Classical Studies in Cyprus Education: Teaching Methodologies and Educational Directions

Author Information

Angeliki Markoglou, University of Cyprus, Cyprus
Eleftherios Klerides, University of Cyprus, Cyprus

Abstract

The teaching of Ancient Greek played historically a pivotal role in fostering a Greek identity in Cyprus and legitimizing the aspiration for the union of the island with the Greek state. To this end, it was modelled on that of Greece’s secondary education. Despite independent statehood and the need to decouple Cypriot education policy from Greek curricula, notably after 1974, Cyprus have maintained its close connection with Greece regarding the teaching of the Ancient Greek language. We argue first that the diachronic adoption of teaching methods and textbooks from Greece has steered Cyprus towards a teacher-centered approach to Ancient Greek. We then argue that this is an unsuitable instructional approach in our times marked by an increasingly pressing need to cultivate students’ higher-order thinking skills. The development of such skills is advocated not just by contemporary pedagogical practices or the European Union and international organizations. It is also recognised in the new national curricula of the two countries themselves. Finally, we argue that the teaching of Ancient Greek offers fertile ground for the cultivation of analytical, interpretative, synthetic, and evaluative skills and we conclude by proposing teaching strategies that enhance students’ critical and creative thinking.

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• Category: Teaching Experiences, Pedagogy, Practice & Praxis

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