With its beautiful landscapes and beaches, picturesque ports and villages, as well as its historical, archaeological and mythological heritage, beautiful Greece stuns visitors at every turn. From the smoggy city of Athens to the blindingly bright islands where ancient fragments abound to the "belly button of the cosmos" at Delphi, Greece is truly a modern-day paradise offering numerous aspects of its amazing history. With echoes of the past in the form of fallen columns on the sacred island of Delos, and the famed, frescoed Minoan palaces on Crete - Greece boasts unrivalled opportunities for travel, exploration and cultural-exchanges.
Crete seems to offer everything. The wild landscapes of the interior and the majestically unspoiled trekking opportunities of the nearby Samaria Gorge make you forget sometimes that you are never more than a few miles from a palm-fringed beach.
The largest of the Greek islands is cheaply and easily reachable by flight or ferry from Athens. Flights from Athens to Chania (airport code: CHQ) are reasonably priced, leave several times a day and take just 40 minutes. Fast and slow ferries are also available if you would prefer to take your time and cruise across the Aegean to Chania's local port. Upon arriving in Chania, you will be met by a member of our staff at the airport or ferry port and transferred to your beachfront accommodation. We will have everything arranged to welcome you to Crete and ensure a stress-free arrival.
The network of boat services connecting the Aegean islands means that such other exotic locations as Rhodes, Santorini and Kos are all within cheap and easy reach.
The course in Greece will be your passport to not just an exciting experience, but also a chance to add some international flare to both your professional, academic and personal life - offering world-recognized training/certification on the magical island of Crete.
The School
The school is located in the heart of Chania - offering such modern amenities including internet, telephone, and medical facilities located throughout the city. This particular institution is very close to some of the biggest travel agencies as well as banks, post offices, pharmacies, shops, restaurants and bars. In the TEFL school, the computers offer high-speed internet around the clock.
Chania is Crete's second largest and most beautiful city and the island's capital until 1970. The 14th century Venetian harbor and maze of twisting streets in the old city are the most attractive and fascinating features of the town. With a population of around 70,000, Hania is large enough to boast year-round life and interest (and over 80 EFL language schools) whilst still retaining the charm of a relatively small Greek provincial town.
The school is about a five-minute walk from the old harbor in the very heart of the city. Facilities include fully air-conditioned classrooms and workrooms, an extensive resource library, photocopier, and computer facilities with free internet access for all students. In addition, the school is fully wireless so you may use your laptop to connect to the internet anywhere on the premises. There are also numerous plug-in points for your laptop computer if you don't have wireless capabilities. The school also has a well-equipped kitchen and laundry facility which are always free for your use at any time. Additionally, there is a large outdoor terrace with tables and chairs where you may have lunch, prepare your lessons or just relax and get some sunshine and fresh air throughout the day.
The course is very intensive and requires a strong commitment by the student. One can expect to be in class for about eight hours a day along with a few hours of work at home. We recommend that trainees have no other personal or professional commitments outside the course during the four weeks of training.
Practicum students are usually Greek speakers who attend these free English classes with complete awareness that they will be taught by novice teachers. The class sizes vary, but will never exceed 14.
Housing
Housing options and pricing are dependent upon availability and season at the time of your course. Your onsite coordinator will be able to provide more details and recommendations.
The school offers fully furnished apartments with kitchenettes for your stay during the course. The apartments have a sea view and are located just 100 meters from a beautiful beach. Accommodation is normally available from the Sunday before the start until the Saturday after the completion of your TEFL course. If you are arriving earlier than this or wish to stay longer, please just let us know and this can normally be arranged for a small extra fee of 10 euros per night.
Private or shared accommodations can be arranged. Please specify your preference on your application; every attempt will be made to honor your request, but places are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you elect to live in a shared-bedroom apartment, you will always be matched with a room-mate of the same gender, and usually of a similar age to yourself. Smoking preferences are taken into account as much as possible.
If you are attending the course with a friend or partner and wish to share accommodation, just let us know in advance and it can be arranged.
* Single rooms available with 100-euro supplement
The Apartments Offer:
Fully equipped kitchenette
Private bathroom
Large balconies with patio furniture
Sea view Pool and garden with sun lounges
Central lounge with TV and telephone
Please note that during the summer months of July, August and September, when demand for beachfront accommodation is at its height, it's important to book early to reserve your room and a spot on the course!
Transportation
We recommend that you book a flight into Athens International Airport (E. Venizelos) on either the Friday or the Saturday before the course start date (always a Monday). The office in Greece can then help to arrange a hostel (or hotel if preferred) accommodation near the center of Athens (in Plaka, under the Akropolis) on the Friday/Saturday night. The office in Crete can arrange to meet you in Athens on the Saturday prior to each course start date and arrange to escort you across to Crete: transport is normally by Ferry from Piraeus on the Saturday (Ferry leaves 4pm and arrives in Hania about 10pm), and you'd then be taken directly to your accommodation on arrival here. If you prefer to fly directly into Hania (recommended if you don't enjoy sea travel or if you have a large amount of luggage to carry) then we can of course meet you on arrival at Hania airport at any time.
During the summer months there are a wide range of charter flight companies flying directly into Chania from most European destinations. If you need any help in booking a flight or in arranging somewhere to stay in Athens for a night or two (if you're arriving there early) please just let your onsite coordinator know.
Climate
Greece is ideal for individuals who enjoy basking in the sun - more than 2/3 of the year, the blue-filled skies are clear and sunny. Winters are somewhat cold and rainy, yielding colder temperatures.
Crete stays warm the longest - you can swim off its southern coast from mid-April to November. Mid-October is when the rainy seasons starts in most areas, and the weather stays cold and wet until February, although there are also occasional winter days with clear blue skies and sunshine.
Chania, and its 300 days of sunshine, enjoys one of the healthiest climates in Europe. The temperate Mediterranean climate prevails in most regions of the island, while in winter months there is substantial snowfall in the highest mountainous regions. Rainfall is also quite substantial. Quite often during summer months, a hot wind (known as 'livas') blows across the city. In summation, the climate is relatively mild.
During the fall and winter months, north and northwest winds dominate - while in the summer the ill winds make it enjoyable. But the divine gift of the eternal sunshine allows one to start their vacation from March and end it at the end of October. Chania has the largest amount of water in Crete (65%), and for this there is rich vegetation of plants and fruitful trees (citrus trees, olives, vines etc.) as well as semitropical. The always-pristine and clean beaches of Chania, which are awarded the "Blue Flag" nearly every year (a reward given to maritime resorts befitting the highest qualities set forth by the Foundation for Environmental Education), are accessible for all ages throughout the year.
