Elizabeth Olson, a second-year instructor in the Classical Languages department, participated in an ancient Greek language immersion program offered by the Paideia Institute this August in Greece.
Paideia provides extraordinary opportunities for language learning and practice by integrating language with place. Miss Olson resided for three weeks at a villa known as the Hellenikon Idyllion (Greek Paradise) in the seaside village of Selianitika with other classicists from around the world. The program consisted of two three-hour seminars each day, conducted entirely in ancient Greek and rehearsals in the evenings for a production of a classical play. Chosen for this year’s session was "Euripides’ Bacchae," and Miss Olson performed the role of Agave, as well as singing and dancing as part of the chorus.
Greek classes have seen a significant increase in enrollment this year at Loyola Blakefield undoubtedly due to Olson's interactive and engaging lessons and her genuine love for the Greek language, in addition to the entire department's effort to attract newcomers.
"The Classics department made a determined effort to promote Greek, and the study of the Classics overall, to our Latin students last year," said Classical Languages Department Chair Robert Wright. "Studying Latin is unique in itself, and the offering of Greek here in combination with it is a very rare and rewarding opportunity. Students' vocabulary and language skills improve significantly and the study of Homer, the New Testament, Lysias, and Plato add a tremendous depth to the boys’ historical, religious, and philosophical education here."
Olson plans to encourage her students to participate in future Paideia programs, but more immediately is already incorporating many of the things she learned from the trip in her Greek classes.
"She is at the growing vanguard of spoken Latin instruction in this country and her summer experience will help her be a trailblazer in the active spoken instruction of ancient Greek," said Wright.
View photos from Miss Olson's trip to Greece here.
Watch highlights from the play she took part in below.