How a love story turned into a Greek language journey

A heart’s calling to learn Greek

At 58, Birgit lives in Ludwigsburg, near Stuttgart. Her 30-year marriage to a Greek man has sparked a growing desire to learn his native language, especially as they plan to spend more time in Greece in the coming years. Though her two adult sons, now 26 and 21, grew up speaking only German at home, Birgit has always felt drawn to her husband’s cultural heritage.

“We didn’t raise our sons bilingually, which we regret a bit today. I was home with the children most of the time while my husband worked late, so it was difficult,” she explains. “But now that I’ve made progress with Greek, we occasionally speak it at home.”

From frustration to finding the right fit

For years, Birgit attempted to learn Greek through local community college courses, but the mixed levels and large groups made progress difficult. Online learning finally changed everything.

“I’ve tried learning for years at the Volkshochschule, but what you offer is incomparable. I’m completely happy with Markella as my teacher – she’s fantastic,” Birgit enthuses. “I used to only attend in-person classes, which was time-consuming. Now it’s much more practical online, and I’m making real progress.”

The thrill of small victories

Rather than one dramatic breakthrough, Birgit experiences regular moments of clarity and achievement that fuel her motivation.

“I have key moments almost after every lesson where something suddenly clicks and I understand why certain grammar rules work the way they do,” she says. “But my personal milestone was probably when I called a restaurant in Greece and reserved a table in Greek. When you improve even a little, you become more confident and dare to speak more. You develop courage.”

Embracing Greek culture beyond words

Greek culture has become woven into the fabric of Birgit’s everyday life. She and her husband regularly listen to Greek music at home, tuning into a dedicated Greek radio station.

“I absolutely love Greek music, especially laika. And of course, the food – Greek cuisine is outstanding,” she says with enthusiasm. “I also enjoy Greek dancing. I’ve learned one dance already, and I find it beautiful how people dance together in a circle. We don’t have anything like that in Germany.”

Birgit even practices reading Greek to her husband from a children’s book she purchased – a playful way to improve while sharing laughs.

Free-spirited advice for fellow learners

When not studying Greek, Birgit runs her own senior assistance service, helping elderly people with everyday tasks. Her active lifestyle includes cycling, hiking and enjoying nature. In her younger days, she rode motorcycles, though she draws the line at extreme sports like bungee jumping.

“I had to reach almost 60 years of age to learn that even grammar can be fun,” she laughs. “Don’t be too tense about it. Approach learning with enjoyment, do your homework, and practice on your own. Most importantly, dare to speak. Everyone feels ashamed of making mistakes at first, but that’s essential for progress. People are always delighted when you try to speak their language, no matter how imperfectly.”