GR 201 - Beginning Greek
Preparation for the Course
Greek Font
To be able to read the Course Web Pages properly, and to work on assignments and reports, you will need the Greek font "SPIonic.ttf" installed on your computer.
The SPIonic font should be installed on all the terminals in the Computer Labs and the Library. It is in the Public Domain, and may be downloaded and copied freely.
Go here to download a zip file of SPIonic
Go here for a Keyboard Map of SPIonic
Practice typing the alphabet several times
Do not bother about all the little accents, nor the marks that look like commas - we will learn about them later.
Text Book, Chapter 1
Make sure that you have a copy of the printed text-book - "Learn New Testament Greek" by John H. Dobson, ISBN 0-8010-3019-6. Available from the ENMU Bookstore or from Bible Bookstores and suppliers.
Chapter 1 will introduce you to the letters of the Greek Alphabet, and their approximate pronunciation at the time the New Testament was written.
Start to familiarize yourself with the letters and their sounds - do not worry about the sound of x (like -ch in Scottish loch or German ach), nor the little marks that look like commas over initial vowels, nor the way to write c - we will work on those later.
There should be a CD at the back of the book, with audio files for the initial lessons.
Go here for Practice Sheet 1
and here for Practice Sheet 2
Print out the Practice sheets for the Alphabet, and practice writing the Alphabet in order - this will help later, when you want to use a Greek Dictionary.
By the start of Week 2 you will be able to write out all the letters in order, and know the sound to make for each one.
Go here for an English story in Greek letters.
The Online Text Book
The Online textbook starts at
http://www.drshirley.org/greek/textbook/index.html.
Go to the site and print out the Introduction and chapters 1 through 4, Appendices A1 through B1. File them in a three-ring binder. We will add to them throughout the semester, and this will become one of your textbooks for the course.
History of Greek
Go here for a full version of the Greek Alphabet, including some archaic letters which had dropped out of use by the time the New Testament was written.
Go here to print out and read a brief history of the Greek Language.
If time permits, try some of the links on the Links Pages for more history of the Greek people and their culture - see particularly the World Civilizations Site.
Copyright © 1999 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved
