In 2025, the University of Sydney School of Languages and Cultures ran the inaugural Experience Greece unit of study for undergraduate students to learn the Greek language through local immersion with partner institution, University of Crete, as part the University's Open Learning Environment (OLE) In-Country Experiences program.
Since 2018, more than 2,500 University of Sydney students from a wide range of faculties and schools have gained linguistic and cross-cultural skills through local immersion with overseas partners around the world.
For Bachelor of Science student Jordan Allan, who is studying Medical Science with a major in Immunology and Pathology, her intensive overseas language learning experience was a lesson in personal development that has equipped her for a career in medicine – particularly in cross-cultural appreciation and intercultural understanding. From archaelogical museum visits to putting new language skills to practice, she joined 20 other students to learn the Modern Greek language with native Greek speakers in authentic contexts across three weeks of cultural immersion.
What was it like learning Greek with our overseas partner?
Learning Greek at the University of Crete was such an immersive and phenomenal experience. The university was incredibly welcoming, and they went above and beyond to make sure our time there was as memorable and comfortable as possible. The Rethymno campus is absolutely stunning with ocean views and incredible teachers – making it the perfect place to study the Greek language and culture.
Why did you choose to learn Modern Greek? What benefits did you discover?
I chose to learn Greek because I’ve travelled to Greece a few times over recent years, and I absolutely adore it. The landscape is breathtaking, the food is delicious, and the people are some of the warmest and welcoming people I’ve ever met. I believe that one of the best ways to show my deep appreciation and respect for Greek culture was to learn the language and immerse myself fully, which is something the Experience Greece unit allowed me to do.
How have you applied your experience to your current studies? How do you think it would benefit your future career?
The Greek language itself may not seem to be directly relevant to my Medical Science studies, but pushing myself to learn a new language for the first time – and gaining the self-belief when I succeeded – has given me the assurance that I’m capable of overcoming difficult new challenges, especially within a short timeframe.
I believe that whichever path I take with my degree, whether clinical or academic, having the knowledge of and appreciation for different cultures makes me a more empathetic and compassionate person – something that is significantly important in the medical field.
Jordan Allan
Bachelor of Science (Medical Science – Immunology and Pathology)
What were your cultural immersion highlights?
On our second-last night in Greece, we had an evening of Cretan music and dancing where we joined teachers and students from the University of Crete on the rooftop to learn Greek dances, sing traditional songs, drink local spirits raki and ouzo, and to socialise. That night, us Australians also sang some of our iconic songs for the locals and we taught them the traditional dance we take the most pride in – the Nutbush. The whole experience was so wholesome, and seeing both Greeks and Aussies so eager to share and learn about each other’s cultures was incredibly heartwarming and unforgettable.
Why is building diverse connections through immersing in another language and culture important for our world today?
As our world becomes increasingly connected through digital communication and accessible global travel, learning new languages and cultures becomes increasingly important. Australia’s multicultural population is also an integral and valuable part of our country’s identity.
Learning a new language gives you basic skills to interact across cultures, and helps you become more accepting, accommodating and appreciative of cultural diversity.
Jordan Allan
Bachelor of Science (Medical Science – Immunology and Pathology)
What were some interesting or memorable aspects of the Greek language that you experienced in Greece?
My time at the University of Crete was full of the most amazing hospitality I had ever experienced. I learnt that the Greek word, 'Φιλοξενία' (Filoxenía), translates directly to “hospitality”, and no single English word truly captures its essence; the phrase, “friend to a stranger”, comes as the closest.
Every morning at university, you would hear "Good morning!" and "How are you?" in Greek echoed across the campus by every student, teacher and stranger. All the phrases we had learnt in class felt so much more real when used in actual local encounters, and every interaction became the perfect opportunity to practise them.
Apart from classroom learnings, what skills or perspectives did you gain from your OLE In-Country Experience?
The Experience Greece unit taught me to be more flexible and to go with the flow when it comes to time. ‘Greek time’ is a common phrase that refers to how service at restaurants can be slow or how scheduled events often start later than planned. At first, ‘Greek time’ was frustrating, but once I learnt to embrace it, it became one of my favourite parts of the experience. Lunches, dinners and events shifted to being about enjoying good company and meaningful moments.
Worth 6 credit points, In-Country Experience units are open to undergraduate students with little to no experience in the language to gain new language skills through cultural immersion with our partner institutions around the world.
Browse more photos from Jordan on the Experience Greece (July 2025) photo album on the School of Languages and Cultures' Facebook page.
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