In recent years, a growing number of educators and scholars in Greece and abroad have embraced the active method for teaching Ancient Greek, treating it as a living, spoken language rather than merely an academic subject. Ancient Greek comes alive: The Active Method gains ground in Greece.
When this method was first introduced in Greece in 2020, it was met with skepticism and even scorn. Early pioneers who attempted to speak Ancient Greek themselves were criticized for making mistakes, for lacking philological credentials, and for challenging the deeply ingrained view that the language should remain confined to books and lectures.
Today, however, the atmosphere is changing. At a recent gathering in Delphi, university professors from both Greece and abroad publicly advocated for the active method, highlighting its benefits not only as a more effective way to learn Ancient Greek, but as the only true path to inspiring students to appreciate its timeless wisdom.
A notable moment came when the president of the Fédération Internationale des Associations d’Études Classiques (FIEC), the world’s largest classical studies organization, spoke in Ancient Greek in support of the method. Having spent the last three years learning to speak the language, he exemplified the growing international interest in reconnecting with Ancient Greek in its spoken form.
Educators emphasized that this approach is neither new nor experimental. It was, in fact, the standard method by which educated Europeans from the 16th to the 19th centuries learned Ancient Greek and Latin — a tradition that enabled generations of Philhellenes to immerse themselves in Greek texts, philosophy, and culture.
Supporters of the active method hope that it will soon become the norm for teaching Ancient Greek to children in Greece and around the world. They believe that when the language is experienced as a living entity — spoken, understood, and lived — the question “Why should we learn Ancient Greek?” will no longer need an answer. The value of the language will reveal itself naturally, through experience.
The “Delphi Classics – Classics in Praxis” programme was successfully completed this year as part of the Delphi Economic Forum 2025. This year’s edition was dedicated to renewing our relationship with Ancient Greek, its teaching in the modern era, and the recognition of Classical Greek as a universal cultural heritage.
Through four consecutive panel discussions, the event highlighted the importance of the language not only as a cultural legacy but also as a tool for education, critical thinking, and international cooperation.
In the opening discussion, Byron Nikolaidis, President and CEO of the international certification organisation PeopleCert, presented his vision for the certification of Ancient Greek and its significance as a form of soft power for Greece — with over 1,000 students having already taken part in the certification process.
The second panel focused on experiential teaching, the connection between students and the language, and the motivating role of certification. Participants included Amphilochios Papathomas (Professor of Ancient Greek and Papyrology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Dimitris Grozoudis (Aristotelio College of Thessaloniki), and Vassia Papadopoulou (Platon Schools).
The third panel marked a turning point: Jesús de la Villa, President of FIEC — the leading international organisation for Classical Studies — emphasised the need for a change in teaching methodology, proposing an oral, experiential, and technology-supported approach to the teaching of Ancient Greek. Also participating in the discussion was Christos Tsaggalis, Professor of Ancient Greek at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The final panel featured Professors Angie Hobbs (University of Sheffield), Anna Lamari (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), and Christos Kremmydas (Royal Holloway, University of London), who discussed the enduring power of Ancient Greek thought in shaping contemporary ideas about democracy, ethics, and justice. The discussion was moderated by Eugenia Manolidou, Director of the School of Ancient Greek, Hellenic Education.
The Delphi Classics – Classics in Praxis 2025 was not only a celebration of Classical Studies but also a call for meaningful change — in teaching methods, in educational policy, and in the relationship of younger generations with the language that shaped the entire Western world.
