About us
ABOUT US
Town of Chania
Chania (Venetian: La Canea), also spelled Hania, is a city in Greece and the capital of the Chania regional unit. It lies along the north west coast of the island Crete, about 70 km (43 mi) west of Rethymno and 145 km (90 mi) west of Heraklion.
A city of many tales, ancient, old and contemporary, Greek and yet not only. Chania is one of the most appealing and worldwide popular tourist destinations of Greece, attracting every year, all year round, thousands of visitors and faithful lovers who repeatedly return to this mistress/city that has been so generously blessed by nature and densely woven by history.
Our School
The school operates in a renovated residence and offers three air-conditioned classrooms : the Green Room – six students max, the Orange room – five students max and the White Room – 5 students max; as well as computer access in each classroom and free Wi-Fi. In addition, there is a small auxiliary teaching area "Αδης" on the ground floor, especially for students with mobility issues.
There is also a spacious kitchen with a refrigerator, a filter coffee maker, an espresso coffee maker, a selection of tea flavors and, of course, a gas fire for making the famous Greek coffee. Coffee is an important part of life, so we make sure that we have a selection of different kinds of coffee for almost every taste, but since coffee should always be accompanies by some kind of sweet or savory snack, we have thought of that as well. So there is always something to nibble on with your coffee.
We also have a cozy balcony for our breaks where we drink our coffee/ tea, watch the people walk by, get to know the rest of the students and the teachers of the school and chat about everything.
Our Neighborhood
The School is located in 92, Selinou Str. on the first floor, in the area of Nea Chora in the west of the town of Chania. It is about 100 meters from the beautiful organized beach of Nea Chora and the busy strip of road with the best fish taverns in town. The center of the town is 15 minutes walking distance and there is also public transportation every 15 minutes .
Near the school, there are fruit stores, groceries, butchers stores and others useful stores:
· on Selinou Street you can find everything you need. There is a mini market in 50 meters towards the center and one larger one KAVROS about 200 metres towards the exit of the town.
· Two pharmacies, the nearest one about 50 meters from the school.
· Two Rent a Car agencies one next to the school and one 50 meters away.
· Patisserie PERATHORAKIS 60 metres from the school (you must try Galaktoboureko and lemon pie, just divine)
· Grill house DERLIKATESSEN 60 meters from the school, offering generous size Greek Souvlaki
· supermarket SYNKA in Kissamou Str and SKLAVENITIS in Peraius Str
Street market: Every Thursday, there is a street market in Nea Chora.
If you are there early in the morning, it is really nice to watch the stands with fresh fruits and vegetables and lively people. If you go at midday, you can find better prices.
Useful Websites for local events and sights:
Learning Greek opens doors to a rich culture and history.
Join us today.
Meet our instructors
Experienced educators committed to your success
Effie Pontikaki
Director & Chief Language Instructor
Effie, the Director of the school, holds a BA Honours degree in English Language and Literature and a Master’s in Education (Teaching English and Greek to speakers of other languages) from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Effie taught in the UK for over a decade, both at West Denton First School and at Northumbria University, before returning to Crete. Since 2005, she has been teaching Greek to speakers of other languages in the mornings and English to both children and adults in the afternoons.
Eleni Katzouraki
Language Instructor
Languages: German, Swedish, English
Eleni was born and raised in Chania, Crete. She has studied in the University of Athens, specializing in History and Archaeology. She speaks fluent English and German and good Swedish. Teaching and learning languages is α passion for her. She has 27 years experience in teaching German as a foreign language. The last 10 years she has been teaching Greek as a foreign language. Usually she takes on German speaking students for Greek classes, since it’s much easier for the beginners to understand the structure of the Greek language in their mother tongue.
In her free time she enjoys reading literature in other languages as well and swimming, even during the winter.
Maria Zevla
Language Instructor
Language: English
Maria was born and raised in Larissa, Thessaly. She studied Classical Studies at the department of Philology of University of Crete (Rethymno). For more than 20 years she has been teaching Modern Greek, Ancient Greek and Latin language to high school students (private schools and individual lessons). Hundreds of her students have successfully participated in the Greek national exams and gained their entrance to university.
Maria has been living in Chania since 2007. She loves spending time with her family, having trips and excursions and meeting new people, customs and culture. She likes swimming and playing beach volley when possible. She also likes listening to music and watching films.
Katerina Nikolopoulou
Language Instructor
Languages: French, Italian, English
Katerina born and raised in Athens moved to Chania about 30 years ago and since then has been teaching French, Italian and Greek as a foreign language. She has studied French literature and has continued her studies at the Open University obtaining degrees in Greek culture, Greek language in multicultural environments, Linguistics and Italian language and literature.
She is an outgoing person who likes to meet new people and ever expand her horizons by attending seminars not only in Greece but other countries as well.
Georgia Komninou
Language Instructor
Language: English
Georgia was born and raised in Chania, a coastal city in Crete. Completed studies in History and Archaeology in the University of Rethymno. Did a master in Archaeology in the university of York, in the U.K. She teaches Modern Greek as a foreign language, incorporating Ancient Greek into the lessons to immerse students in the historical roots of the language.
Based on the academic background, integrate cultural and historical insights into teaching to create a meaningful and engaging learning experience. Employ a variety of pedagogical approaches, including interactive activities and educational games, to adapt to the diverse needs and cultivates a genuine passion for the Greek language.
Beyond teaching responsibilities, actively participate in archaeological excavations, an endeavor that continually strengthens her connection to Greek history and culture. Bridging the past and present has become a central focus. Additionally, she is a pianist, a pursuit that reflects cultural expression and creativity, which are central to both personal life and professional philosophy