The school where math, biology – and Homer – are all Greek to them

Founded 25 years agone by the Greek diaspora, Odyssey Charter School successful Wilmington, Delaware, has grown into a distinctive nationalist instauration serving 2,500 students, 98 percent of whom are not of Greek origin. Yet much than 700 study successful its Greek-language program, some earning B1 and B2 certification. That committedness was evident when 10 students visiting Athens asked Greece’s acquisition curate to speak successful Greek. 

“The cognition of Greek helps successful understanding galore different languages and subjects,” said 13-year-old Evan Nicholson, citing its power connected mathematics and biology. Fourteen-year-old Mandika added that she chose Greek partially done her parents’ encouragement and present values its past and culture. 

The students precocious visited landmarks including the Acropolis (photo), Sounio and Mycenae arsenic portion of an speech with Pierce College. 

The schoolhouse offers two tracks: regular Greek acquisition oregon an immersion program, where fractional the program – including mathematics and subject – is taught successful Greek. The approach, educators say, strengthens bilingualism, captious thinking and focus, while attracting strong support and funding.