ACS Athens Institute for Critical and
Creative Thinking
Adult Education Program
Winter – Spring 2010
Courses:
1. Creative Writing: The Process of Creative Play
2. Learn to Draw: A Course in Basic Drawing Techniques
3. Communicate in Greek!
4. Relax and Energize: Morning Yoga
5. Playing with Ideas: Self-Development and Innovation in
Teaching (a course for educators)
6. Where East Meets West – A Transpersonal Journey into
Consciousness
7. Communicate in Spanish!
8. Mime and Movement: Physical theater, Circus, Slapstick
and Mask work
9. Photoshop Basics
10. Communicate in French!
Scroll down for course information…..
ACS ATHENS Institute for Critical and Creative Thinking
Adult Education Program
WINTER/SPRING 2010 PROGRAM
Course 1
Creative Writing: The Process of Creative Play
Wednesday mornings, 9:30 – 11:30
Join us to play with words to create stories you have always wanted to tell. Together we
will cover different elements of Fiction: Setting, Character, Point of View, Dialogue, Plot,
etc. This workshop is designed to motivate the writer in all of us, and its focus will be to
help each of us discover our own writing voice and style.
The aim of the workshop is for each participant to draft one substantial piece of writing
by the end of the workshop term. Works-in-progress are strongly encouraged (including
any notes/journal entries/family stories you might want to experiment with during our
time together).
We will write, create, shape and share our work in a safe, trusting setting. Feedback will
be given for all writing produced. (Please bring a notebook/pen and a favorite quote,
paragraph, poem or short story by an established writer to the first session).
If you have any questions or want more information, contact the course instructor at
amalia@aegeanartscircle.com.
Amalia Melis is creator and organizer of the Aegean Arts Circle Creative Writing
Workshops (fourteen writing workshops have been held to date). Her first short story
“Immigrant Daughter” won second place award for new writers in Glimmer Train (U.S.
literary magazine/2002). Two other short stories were finalists in Glimmer Train ( 2005 &
2007). She has finished writing her first novel and is working on her second novel. She is
a freelance feature writer for magazines and newspapers. When avoiding the blank
page, she makes sculptures out of discarded pieces of metal & wire.
Dates: February 10, 17, 24; March 3, 10, 17, 24; April 14, 21, 28
Meeting Place: Arts Center Atrium
COST: 200 euros
Minimum of six participants required for the course to run.
*If there is sufficient interest, an evening session of this workshop may be offered.
Course 2
Learn to Draw: A Course in Basic Drawing Techniques
Thursdays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Anyone can learn to draw. It is a very teachable skill. Discover this enjoyable and
interesting art process under the experienced guidance of Jeff Bear, ACS Athens Art
instructor. In twelve weeks, students will explore and master the perceptual skills
necessary for drawing and develop their own inherent expressive abilities. Topics
include: Right brain perception of edges, spaces, relationships of spaces, light and
shadow and the whole; the self-portrait. The class is open to parents, teachers, alumni
and all other interested members of the greater ACS Athens community.
Jeff Bear is an artist/educator with 40 years of teaching experience, eighteen of those at
ACS Athens. Although he has sculpted and painted in his career, his main personal work
is in drawing.
Meeting time
Thursdays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Meeting dates
February 11, 18, 25; March 4, 11, 18; April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13
Meeting place
Middle School Art Room
Tuition
200 euros
Course 3
Communicate in Greek!
Mondays, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
This course is designed for adults who wish to begin a formal study of the Greek
language. Students will learn the Greek alphabet and to read and communicate in Greek.
Vocabulary instruction will focus on everyday communication. Grammar instruction and
exercises are essential parts of this course. Homework assignments will be required.
This course is designed to be an intensive introduction to the study of the Greek
language, and it is intended for adults who are absolute beginners or who may have
completed a Survival Greek course. This course is offered free of charge to ACS Athens
teachers and non-Greek speaking staff.
Instructor
Marina Kampsampeli, ACS Athens teacher of Greek language and culture.
Meeting Time/Place
Monday afternoons, 4:00 – 6:00; ACS Athens ICCT Classroom 1
Dates
February 8, 15, 22: March 1, 8, 15, 22; April 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10
Cost
200 euros
Course 4
Relax and Energize: Morning Yoga
Thursdays, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
The course is an introduction to ashtanga vinyasa yoga for beginners, but instruction can
be modified to accommodate students with various levels of experience. The group will
be introduced to rhythmic ujjayi breathing and how to use this breath to link specific yoga
postures or asanas in a fixed sequence. This marriage of breath and movement is called
vinyasa. The sequence and postures will be modified according to the needs of the
class, as will the pace of the dynamic flow. This style of yoga aims to create internal heat
to purify the body, relax the mind and strengthen the nervous system. It has come to be
seen as a popular way of keeping fit and can be enjoyed on physical and spiritual levels.
Class limited to 15 participants.
Instructor
Angela Goudes is an ACS Athens graduate. She studied English and Theatre at Queen
Mary & Westfield then Goldsmiths College, London and classical acting at London
Academy of Performing Arts drama school. Until this past June, she served for six years
as Head of Drama at Campion School. Her background in theatre led her to yoga. She
began practicing and studying yoga in drama school in 1997. This led to experimenting
with various yoga styles, including meditative and hatha yoga, before starting ashtanga
yoga in London in 2000. Angela has been practicing regularly ever since, studying with
Alexander Medin in London and Kristina Karitinos Ireland (partner of the late Derek
Ireland, responsible for bringing Ashtanga to Europe from India) in Athens. She has
taken part in workshops with world-renowned teachers of ashtanga, including a course
with Sharath Rangaswamy, grandson of the founder of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. She
underwent teacher training with Kristina Karitinos-Ireland in 2005, qualifying in June
2006. For years, she has incorporated yoga into teaching physical theatre and has been
teaching ashtanga privately for two years.
Meeting time
Thursday mornings, 9:30 -11:00 a.m.
Meeting dates
January 14, 21; February 4, 11, 18, 25; March 4, 11, 18; April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20,
27; June 3
Meeting place
ACS Athens theater rehearsal room 2
Tuition
225 euros (for 18 sessions)
Scroll down for more courses…..
Course 5
Playing with Ideas: Self-Development and Innovation in
Teaching (a course for educators)
Wednesdays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Have you seen an electron? How do you know it is there?
This course focuses on professional development through several angles of inquiry that
highlight self development, theories of pedagogy and learning to construct and support
innovative approaches. The underlying concept is that no matter how enthusiastically
we started our teaching careers, our work is sometimes homogenized under the
pressure of having to cover content and meet deadlines. Redesigning ourselves as
individuals and teachers is a risk worth taking. The course includes sessions focusing on
the role of personal insight, research on implicit theories and how they affect our
teaching attitudes and personal lives, and presenting and playing with ideas we may be
intimidated about using in the classroom. For IT lovers, we will create a ning or wiki to
share ideas on line, too.
Penelope Gourgourini is a member of the ACS Athens science faculty, an examiner and
Ed.M student. But she is mostly a keen tinkerer who feels that teachers can do much
towards building tomorrow’s world, starting from themselves. She has also been a
researcher and a science writer who is still wondering why we believe everything we are
taught.
Meeting time
Wednesdays, 6:00 -8:00 p.m.
Meeting dates
February 10, 17, 24; March 3, 10, 17; April 7, 14, 21, 28
Meeting place
ICCT Classroom 2
Tuition:
185 euros
Minimum of six participants required for course to run.
Scroll down for more courses…
Course 6
WHERE EAST MEETS WEST – A Transpersonal Journey
Into Consciousness
Wednesdays, 6:00 – 8:00
In this course we will explore the different mystical traditions of Sufism, Buddhism,
Christianity and Judaism. Our focus will be on deepening mindfulness in a self
exploratory way. This will include journeying into the psyche, delving into the essence of
consciousness, as well as looking at research. Participants should be familiar with the
aspects of Mindfulness Training and Transpersonal Psychology.
Lindy McMullin is a teacher, stress management consultant and therapist. Her training in
the field of spiritual development includes a Master of Science in Transpersonal
Psychology and Consciousness (Distinction), a Post Graduate Certificate in Western
Esotericism (UK), Certificate in the Science of Intuition (USA) and Diplomas in
Biotherapy, Public Relations and Stress Management. She has spent considerable time
abroad at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, and for the last two years has been
teaching Psychology in the UK. She has taught Drama, Art and Creative Writing as a
means to self actualization and strongly supports the notion that spirituality must be
integrated into reality. Lindy lectures at City University, is a member of the British
Psychological Society and is setting up a Transpersonal Association in Greece.
Meeting time
Wednesdays, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Meeting dates
February 10, 17, 24; March 3, 10, 17; April 7, 14, 21, 28
Meeting place
ICCT Classroom 1
Tuition
185 euros
Minimum of six participants required for course to run.
Scroll down for more courses….
Course 7
Communicate in Spanish!
Mondays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
This program is an introduction to Spanish language and Latin American culture. The
course will address the needs of those students who are new to the Spanish language as
well as those who would like to reinforce their knowledge of the language. This course
emphasizes conversation and communication. By the end of the course, students will be
able to respond to the spoken language and engage in conversation in order to deal with
everyday situations. Visual and audio materials (movies, food, music, traditions, games
and exercises) will be important components of the program, making the course a
dynamic and a fun experience.
Instructor Dennisse Legorreta is a Spanish teacher in the Academy at ACS Athens. Mrs.
Legorreta recently moved to Athens from Mexico, where she earned a BA in
Communications and an MA in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language.
Meeting time Mondays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m./ ICCT Classroom 1
Meeting dates February 8, 15, 22; March 1, 8, 15, 22; April 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10
Tuition 200 euros
Minimum of six participants required for the course to run.
Course 8 (This course is open to high school juniors and seniors as well as to adults.)
Mime and Movement
Physical Theatre - Circus - Slapstick - Mask work
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
The Mime and Movement Course will include 12 sessions on the following four
theater practices, emphasizing mime as a technique and how movement can be used
as a vehicle of communication in different contexts:
1. Physical Theatre (3 sessions) This part of the course looks at how to use our
bodies for our effects, rather than using props, scenery, or sound.
2. Circus (3 sessions) These sessions aim to develop students’ understanding of mime.
The text which students encounter during this project includes images of the circus, films
about the circus, scenarios for different characters in the circus and circus music.
3. Slapstick (3 sessions) These sessions explore the genre of slapstick / physical
comedy. During this project pupils will develop their knowledge, understanding and skills
in mime, physical comedy and proxemics. Pupils also work on pace and timing skills as
well as character development and their ability to sustain a role. The resources which
students encounter during this project include film clips of slapstick (or images of
slapstick)
and
music
(eg
ragtime).
4. Mask Work (3 sessions) This part of the course introduces the use of masks (trestle
masks) in performance. At the end of the project, students perform in class a short
improvisation involving characters using masks.
After completing a three-year Acting course at the Athens School of Theatre, instructor
Kelly Mantelli worked as a professional actor in various theatre companies and then
moved to the UK to study for her BA (Hons) degree in Drama, Media and Cultural Studies.
She completed an MA in Media Production, while also attending a Drama training course
at the Birmingham School of Acting. Kelly has worked in the UK as a Drama Teacher,
while also running and directing various plays for the Schools’ Drama Clubs.She directed
Eugene Ionesco's The Bald Prima Donna’for the Crescent Theatre. Kelly is now back in
Athens working on the staff of ACS Athens, and serving as the Middle School’s Drama
Club Coordinator.
Meting time Thursdays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Meeting dates February 1, 18, 25; March 4, 11, 18; April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13
Meeting place Middle School Room 10
Tuition 200 euros
Minimum of six participants required for course to run.
Course 9 (This course is open to high school students as well as to adults.)
Photoshop Basics
Tuesdays 6:00-8:00
Photoshop is the most popular PC/Mac tool for manipulating pictures. Retouching,
layering, exposure correction and typography are some of its most powerful capabilities.
This course will explore the fundamentals of Photoshop, with an emphasis on enhancing
the appearance of pictures, altering their dimensions, working with multiple layers,
applying artistic filters, removing unwanted elements (i.e. skin imperfections, figures in
the background) and unleashing your creativity with hands-on projects. You'll gain
confidence in selecting and implementing the best tools for common Photoshop tasks
that are essential to anyone who wishes to edit and creatively manipulate his/her
pictures.
Pre-requisite: Basic Computer skills
Instructor Valia Efstathiou is the Assistant to the Athletic Director at ACS Athens. She
holds a Bachelors degree in Marketing & Communication and a Masters in Sports
Marketing & Communication. Following her passion for visual communications,
she is currently enrolled in an Online Master Certificate in Web & Graphic Design
at Sessions College for Professional Design based in New York. Valia has a strong
interest in photography and finds pleasure in editing pictures and creating event
slideshow presentations for personal and professional use.
Meeting time Tuesdays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Meeting dates February 9, 16, 23; March 2, 9,16, 23; April 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11
Meeting place ACS Library Computer Lab
Tuition 200 euros
Minimum of six participants required for course to run.
Course 10
Communicate in French!
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Bonjour! Learn the basics of the beautiful French language in an adult –centered, nonstressful and fun environment. The objectives of the course are to become familiar and
engaged with common, everyday expressions involving greetings, numbers/dates/time,
likes/dislikes, family, clothing, weather and professions. The use of audio and visual
media will comprise an important part of the course.
Instructor Christina Rocha is a member of the Modern Language Department faculty at
ACS Athens. She holds a master's degree and certification in teaching foreign
languages. She has taught French and Spanish to students of all ages, including adults,
and has spent numerous summers studying and living abroad.
Meeting time Tuesdays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Meeting dates: February 9, 16, 23; March 2, 9,16, 23; April 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11
Meeting place: ICCT Classroom 1
Tuition: 200 euros
Minimum of six participants required for the course to run.
TO REGISTER FOR ANY OF THE COURSES
DESCRIBED IN THIS BROCHURE:
CONTACT MS. MARIETTA GARBIS AT
garbism@acs.gr or at 210-6393-200, ext. 409 to
enroll in a course. Payment may be made at the
first class meeting, or in advance, to Ms. Garbis
in the ICCT offices in the ACS Athens Arts Center
Theater Lobby. A minimum enrollment of six
students is necessary for any course to run. If
minimum enrollment is not reached, a course will
be cancelled. Registered students will be notified
of cancellation and their payment will be
refunded.
Registration deadline for Winter/Spring 2010
courses: Thursday, February 5, 2010.