Modern Greek Language and Literature

The curriculum of study programme also contains several specialized courses supplementing and developing students’ language skills, especially courses focused on modern Greek life and customs and modern Greek literature, culture, and history. The study programme as a whole aims at providing comprehensive knowledge of Modern Greek and the culture and history of Greece.

The Bachelor study programme in minor study plan is intended mainly for the students of the study programmes related to the area of the Balkan Peninsula or more generally to the Mediterranean (e.g. Balkan Languages and Literatures, Classical Archaeology, Ancient Greek Language and Literature) or, for the students occupying themselves with the area of Greece within their field of study (e.g. History, Ethnology). The aim of the minor study plan is the acquisition of Modern Greek as a source language or as means of communication (at B1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

The study of Modern Greek in major study plan or as a single-subject study (completus) leads the students to acquiring deeper knowledge and skills in Modern Greek language (B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), literature and history including fundamental knowledge of older stages of Greek and its cultural and historical development (Classical and Byzantine literature, basic knowledge of Ancient Greek).

Because of international cooperation with almost all universities in Greece and Cyprus, the students of all study plans may improve and apply their knowledge of the language, life, and institutions in Greece (via summer language and educational courses, Erasmus+ mobilities) during their studies. These study stays prepare students for the active use of language and lead them to independent creative activities. They also enable students to gain contacts with their future employers.

Upon successful completion of the programme, the graduate is able to:

• use acquired language skills in written and spoken communication at B2 level for the single-subject and major study plans, and at B1 level for the minor study plan, in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR);
• understand extended utterances, lectures, and more complex discussions conducted by native speakers in Modern Greek on topics sufficiently familiar to the graduate;
• perform both active and passive translation with the aid of a dictionary and interpret the translated text at a basic level;
• read and understand Modern Greek texts and Modern Greek literature in the original with the aid of a dictionary;
• use basic Czech and Greek linguistic and literary-theoretical terminology and independently search for discipline-related information and bibliographies;
• identify the main trends in Greek literary development from Byzantium to the present (with emphasis on the 19th–21st centuries) and situate them within a global literary context;
• characterise the work of major Modern Greek authors and place it within both Greek and world literary contexts;
• analyse and interpret key works of Greek literature from the specified periods;
• demonstrate sound knowledge of the historical development of modern Greece in the 19th–20th centuries and relate this knowledge to world history;
• be familiar with Modern Greek cultural realia and understand their historical and cultural context;
• write shorter, coherent texts on subject-specific topics.

The graduates of this Bachelor’s study programme can use their skills in many careers and job roles. They are properly qualified to work in tourism and commerce where a good command of Modern Greek is necessary (travel agencies, guiding, commercial sector, banking sector), in both Greece and the Czech Republic. Besides, they can work for language and translation agencies, non-profit organizations active in Greece within international aid (Charity, Czech Red Cross), participate in organising of cultural and promotional events related to Greece (concerts, folklore festivals, fairs) and work in institutions arranging international contacts (embassies, consulates, chamber of commerce, etc.).

Since the study programme focuses on the acquisition of language skills, the graduates are also eligible for careers in a wide range of professions within the cultural and media sector. The graduates are also qualified for professions requiring general knowledge, independence, critical thinking skills, and a good command of foreign languages.

Graduates can increase their career opportunities by graduating from additional study programmes.

A standard scope of a Bachelor's thesis is 70,000 characters including footnotes, table of contents, index, bibliography and Modern Greek summary. The student chooses the topic of his/her thesis by him/herself from the list of topics available in IS MU ("Topic lists"), or after an arrangement with his/her supervisor. In Bachelor's thesis, the student proves his/her ability to find the bibliography relevant to the given topic, excerpt from it and critically assess it in relation to the treated topic. The student may also work with electronic sources and databases (relating to the topic). Then, he/she interprets the data obtained and draws corresponding conclusions. The student also proves his/her ability to summarize the outcomes of his/her workin Modern Greek.

After completion of the Bachelor’s studies, it is possible to continue further studies in any Master’s degree programme (after satisfying the admission requirements).

At the Faculty of Arts of MU, it is possible to continue the study of Modern Greek by studying the two-year specialisation in Translation of Modern Greek in the follow-up Master's programme Translation of Modern European Languages (formerly Translation of Romance and Germanic Languages): https://is.muni.cz/program/24311/prekladatelstvi-romanskych-a-germanskych-jazyku.