Language Variation Placed in the Center of Language Teaching

Abstract

The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to present the main axes of a course focused on Greek geographical language varieties offered for the first time by the University of Crete, Greece and, second, to analyze the reactions of students who have attended all lectures of this course. The ideas expressed by the participants in the study are in line with the view that Greek geographical language varieties fall within the major picture of language diversity, and, since the former are often non-dominant language systems which are spoken by minority groups, they are threatened by linguistic death. Therefore, such varieties should be defined by the principles of inter-cultural communication and anti-bias teaching and supported and strengthened by well-designed courses addressed to in-service and future language educators.