennium-longempireoftheRoman/Byzantinesthatremainslargelyalive,especiallyintheEasternMediterranean.
Duringoneoftheiconoclasticdebatesthatwehadinclass,theiconoclasticgroupusedasargumentfortheprohibitionofthecultoftheiconsextremitiesinvenerationpracticessuchaseatingordrinkingpartsoficons.Laterinthesemester,duringourwalkintheByzantinechurchesofthePlakaregion,belowtheAcropolis,wehappenedtowitnessanoldladyinsideachurchveneratinganicon,and,then,quietly,withdrawinginthenarthex,scrubbingthelowerpartofthefrescoedimageofasaintandtastingit.The‘iconoclasts’wereastonished:‘Professor,sheisactuallyeatingtheicon!’,exclaimed.Theycouldnotbelievethatwhattheyhadferventlyarguedaboutinclass!
Experiencinglearningandon-siteteachingwithimmediatecontactwiththesubjectandtheartifactsunderdiscussioncanbeaparticularlyintenseexperienceforbothtutorsandstudents.
DIMITRA KOTOULA Masters&PhDintheHistoryofArt(Byzantine).UniversityofIoannina&CourtauldInstituteofArt,London
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 14
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OUTSIDE THE COMFORT ZONE
ASAPROFESSORofModernGreekatCollegeYearinAthens,IdrawonmypastacademicandprofessionalexperienceseverydaywhenIentertheclassroom.IspentasemesterabroadinBelgiumwhilepursuingmyundergraduatedegreeinGreekandFrenchLanguageandLiterature,IcompletedmyMaster’sdegreeinGreekArchaeologyinEngland,IwasateachingassistantwithSocratesinaSpanishuniversityteachingforeignlanguagesforanacademicyear;mystudiesbroughtmeoutsidemycomfortzoneandintounfamiliarcircumstances,notdissimilartotheCYAstudentexperience.
Iunderstandhowcrucialtheacademiccomponentisthestudyabroadexperienceandcanusemyownbackgroundtobettermyclassroom.Additionally,Ihaveovertwentyyearsofactiveworkexperienceexclusivelywithforeignlanguageinstruction.Ihaveproducedlanguage-learningmaterialsandco-authoredaModernGreekcompaniontextbook,allbasedsolelyonthespeakingneedsofmystudents.Ihavetaughtstudentsfromallovertheworldandfromalldifferenteducationalbackgrounds--myexposuretosuchavarietyoflanguagelearnersenablesmetobeabletoeffectivelyteachmyCYAclasses,fullofstudentsfromallwalksoflifeandfromthefourcornersofAmerica.ItbringsmejoytoseetheworkinsidetheclassroomenrichandbetterthetimeourstudentsspendinGreece--toseethemappreciatethiscountrythroughtheirexperiencewiththelanguage.Mystudentsspendonetotwosemesterslearninghowtocommunicatewiththeirneighborsaroundthem,fromorderingacoffeetolearningthecelebratoryphraseusedforallnamedays,birthdays,andotherholidays.
Itisajoytoseetheworkintheclassroomextendingintotherealworld.Oneofmyfavoritememoriesiswhenstudentsgottogethertocreateapersonalized"ThankYou"cardinGreekattheendofthesemester--theywereabletoshowtheirappreciationinthebestwaypossible.Itisthroughmomentslikethesethatonecanseetheirlanguagelearningenablesthestudentstobecomealiving,breathingpartoftheGreeksocietyaroundthem,andthatiswhatstudyabroadisallabout.
ANGELIKI ANAGNOSTOPOULOU B.A.,National&KapodistrianUniversityofAthens,M.A.UniversityofBirmingham
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 15
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A WORLD FULL OF BEAUTY
ABASICTHEMEinourcourseistheobservationanddescriptionofthenaturalworld,withthestudyoforganisms’linkagestotheenvironment-whattheyare,howandwheretheylive,andthebioticandabioticinteractionsthatlinkthemtocommunitiesandecosystems-beingcentral.Itismultiscaled,fromorganismstoecosystemsandlandscapesandcross-disciplinaryasweillustratethevitalimportanceofnaturalhistoryknowledgetomanydisciplines,basicallyconservationandmanagement.
Oneofthebasictargetsistoactuallyteachadifferentwayofseeingandperceivingoursurroundings.Ifwesucceed,thenaturalenvironmentstopsbeingjustabackgroundtooureverydayactivitiesorsceneryforourmomentsofrelaxation.Insteadacompleteworldemerges,lively,changing,intriguing,andinanageofcynicismandgloom,fullofbeauty.TherichnessandcomplexityoftheMediterraneanenvironment,foreignandunknowntomoststudents,allowthecombinationofdifferentaspectssuchasclimate,geology,species,ecosystems,resourcesandpolicyintoafullpicturesothatweillustratetothestudentswhatnaturalprocessesareandshouldbe.Ithinkthatthisiswhyitcouldbeimportanttostudents.Theylearntoperceivetheirnaturalenvironmentinadifferentwaythathopefullywilleventuallyhelpthemtobetteridentifycausesandeffectsandaddresscurrentenvironmentalchallenges.
Naturalhistoryhelpspeople,studentsincluded,toappreciateandhopefullylovenature.Iwillneverforgettheshockofastudenttastingawildalmondshehadjustpickedfromthetree…shewasexpectingjustanalmondbuttherichnessofflavorsofthewildfoodtookhercompletelybysurprise!
Frommypart,Irealizedthatteachinggreatlyhelpsmetoreallylearn,engagewithandbenefitfrommyexperiences.Itisachallengetotellthestory,maketheconnectionwithconservationneedsandthenbridgeovertopoliciesandthingsthatneedtobedone.
PANAGIOTA MARAGOU Biologist(National&KapodistrianUniversityofAthens),PhD,UniversityofPatras.
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 16
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ENGAGING WITH THE CITY OF ATHENS
ASAPERFORMANCEtheoristIhavefoundthatteachingaclassatCYAonthehistoryandurbanculturesofmodernAthenshasenrichedmythinkingandresearchpracticesinprofoundways.
Throughaculturalstudieslensthestudentscriticallyengagewiththematerialandculturalartifactsofthecityaswellasdifferentsocialspacesandhistories.
Beginningfromitsfoundingin1834tothepresenttheemphasisoftheclassistoapproachthecityasaprocessandthewaysinwhichitperformsitsdifferentidentities.Thusstudentsareparticularlyenthusiasticwhenwewalkthroughthecityandfindthattheyareequippedwiththetoolsprovidedbyourreadingsandin-classdiscussionstoanalyzethewaysinwhich,forexample,nationalismandmodernitycanbediscernedinneo-classicalarchitecturalformsandchoreographiessuchasthechangingofthenationalguard,tohowahistoryofmigrationandpersistentconnectionstotheeastcanbeheardineverydaymusicortastedintheirtavernameals.
Theimportancehereliesnotonlyinencouragingamorefluentacademiccapacityforproducingknowledgeabouttheirobjectsofstudybutalso,vitally,inadeepeningoftheirexperiencelivinginthecityasitisfeltinthepresentamongsttheinhabitantsofAthens.
Furthermore,whatisparticularlyexcitingisthemannerinwhichstudentsmaketheirownconnectionsbetweenwhatwelearnaboutthebeginningsofthemodernGreekstateanditscapitalcity,its20thcenturyhistory,andthecurrentnationaleconomicandsocialcrises.
ThiswasexemplifiedinaparticularlycreativewaybyastudentAriadneSkoufos,wholastyearpresentedtoherfellowstudentsonthefinaldayofclassesabustshehadmadeoutofpapier-mâchéofamarbleheadofAthenacoveredinnewspaperheadlinesregardingtheeconomicandrefugeecrisis.
Ihavefoundthatthevisitingstudents’imaginative,committedandenergeticengagementwiththecityandoursharedtimestudyingtogetherhaveopenedmyowneyesanddeepenedmytheoreticalreadingsinnewandrefreshingways.
HYPATIA VOURLOUMIS Ph.D.inPerformanceStudies,NewYorkUniversity
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 17
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IN GREECE, KNOWLEDGE COMES ALIVE…
ARRIVINGinAthenswithasinglesuitcaseasastudentonthehuntforGreekinscriptions,IwaslittlepreparedfortheholdthatGreecewouldtakeofme,andcouldnothaveimaginedtheintellectualstimulusthatbeingindaytodaycontactwithmymaterialwouldbringtomycareer.
Tenyearslater,apparentlyhavingforgottentopackthecaseandleave,Itrytogetacrosstostudentstheimmediacyandtangibilityoftheancientworldherethroughcontactwiththearchaeologicalandepigraphicalremainstheytooencountereachday.Itmustbetheeasiestjobintheworld,andoneofthemostrewarding.StudentswithabackgroundinClassicsorAncientHistoryalreadyfeelaclosebondwiththeancientGreeks,havingsweatedforyearsoverdictionariesandgrammarsinordertoreadtheirgreatliterature.
InGreecethatknowledgecomesaliveintheplacestheyvisit,whetherfollowinginthefootstepsofThucydidesoverabattlefield,orstandingonthesamespeaker’splatformonthePnyxwhereDemosthenesstoodlongagotopersuadetheAtheniandemocracyofhispolicies,orreadingtheancientnamescarvedintotheseatsoftheTheatreofDionysosandwonderingaboutthoseancientspectatorsandtheplaystheyhadwatched.
InourteachingatCYAweendeavourtointroduceourstudentstothelatestresearch,andtoengagethemwithrecentexcavationsperhapsdecadesbeforethatinformationeverreachesthestandardtextbooks.
InmeetinganarchitectinsidetheParthenontodiscussnewdiscoveriesmadewhilerestoringthatgreatsymbolofAthens,orinhavingpointedouttothemsomepreviouslyunidentifiedgraffitionawallblock,ourstudentsarefacedwiththephysicalremainsofthoseancientpeoplewhosewritingstheyknow,butwhountilthenseemedsomehowdistantandunreal.
IhopethatsuchdirectcontactwillbringtolifetheancientGreekstoourstudentsasitdidformewhenIfirststartedsittingdowninfrontofinscriptionsandrealisingthatIwasreadingwordscarvedmillenniaagobutstillspeakingtomejustasclearlyaswhensomeanonymouslettercuttersatinthesamespotandsettowork.
ROBERT K. PITTMALondon,GreekhistorianandepigraphistoftheClassicalandHellenisticperiod.
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 18
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LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES
MYSTUDENTSoftentellmetheyfeelliketheyareexperiencinghistoryinthemakingduringtheirstayinAthens.Myclasses–onEuropeanintegrationandthecrisisinGreeceandEurope–certainlyhavea'breakingnews'quality,inevitably.Everydaythereissomethingnew,somelatestdevelopmentconcerningtheissueswearestudying,leadingtolivelyclassdiscussionsanddebates:newausteritymeasuresbeingdiscussedintheGreekParliament,visitsfromrepresentativesoftheTroikainAthens,theveryvisibleeconomicandsocialimpactoftheEurozonecrisis,theinfluxofrefugeesintothecountry,theimpactofBrexit,theriseofterrorismandextremisminEurope...allinterlinkedandinterdependent.WefrequentlyjokewiththestudentsabouthowoftenIhavetochangeandupdatethereadingsinordertokeepupwithcurrenteventsandthatourclasshasturnedintoanacademiccliffhangerwithsomuchsuspense-AthensbeingtheepicenterofHistoryinthemakinginEuropeandtheMiddleEast.
LivingandstudyinginGreeceduringthesemostdifficultandchallengingtimesseemstohavebroughtoutthebestinmanyofmystudents.Theyhaveshownaninterestinseeingandexperiencingfirsthandthesocialrepercussionsoftheongoingcrises:theyhavewitnessedanti-austeritydemonstrations,engagedinlivelyconversationswithAthenianshitbythecrisis,volunteeredatvariousnonprofitorganizationssuchasDoctorsWithoutFrontiers,visitedrefugeeshelters,spenttheirweekendsinteractingwithandentertainingrefugeechildren.Myclassesareinevitablycombiningboththeoryandactioninahands-on,uniqueway.
WhenmystudentswritetomeaftertheyleaveAthens,theirmostcommonexpressionis“Ican’tevenbegintotellyouwhatalifechangingexperiencethiswas”.WithoutexceptiontheytellmethattheyhavebeensomovedandsodeeplyaffectedbywhattheyhaveexperiencedandseenduringtheirstayinAthens,thattheylongtocomeback,towork(teachingEnglish)tovolunteer,orjusttovisit.TheirloveaffairandknowledgeofourcontemporaryworldstartedinGreece,atCYA!
RITSA PANAGIOTOU B.A.,PoliticalScience&Russian,WellesleyCollege,M.Phil&D.Phil,InternationalRelations,OxfordUniversity(St.Antony’sCollege).
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 19
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LIVING LIFE AS A SOCRATES’ FOOL
THEPHILOSOPHYclassesIteachatCYAaredesignedsothatstudentscanmovebetweentheScyllaofamuseumtourinthestuffedwondersofancientthoughtandtheCharybdisofthefantasyofalivedexperienceofancientGreeceitself.
Tocommunicatethethoughtoftheancientthinkersasalivingalbeitoldandfoundationalphilosophicalreality,Ifollowadoubleroute:Iteachstudentshowtotreatthetextsasatoncetheobjectofinterpretation,andananswertoquestionsweshouldstillbeaskingourselves.
ToteachinterpretationIdothefollowing:Iassignfreeanduncensoredreflectionsonthereadingsbeforeeachclass;Ioftenfocusclassdiscussiononbelaboringaninterpretationofaspecificbitoftext;Iinvitescholarstogiveguestlecturesontheirlatestresearch;weattendphilosophicaleventstogether,etc.
Toteachphilosophicalactivity,Ibuildeachclassasadialogue(inthefirstpartIguidestudentstoraisethequestionsofthetextsthemselves,thentoseewhatthetexts’answerisand,finally,whattheirownanswersmightbe);Iencouragestudentstoco-shapetheclassbypresentingmaterialtheythinkisrelevanttoourquestionsafterpriorconsultationwithme;InthesyllabusIincludemodernandcontemporaryworksofphilosophyandart,whichrelatetothequestionsoftheclass.Inthiswaystudentsseeancientphilosophyatworknotonlyinitshistoricalbutalsoinitssynchronicdimension,thusrelatingbothtothefieldofphilosophyitselfandthecontemporaryrealitiesthatmakephilosophyurgent.
Thisisasmallpartofwhatastudentwroteinoneofhisreflectionsontheclassasawhole:
“Youhaveaskedustoprovide“onefinalreflection,butthistimeontheclassitself.Yourfree,unreserved,genuinefeelings/thoughtsaboutwhateverisonyourmindinconnectiontoourclass.”Ihaveoneglaringproblemwiththisrequest,andthatistheimplicationthattheclasshasended.Regardlessofwhetherornottwenty-somethingstudentsofphilosophywillbemeetinginanAthenianclassroomtwiceaweek,orwhetherornotweeachflyawaywithsomekindoflettergradetoaddtoagrowinglistofclasseswecall“college,”Idon’tthinkanyofuscantrulycallthiscoursefinished.YouhavedoneirreparabledamagetomyattempttolivelifeasSocrates’fool,andIdon’tthinkIcanthankyouenough…
EVGENIA MYLONAKIPhD,UniversityofPittsburgh
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 20
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URGING STUDENTS TO GO BACK TO THE FUTURE
DEMETRIS KAMARAS,PhD(Journalism)CityUniversity,London
Capturingtheattentionspanofmillennialsisquiteatask.Especiallywhenyouembarkonastructuredattempttoprovoketheirthinkingasregardssocialnetworks,i.e.students’wayoflife.
Therefore,thevariouswaysmessagesaremediatedviatraditionalanddigitalmediainGreeceisafieldthatmatchestheirturf,theireverydayliving,amidstahugeamountofinformation,numerousteasersoriginatingfromofficialandfriendliersources,aboutthingstheyreallycare,orarereadytoridicule.
Atthesametime,theworldofsocialnetworks(orpersonalmedia)isamatterofscientificexploration,digginginthetheoreticalstructureofcommunicationsthatisnowputundercompleterevision.Therevisitingandconstantdeconstructionofoldtheoriesthroughthedigitalprismisoneofthestudents’favorites.Theyarereadytojumpfromtheirfriends’funnycommentsonFacebooktothelatestincidenceinmainstreampolitics.
Millennialsarelikethis.Theyhaveashortattentionspanbuttheyarereadytomeaningfullyquestiontraditionalstereotypesandtheoreticalperspectivesthatdonot‘fitwell’.Besides,theyaretheindigenousofthedigitalrevolution,viewingthepreviousgenerationasthedigitalmigrantswhoaretryingtoadapt.Andtheyareright!
Intheacademicversionofsocialnetworksandtheireffectsonjournalism,newsmakingandcontentmanagementatlarge,thefeedbackfromyoungstersisequallyusefulasthelecturematerial.Thesynthesisofmultidisciplinaryresearch(designedtocompetewiththeshortattentionspanandtheinsightofthenewgeneration)withgenericactionandreactioniswhatformstheeducationalexperience.
Besides,wearejustheretoofferthemthetoolstoexplorethemselvesandacquaintthemwiththeindustrytoexplorethepractices,thecampaignsandthespinningofmessages.Naturally,intheirencounterswithcommunicationexecutivesinpoliticsandcommunicationagencies,theprofessionalsappearequallyeagertodrawsomefirsthandexperiencefromourstudentstoo.Atthatparticularmoment,brainstormingisatitsbest!
THE CYA EXPERIENCE 21
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