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Re: Modern Greek Study Group

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:08 pm
by Speakeasy
bookstorecowboy wrote:Hi guys, I looked at the old FSI course in Greek. It looks useful, but the old typewritten letters are not very clear. Is it possible to buy the text reset in a clearer typeface? Is the Barron's edition just a reproduction of the old course, or was it reset with better typography? The FSI version is free online (public domain), but it borders on unusable. In any event, it's a strain. Thanks!
bookstorecowboy, initially, I posted my reply to your question, here, in the Modern Greek Study Group. However, as your question deals with one of the primary resources for the study of Greek, I decided to append it to the Modern Greek Resources file.

EDITED:
Reply transferred to the "Modern Greek Resources" file.

Re: Modern Greek Study Group

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 7:37 am
by bookstorecowboy
Thank you, I was afraid of that.
Probably the clearest type is in an actual physical copy of the old FSI course.

Re: Modern Greek Study Group

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 7:45 am
by bookstorecowboy
Actually, once you expand it on the computer screen it's pretty readable. I just am used to not having to do that.

Re: Modern Greek Study Group

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 1:54 pm
by Speakeasy
bookstorecowboy wrote:Thank you, I was afraid of that. Probably the clearest type is in an actual physical copy of the old FSI course.
We've got to stop meeting like this (here, that is): Modern Greek Resources - FSI Basic Greek: Typesetting (cont’d)

Re: Modern Greek Study Group

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 12:13 pm
by bookstorecowboy
The Language Transfer course is just amazing. I just finished lesson 20, and I've never been so impressed with a piece of instructional design in my life. It's like a supercharged Pimsleur but it's never boring, and it seems almost (almost) effortless to remember what is taught.
Looking ahead, I'm wondering if it would be possible to take the FSI course and retool it to the LT approach, since there is nothing after lesson 120.

Re: Modern Greek Study Group

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 1:44 pm
by Speakeasy
bookstorecowboy wrote: ... I'm wondering if it would be possible to take the FSI course and retool it to the LT approach, since there is nothing after lesson 120.
As the FSI/DLI language courses are in the public domain, there is nothing preventing anyone from modifying them and publishing them in a revised format. Anyone doing so can even file for copyright protection of their derivative product. The challenge, should one want to do a really good job, is in finding the time for such a project. Furthermore, while a few people might give you a well-deserved pat on the back, the chances of financial compensation approach zero. Many members on the HTLAL and the LLORG have mused about similar projects. However, faced with the real-life difficulties of transforming/reconfiguring such massive amounts of printed and audio materials has caused them all to reconsider. As an example, the well-intentioned update to the FSI French and FSI German courses has stalled for want of financing (the two people who embarked on this project, out of an intense appreciation for the materials and the teaching method, still have to pay their mortgage, raise their children, and get on with their lives).

Re: Modern Greek Study Group

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 4:23 pm
by Thala
bookstorecowboy wrote:The Language Transfer course is just amazing. I just finished lesson 20, and I've never been so impressed with a piece of instructional design in my life. It's like a supercharged Pimsleur but it's never boring, and it seems almost (almost) effortless to remember what is taught.
Looking ahead, I'm wondering if it would be possible to take the FSI course and retool it to the LT approach, since there is nothing after lesson 120.


It's brilliant isn't it? I'm on lesson 60 and I'm so impressed with what I can say. After I'm done it's just a matter of building my vocab to fill in all that grammar.

Re: Modern Greek Study Group

Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 5:19 am
by bookstorecowboy
If he can really cover the complex grammar of Greek by lesson 120, then I will . . . Well, I guess I will have to go to Greece and try it out!
Next year, in Crete!

Re: Modern Greek Study Group

Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 4:29 pm
by Neurotip
bookstorecowboy wrote:If he can really cover the complex grammar of Greek by lesson 120, then I will . . . Well, I guess I will have to go to Greece and try it out!
Next year, in Crete!

Funny you should say that - I did LT about 18 months ago and in May this year I'm going to Crete to try it out! :D I feel like a cake on a cookery programme: 'and here's one I prepared earlier...'
I can confirm that I haven't come across much grammar that LT didn't cover, as long as you really paid attention to those last few lessons ('let's just deal with the imperfect passive before we finish...', yeah thanks Mihalis :lol: ).

Re: Modern Greek Study Group

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 10:10 am
by Thala
Seems like we're all going to Crete haha, I'm going this summer! :D