Dr Stavroula Nikoloudis, Greek Studies coordinator at La Trobe University, presented a fascinating lecture entitled Greek Folk Songs: The Bridge of Arta, last Thursday, 25 July 2019, at the Greek Centre, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

It was encouraging to see many young people and students attending the lecture which concentrated on the folk song known as ‘The Bridge of Arta,’ a ballad about the trials and tribulations associated with the construction of a bridge and the turmoil that this project brings to the master builder and his wife. The presentation aimed to highlight the continuing value and relevance of the study of Demotic Songs, and the Humanities more generally, for our contemporary society.

It’s worth noting that Latrobe University is currently the only tertiary institution in Victoria that offers a comprehensive program in Greek language and culture from Beginners to the PhD level. There are two language streams, Advanced - for students who have completed VCE Greek and complete Beginners - for students with no prior knowledge of Greek.

Students who have never studied Greek can start from scratch at university. In 2019 Latrobe introduced three new subjects to update the curriculum: (1) 'Poems of the Sun and the Sea: From Homer to Slam Poetry'; (2) an overseas Study Tour to Greece counting as a subject whereby our students will be immersed in Greek language and culture for three weeks; and (3) 'Multicultural Australia: The Greek Contribution'.

Students at other universities may request permission from their home institution to study Greek at La Trobe as part of their degree as a cross-institutional subject.

Students, at La Trobe or elsewhere, who can't fit Greek into their degrees may enrol in a Diploma in Languages, whereby Greek is studied separately, alongside their regular degree. This means they might take another year to finish, but they will do so with an extra set of qualifications.

And let’s not forget the La Trobe University Open Day which is on Sunday 4th August 2019: all are welcome to visit the campus to learn more about Greek Studies and other subjects offered.

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