Kommeno speaks English

Sommerschule in Kommeno
Englisch-Unterricht im August 2026

In Verbindung mit dem Kulturverein von Kommeno hat Respekt für Griechenland es interessierten Dorfbewohner:innen ermöglicht, Grundlagen für eine alltagssprachliche Kommunikation auf Englisch mit Nicht-Griechen zu erwerben. Während es in den größeren Städten viele Griechinnen und Griechen gibt, die sich mit Besuchern aus anderen Ländern auf Englisch verständigen können, tritt man in Dörfern wie Kommeno kaum jemanden, der oder die Englisch spricht.

Wir konnten vier professionelle und kreative Englischlehrerinnen gewinnen, die jeweils eine Woche von Montag bis Freitag jeden Abend einen Englisch – Workshop anboten.

Hilde Schramm

Bericht von Souzan Chrisovitsinou / 12. 09.2026

Kommeno Speaks English

A chance meeting with Hilde Schramm led to a remarkable opportunity: the creation of an English Summer School in the martyred village of Kommeno, near Arta.
Hilde Schramm is one of the founders of Respect for Greece, a non-profit organisation, which among other activities is dedicated to supporting Kommeno and its people in an effort to give back, in some small way, what was taken from them during the Second World War. On 16 August 1943, 317 residents of the village were massacred by German soldiers stationed in Greece.

We, the four teachers who were involved, feel privileged to have been part of this initiative, teaching English to the people of Kommeno. We were given the freedom to design and deliver a four-week English course for adults this August, with the hope that it would help local residents communicate more confidently with foreign visitors and, perhaps, contribute to their businesses and livelihoods.
Our approach was deliberately different from traditional language teaching. The course was designed for complete beginners and false beginners and focused on practical communication rather than grammar exercises or examinations.

Through games, projects, role plays, team activities and real-life conversations, participants had the opportunity to use English in meaningful and enjoyable situations.

At first, some participants felt hesitant about speaking English, particularly when taking part in role plays or activities that took them outside their usual learning experience. Gradually, however, confidence grew. People began to speak more freely, support one another and, most importantly, enjoy using the language.
Perhaps the most valuable outcome of the Summer School was not what participants learned during those four weeks, but the encouragement it gave them to continue learning English afterwards. Seeing their enthusiasm and determination was immensely rewarding.

However, the Summer School was about much more than teaching a language. It was an opportunity to meet the people of Kommeno, experience something of everyday life in the village and learn more about its history, resilience and community spirit.

It is hoped that this initiative will continue and develop in the years to come. Most of all, that the enthusiasm shown by the participants will inspire them to continue learning, communicating and opening new doors through English.
Sometimes a language course can be about much more than language. In Kommeno, it became an opportunity for learning, connection and hope.