English Courses

The maximum number of students per classroom is 15. Students can attend classes onsite, online or in a hybrid/flex(ible) form as our school is fully equipped with ‘smart classrooms’ and all the necessary audiovisual equipment to this end (e.g., cameras, microphones, monitors and specialized software). 

Hybrid/flex(ible) lessons offer learners the opportunity to become familiar with new means of interaction, collaboration, and language learning as they allow for both onsite and online participation. A typical hybrid/flex(ible) lesson encompasses live video sessions, which ‘bridge’ the online with face-to-face learning experience, and the use of asynchronous activities, thus empowering students with multiple benefits, such as:

• enhanced interaction and active participation,
• more opportunities for individualized support,
• more hours of active engagement in the target language,
• exposure to a variety of multimodal tools for creative practice,
• regular and multimodal progress assessment,
• familiarization with new means of communication and collaborative learning,
• flexibility and less time on commuting,
• the ease of attending a lesson in a familiar context,
• multimodal educational material designed to cater for different learning styles and
• development of 21^st century skills essential for their future and the digital literacy required for their university studies or job market. 

Hybrid/ flex(ible) lessons provide the same learning opportunities to all students regardless of whether they choose to attend online or onsite. Active and multimodal participation is facilitated by our smart classroom audiovisual equipment (i.e., video-conferencing monitors, speakers, microphones). Collaboration and both oral and written interaction between online and onsite students are achieved through the applications and the interactive tools available in our educational platforms (e.g., breakout rooms, polls, discussion boards etc.) as well as through the use of active cameras and microphones. In this context, every student enjoys the same learning experience and flexible educational reality.  

Hybrid lessons are not video- or audio-recorded by any of the parties involved in the learning process, namely students, instructors, HAU administrative personnel, etc. For more information on the data collected and processed, click here.

There are no special equipment requirements for attending hybrid/flex(ible) classes. Following very simple instructions (see here), students will only need:

• A computer (laptop, PC), a tablet or a smart phone (even though the latter are compatible with the platform, kindly note that they are not recommended)
• Α good Internet speed (e.g., 24 Mbps (min), a connection of 50 Mbps or more is strongly recommended)
• Camera (an external or embedded one), microphone (an external or an embedded one) and headphones or a headset. As indicated in the 10 Student Conduct Regulations for Online and Hybrid/Flex(ible) Classes, camera and microphone use is mandatory. 

The program was designed by the Center for Applied Linguistics and Language Studies (CALLS) of the Hellenic American Union and the Applied Linguistics Program of the Hellenic American University (HAUniv) under the supervision of Dr. Dimitris Tolias who is the HAU CALLS Director and Dean for Digital Learning and Education Innovation in HAUniv. 

• In fact, it is 2 learning platforms in 1! Following the American educational standards, the Hellenic American Union uses the educational platform Blackboard Learn Ultra along with Blackboard Collaborate, a special integrated videoconferencing feature. The combination of the two platforms, adopted by more than 17.000 Educational Institutions worldwide, including leading universities, secures high-quality synchronous and asynchronous online learning.
• An enjoyable and student friendly online learning environment: Students have the opportunity to work in an online environment, participating in communities of practice and short surveys (polls). This online environment also welcomes the use of alternative and multimodal forms of assessment in the form of interactive quizzes, journal entries, discussion boards etc. Students can work together in breakout or collaboration rooms and practice their oral and written skills in multimodal ways through audio and video chats.
• A wealth of educational material for different learning styles: The educational material for each class and level, available on Blackboard Learn Ultra 24/7, is provided in different forms (e.g., written text, audio files, videos, and online quizzes) to cater to every learning style. In this way, learning remains student-centered and personalized without missing out on promoting flexibility and group collaboration.  
• Effective performance monitoring and evaluation: Teachers monitor and evaluate students’ progress as well as due submission of their homework. At the same time, teachers maintain the key role of facilitators in the online educational community formed.
• A collaborative learning environment: Students’ active engagement with the material ‘housed’ in the platform is not optional and is pivotal for the successful completion of each course. This applies to all learning programs, regardless of whether they include a self-paced, asynchronous component or not. Access to the platform is secured through a personalized password which allows students to partner with their classmates and their instructor.  

Yes, as indicated in the 10 Student Conduct Regulations for Online an Hybrid/Flex(ible) Classes, camera and microphone use is mandatory during the lesson. This secures participation and interaction, thereby allowing students to reap the full benefits of a hybrid or an entirely online learning experience. 

Taking children’s privacy into consideration, minor students are issued a personal, unique, temporary password which is strongly recommended to be changed upon activation of their platform account. Therefore, the Hellenic American Union does not keep a record of the personal passwords adopted by minor students. However, if requested, our Faculty and Academic Team are always at parents’/guardians’ disposal so as to provide detailed information about a student’s performance and overall progress. Kindly note, however, that we do not offer information regarding the performance of adult students to any third parties. 

For information regarding your registration (days of classes, timetables, and tuition fees), you may contact the Registration Office (22 Massalias Str, ground floor). To visit the Registration Office, you need to book an appointment (Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM - 19:00 PM). For more information or to book an appointment, please call on 2103680083 / 2103680023 / 2103680019. 

Pre-school students

Pre-school students (aged 4 or 5) are placed in our Kindergarten courses, in line with their age and cognitive maturity, without sitting for a placement test (see the Kindergarten Guide here). For exceptional cases of bilingual children or children with a more advanced level of English, please contact the Registration Office on 2103680083 / 2103680023 / 2103680019.

Young Learners (1^st and 2^nd grade of Elementary School)

• Students of the 1^st or 2^nd grade of Elementary School with no knowledge of English can either join Letterland or Young Learners 1 without having to sit for a placement test. As can be seen in their detailed descriptions, the two courses differ in terms of learning pace, hours of instruction and workload as well as weekly attendance.
• In case a student has some knowledge of English or attends a higher grade at school (e.g., 3^rd grade of Elementary School), they will need to sit for the Young Learners placement test especially designed by Academic Team of the Hellenic American Union. The test features calibrated and integrated tasks compatible with the cognitive and linguistic development of students falling within the spectrum of young learners, thereby allowing for an accurate and reliable placing, as described in the Student Regulations. Prospective students are typically informed about their test results within 1 or 2 working days.

Young Learners and Adolescent Courses

• All new students need to sit for a placement test before enrolling in a course, regardless of whether they have some knowledge of English or have attended English courses before. Lapsed students who stopped attending courses for a period greater than a year must also re-take a placement test before enrolling. Placement test results are valid only for one calendar year. Therefore, if students do not enroll within the same year, they need to re-take the placement test and re-pay its fee in the future.
• The placement test aims to offer an accurate assessment of young learners’ and adolescents’ level of competence in the English language. To do so effectively and cater for the needs of the different student and age populations, the Hellenic American Union Team has designed different placement tests, all of which involve calibrated and integrated tasks that allow for effective and reliable placing. Placement tests can be paper-based and offered onsite (upon appointment) on all weekdays throughout the calendar year. Alternatively, placement tests can also be offered online upon request. The results are typically out within one or two working days. Placement test fees are deducted from the tuition fees only upon registration. Cases of misplacement are infrequent, however, if a student is believed to have been misplaced, the instructor, the Registration Office and the Academic Team should be notified to examine the case within the first three sessions.

Adult Courses

• If you are an adult with no knowledge of English, you do not need to take a placement test. You can proceed with your enrollment in A Plus course, which introduces students to the first two language levels, namely A1 and A2.
• If you are an adult with some knowledge of English or have attended English courses at the Hellenic American Union in the past but discontinued your studies for a period greater than one year, you need to take a placement test. The placement test aims to offer an accurate assessment of your level of competence in the English language and allows for effective and reliable placing. To do so effectively, the Hellenic American Union Team has designed a placement test comprising calibrated and integrated tasks assessing your listening and reading comprehension skills, while an oral interview might also take place if needed (see Student Regulations for the English and Modern Greek program). Placement tests can be paper-based and offered onsite (upon appointment) on all weekdays throughout the calendar year. Alternatively, placement tests can also be offered online upon request. The results are typically out within one or two working days. Placement test results are valid only for one calendar year. Therefore, if students do not enroll within the same year, they need to re-take the placement test in the future. Cases of misplacement are infrequent, however, if a student is believed to have been misplaced, the instructor, the Registration Office and the Academic Team should be notified to examine the case within the first three sessions. 

Prerequisites for Kindergarten courses

To attend a Pre-Kinder or Kindergarten course, children must be over 4 or 5 years old, respectively. For more information, see the Pre-Kinder and Kindergarten Student Regulations.

Prerequisites for Young Learners and Adolescent courses

Students who wish to register for any of the Young Learner or Adolescent courses must be at least 6 years old and take a placement test before their registration. New students are exempted from sitting a placement test if they have acquired a Michigan (MLA), Cambridge or Hellenic American University (HAUniv) language certificate at the levels of B1, B2 or C1 during the previous examination period. In this case, students are placed accordingly upon presenting their certificates or official score reports.

Prerequisites for Adult courses

• To attend an adult course, students must be over 17 years of age or attending the 2^nd grade of High School.
• Students with some knowledge of English who wish to register for any of the adult courses need to sit for a placement test. The same applies if you have attended English courses at the Hellenic American Union in the past but discontinued your studies for a period greater than one year. New students are exempted from sitting a placement test if they have acquired a Michigan (MLA), Cambridge or Hellenic American University (HAUniv) language certificate at the levels of B1, B2 or C1 during the previous examination period. In this case, students are placed accordingly upon presenting their certificates or official score reports.

No, unfortunately attendance is restricted only to students who have completed their registration.  

Our Academic Team recommends that students attend courses from the beginning, particularly in the case of beginner levels. However, if you wish to enroll in a course past its starting date, you may do so by following the registration procedure. Nevertheless, requests for late enrollments are examined individually to secure smooth class integration or determine whether extra support lessons should be arranged. Kindly note that late registration requests may not be accepted in case they cause disruption to the already formed classes. 

Upon completion of a course or workshop, you may request a Certificate of Attendance from the Registration Office (22 Massalias Str, ground floor). Kindly note that the Registration Office issues certificates only for courses that took place within the last 10 years. 

You may attend a same-level-course offered on a different day or time slot on condition that the maximum number of students in that class group has not been reached. To do so, you need to first notify your instructor, who will pass on your request to the Academic Team. If your request is approved, you will be contacted by the Registration Office. Kindly note that multiple requests for transfers are not allowed so as to avoid causing disruption to the already formed classes.

If you think that you have been misplaced, you need to first share your concerns with your instructor within the first three sessions. The Hellenic American Union Academic Team will schedule your re-assessment. Kindly note that re-assessment results cannot be challenged, and the final decision is irrevocable.

Students are given a booklist at the beginning of each course. Access to the online platform (Blackboard Learn Ultra and Blackboard Collaborate) comes at no additional cost. The educational material provided to students by their class instructor throughout the academic year comes at no additional cost. Kindly note that the extra, supplementary material is HAU copyright material, not available in the market and fully customized to the needs of our learners and classes.  Finally, exam-prep students typically receive their HAU-published practice test books gratis.

The cost of the books is not included in the tuition fees.

Hellenic American Union refrains from recommending specific bookstores. Kindly note, however, that the selected textbooks – to the extent that this is possible – are chosen on the basis of their availability in the Greek market.   

All the information you need is available on our website, the course descriptions, and the respective program informational leaflets (see here for the Young Learners and Adolescent courses and the English and Modern Greek Adult courses). Hard copies of these leaflets are also available at the Registration Office (22 Massalias Str., ground floor), where any extra questions you may have will be happily answered either over the phone or in person upon appointment. Should you require any further clarifications, you may also contact our Academic Team. 

According to Greek Tax Legislation, no taxes (VAT) are imposed on educational services and programs. 

Yes, the Hellenic American Union offers private lessons both to individuals and companies. Lessons may be held either at HAU premises or at the premises of the interested party. For more information and a fully customized educational program, please contact the Registration Office and read through the Private Lesson Regulations. 

Students are obliged to pay the entire amount of the tuition fee corresponding to their class, regardless of the number of lessons or hours they have attended. For more information on tuition fee policies and payment procedures, see the Student Regulations for the English and the Modern Greek language program.

Yes, students are obliged to pay a registration fee once. The fee is non-refundable in any case (e.g., cancellation of participation, withdrawing from a course or non-formation of a class) and amounts to 30 euros. 

There is no reason to worry as our Front Desk Receptionists in our buildings will happily direct you to your classroom. Kindly note that this information is also available upon registration and in the welcoming e-mail you receive prior to the beginning of classes that includes more details about the course you will be attending. 

Even though such cases are rare because of students’ great interest to attend our classes, course/class cancellations might occur if the requirement for the minimum number of students is not met.