Overview

This volume presents an original, community-based study of Greek heritage language education in Canada. Through empirical data and stakeholder narratives, it explores the pedagogical, sociolinguistic, and policy dimensions of sustaining minority languages in multicultural settings. Combining qualitative and quantitative findings with a bilingual format, the book offers actionable strategies for intergenerational transmission, language maintenance, and inclusive program design. It contributes to scholarship in multilingual education, diaspora studies, and applied linguistics, while serving as a practical resource for educators, policymakers, and community leaders committed to heritage language sustainability.

Full Product Details

Author:   Themistoklis Aravossitas ,  Marianthi Oikonomakou
Publisher:   Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Imprint:   Springer Nature Switzerland AG
ISBN:  

9783032133175

ISBN 10:   3032133173
Pages:   409
Publication Date:   04 February 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

1. Introduction to the Study – Themistoklis Aravossitas.- 2. Construction and Functions of Ethnic Identity in the Diaspora – Michael Damanakis.- 3. Languaging and Bilingualism in Greek Diasporas – Eleni Skourtou.- 4. Greeks and Greek Language Education in Canada – Michael Damanakis & Themistoklis Aravossitas.- 5. Methodology of the Study – Dionysios Arkadianos, Themistoklis Aravossitas, Vasilios Paraschou.- 6. Greek Language Education in Canada from the Perspective of Educators – Marianthi Oikonomakou, Emmanouela Tisizi, Themistoklis Aravossitas.- 7. Greek Language Education in Canada from the Perspective of Parents – Aspasia Chatzidaki.- 8. Greek Language Education in Canada from the Perspective of Principals – Michael Damanakis.- 9. Greek Language Education in Canada from the Perspective of Students – Themistoklis Aravossitas, Marianthi Oikonomakou, Evangelia Daskalaki, Dionysios Arkadianos.- 10. Learning Communities – Vasilia Kourtis-Kazoullis, Aspasia Chatzidaki, Themistoklis Aravossitas.- 11. Discussion – Michael Damanakis, Themistoklis Aravossitas.- 12. Conclusion and Recommendations – Themistoklis Aravossitas.

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Author Information

Themistoklis Aravossitas is a Lecturer in Modern Greek at the University of Toronto and York University. His work focuses on heritage language education, community-engaged research, and the educational experiences of diaspora communities in Canada. He serves as the principal investigator of The Hellenic Relay, a nationwide action study examining the conditions that shape intergenerational Greek language transmission and the needs of students, families, and educators. He is also the developer of greeklanguage.ca, a national digital resource supporting teachers, learners, and community organizations. His publications and editorial work explore heritage language schooling, teacher development, community education, and diaspora studies. His work brings together research, policy, and practice to inform curriculum design, community–university partnerships, and long-term planning for heritage language education in Canada and internationally. Dr. Marianthi Oikonomakou is an Associate Professor in the Department of Primary Education at the University of the Aegean. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Athens and a master’s degree in General and Applied Linguistics from Université René Descartes–Paris V, France. Her postdoctoral research (University of the Aegean, 2019) examines the development of language skills in Greek primary education. She teaches Linguistics at undergraduate and postgraduate levels at the University of the Aegean and the Hellenic Open University, and she has extensive experience teaching Greek as a second, foreign, and heritage language in diverse educational contexts. She has authored a range of scholarly publications, including Greek school textbooks and contributions to the Greek Language Curriculum (2022) for primary education, and is actively involved in teacher professional development initiatives in collaboration with the Greek Institute of Educational Policy. Her work has been published in international and leading Greek peer-reviewed journals. Her research interests include Greek linguistics, language education, literacies in educational settings, critical literacy, and curriculum studies.  

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