The Greek Language Institute (INEL) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the Greek language, a language of global cultural heritage.
The primary goal of INEL is the preservation of the Greek language, and of the Greek culture within the Greek diaspora, as well as their promotion and dissemination worldwide.
To achieve its primary mission, INEL emphasizes on two key prerequisites: first, the availability and use of educational materials that, in addition to the fundamental qualities, incorporates multilingualism, interculturality, and modern technologies—essential tools in today’s era which is characterized by population mobility (e.g., refugees, migrants, digital nomads, etc.); second, the systematic training of educators via in-person and online seminars that focus predominantly on practical applications while also referencing their theoretical background.
Within this framework, INEL plans various initiatives such as expanding the scientifically documented multilingual educational resources, and as well as organizing regularly training seminars for educators. These seminars will present all updates made by certified international organizations in the field of language teaching, as a foreign language, combined with the latest findings in applied linguistics.
Another key goal for INEL, is the organization of conferences, workshops, and lectures, beginning with the International Conference on Greek as a Second/Foreign Language.
Other planned activities include conducting studies, its participation in research programs, and its collaboration with universities and related institutions.
Among the additional goals complementing INEL’s aims, is to support schools, educational institutions, and all types of language-learning centers, in structuring curricula by year and by level, as well as to promote their work through special presentations.
One innovative feature of INEL is the creation of the online ARK (K.INEL), acting like a Bank which will be enriched with training materials for educators (e.g., training seminars in YouTube format, conference proceedings, articles, interviews, etc.), accessible to all interested parties. The ARK (K.INEL) will include the “Imprints,” a series of interviews with intellectuals whose work characterizes the contemporary era. Their “imprint”/ attributions will serve as a perpetual source of knowledge and inspiration for future generations. The texts of interviews, with their thematic diversity, will also provide a rich linguistic material for educators of Greek as a second/foreign language.
Language is a part of culture. INEL aims to broaden its horizons with events where art, music, and other various cultural manifestations engage in dialogue with the Greek language. INEL’s website is continuously updated with the latest on the Art and Language programs.
Moreover, INEL’s website will present and promote the work of the educational institutions with which it collaborates.
The Greek Language Institute (INEL) is governed by scholars who believe in the value of the Greek language as part of the world’s cultural heritage, as well as in the necessity of preserving and promoting it globally. A key role in shaping INEL’s initiatives is played by the Advisors Committee, which consists of the following members:
- Maro Adami-Kardamitsi, Professor Emerita of Archival Documentation and Architectural Design, School of Architecture, National Technical University of Athens, and Director of the Modern Greek Architecture Archives of the Benaki Museum
- Yiannis Aesopos, Professor of Architectural and Urban Design, Department of Architecture, University of Patras
- Nikos Vatopoulos, Journalist and Author
- Renata Dalianoudi, Professor of Music and Audiovisual Culture, Department of Audio and Visual Arts, Ionian University, and Scientific Director of the Institute of Hellenic Musical Heritage (IEMK)
- Thanasis Dimou, Actor, Cartoonist (illustrator for NEOHEL publications), Illustrator, and Acting Teacher at the National Theatre Drama School
- Yannis Emiris, Professor of Geometric and Algebraic Algorithms, Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and President & General Director of the Athena Research Center
- Maria Iakovou, Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics with specialization in the Teaching of Greek as a Second Language, Department of Philology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Ioli Kalavrezou, Professor and Dumbarton Oaks Chair of Byzantine Art and Culture, Harvard University, and Full Member of the Academy of Athens (Byzantine Civilization)
- Katerina Kostiou, Professor of Modern Greek Literature, Department of Philology, University of Patras
- Konstantinos Markoulakis, Actor and Director
- Dora Bakopoulou, Musician, Pianist, and former Professor at the Athens Conservatory
- Konstantinos Bourazelis, Professor Emeritus of Ancient History, Department of History and Archaeology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Full Member of the Academy of Athens (Roman History)
- Christos Papazoglou, Modern Greek Studies Scholar, former Professor of Greek Language and Literature, INALCO
Qualco Group and Qualco Foundation are the founding donors of INEL.