Koiné is the Greek word for “common,” and refers to the common spoken language throughout the Mediterranean after Alexander the Great’s conquests (300s BC). Although Koiné Greek is somewhat different than the language of the “classical” Greek philosophers and writers (like Plato), it is in Koiné Greek that the New Testament was written.
I hope to one day be capable of reading the New Testament in its original Greek. In the meantime, we share some resources we’ve come across that will help lay a foundation for learning Koiné Greek!
If you had told me two years ago that I would not only aim to teach my children Latin but also GREEK, I would NOT have believed you.
This is just a crazy thought: My children may end up knowing Greek beyond the symbols I learned for calculus and differential equations. What if they’re able to read the New Testament as it was written? [I’m still wrapping my mind around that. And it fills me with a sense of wonder and excitement!]
It all started when I read Teaching the Trivium. Since then I’ve been trying to figure out which Latin curriculum to use, and I’ve been toying with this nearly impossible idea of learning Greek with my children. So… without further ado, here’s an inside look at our experience with Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek from Greek-n-Stuff.
Our 10-year-old and 7-year-old have been working through Level 2 of Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! I am still waiting to start our 4-year-old in Level 1 because he is still mastering how to write his English alphabet. (Okay, okay… maybe he is just mastering the art of holding a pencil right now. But we’re getting there!) He does have his own set of Greek Alphabet Coloring Pages to use along with the Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! Reader. (Note: Even if you’re new to teaching Greek, Level 2 is a great place to start because it reviews the alphabet before proceeding into learning your first Greek words.)
Note: In addition to the Hey Andrew… curriculum, we’ve used the Greek Alphabet Song, Greek Alphabet Coloring Book, and Greek Alphabet Code Cracker by Classical Academic Press.
What we like about Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek!
- Teaches Biblical New Testament Greek.
- No teacher manual needed! The student workbook steps both teacher and student through the learning of the alphabet, followed by putting the letters together to form words. {The workbook also includes a copy of the flashcards, in case you are looking to save some money and make your own!}
- The tests are not intimidating. The quizzes are short.
- It’s simple! The workbook progresses slowly and methodically; the books are designed so that the student progresses through each level on a page-by-page basis. Not only that, but we like the simplicity of the pages. No color-noise = no distraction. Our children stay focused on their assignments. When given a choice, they prefer to complete their Latin and Greek over other subjects!
- Mastering without monotony! It includes some “fun” activity sheets that still keep with the goal of drilling the memory work of learning the language.
- It’s quick and easy! In just a few minutes every day (literally, less than 10 minutes!), we have completed our lesson, including the review of our flashcards. (If it took longer, I have to admit I’d probably let it slide.) Seriously, this program makes learning Greek doable for me.
- The reader! The boys enjoy it! We laugh at the silly poems and pictures of Andrew as we practice drawing the Greek letters in the air. {Try that one with zeta, or xi!} All four of us enjoy reading this book!
Be sure to check out the free samples to see if you and your family like it! Click on the following images to be taken directly to the GreeknStuff download page!
This is just one example of a resource for teaching children the basics of New Testament Greek. Below is our list of links for teaching Koiné Greek to children.
Koiné Greek Resources
Memoria Press Greek Curriculum $
Greek Alphabet Code Cracker $
Classical Academic Press Song School Greek $
Greek for Children $
Learn a Greek Letter online interactive
Learn a Greek Word
Learn a Latin Word
A LONG list of Greek and Latin Educational Links
Greek Alphabet Coloring Book by Classical Academic Press
Song School Greek Coloring Pages by Classical Academic Press
Greek Alphabet Song by Classical Academic Press
Greek Alphabet Chart
Greek Alphabet Coloring Pages
Greek Alphabet Flash Cards
Greek Alphabet Penmanship
Greek Alphabet Puzzle
Greek Word Searches
How to Write Greek Letters
Greek Alphabet Song, the Doxology, and Jesus Loves Me in Greek (mp3)
Greek & Hebrew Bingo
Greek Alphabet Flashcards
Greek Word Detective Activity (PDF)
Also check out our Latin Resources
Thanks for reading, commenting, and sharing! May God bless you in all of your Koiné Greek and homeschooling endeavors!