Business Greek Language Studies
PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Business Greek is a dynamic fluency development program that that serves the oral and written vocational communication needs of professionals working in a variety of environments, including law, banking, management, health care, education, technology, marketing, and real estate.  

The program integrates linguistic acquisition and active learning with common workplace situations that an English-speaking business professional will encounter while working in a Greek-speaking environment in Greece and Cyprus.  

Benefits of the program include relevant scenarios, realistic dialogs, and practical vocabulary designed to motivate the learner to want and need to read, write, speak, and listen to Greek. An additional substantive advantage of the program is to provide a clear and understandable entry into the Greek culture. The integration of language skills with cultural knowledge is a well-established method of achieving competent proficiency in the new language.

Thematically organized tasks and activities are used to reproduce and simulate the real world, and authentic dialogs offer the opportunity to understand and personalize not only the spoken communication but also the body language and the inherent nonverbal meaning of the conversation. 

Readings are sourced from business publications that impart upon the learner business terminology, field-specific jargon, idiomatic expressions, and current events. Learning activities that are based on these passages expand vocabulary development, promote conversational skills, and empower the learner to synthesize the information through critical thinking.

Based on personal needs and the outcomes of placement tests, adult Greek Language Learners have the opportunity to enroll in the following beginner and intermediate courses that are designed to take the learner from the very basic vocabulary to complete mastery of Ancient Greek: 

BGS100: Business Greek Beginner Level 1 (A1)

BGS200: Business Greek Beginner Level 2 (A1)

BGS300: Business Greek Intermediate Level 1 (A2)

BGS400: Business Greek Intermediate Level 2 (B1)

Business Meetings 

Meetings do not always start on time. Attendees to a meeting are expected to be on time but the hosts may not always be ready to start on time. Setting up an appointment in advance is always a good practice.  Greeting your hosts in Greek would be well received and highly appreciated.

Offering a Small Personal Gift 

When visiting a colleague’s home, bringing a personal small gift (flowers, sweets or a bottle of wine) is considered an act of politeness and such an act is typically reciprocated. However, bringing a small personal gift to a business meeting is not necessary.   .

Socializing

After a business meeting, expect an invitation for dinner at a restaurant or even at a manager’s home. The intent is to develop valued personal relationships. Be prepared to discuss business, while staying away from hot topics.  Be be ready to talk about your personal life..

Establishing a Business in Greece

Key strategies to consider in establishing a successful business in Greece:
1] Know and be able to speak a bit of Greek as you enter into negotiations.
2] Hire local talent. Greek professionals are well educated and just as competitive as their American counterparts.
3] Learn how to navigate through various regulatory requirements. There are many resources available, in the United States and Greece.

Business Opportunities in Greece

** Food and Beverage
** Renewable energy
** Shipping equipment and services
** Information and Communication technologies
** Travel and Tourism
** Cosmetics and Beauty products
** Maritime and Border Security
** The Pharmaceutical Industry
** Greek ICT
** Logistics


Source: businesssetup.com

Resources to consider when establishing a business in Greece

Vocabulary of Business Formation Types in Greece

“Ανώνυμος Εταιρεία (ΑΕ)” is the equivalent of the French “Societe Anonyme (SA)”, the German “Aktiengesellschaft (AG)”, or the American corporation (Inc). Ideal for large business ventures, it is owned by shareholders and it is managed by a board of directors.

Limited Liability Company “Εταιρεία Περιορισμένης Ευθύνης (ΕΠΕ)” is similar to the French “Société A Responsabilité Limitée (SARL)” or the German “Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH). Ideal for small to mid-sized enterprises, it is owned by partners who contribute their personal assets. 

General Partnership “Ομόρυθμος Εταιρεία” (ΟE) is an entity in which all the partners are jointly and severally liable for the debts of the partnership without limitation in liability. 

Limited Partnership “Ετερόρυθμος Εταιρεία” (ΕE) is an entity in which the limited partners are liable only to the extent of the contributed capital. At least one partner must have unlimited liability. 

Private Capital Company “Ιδιωτική Κεφαλαιουχική Εταιρεία” (ΙΚΕ) is a new and flexible corporate entity. Under Law 4072/2012, it can be established quickly with minimum shareholder contributions.

Joint Venture “Κοινοπραξία” (ΚΠ) is a cooperation between individuals or business entities, typically registered as a General Partnership.  

Branch “Υποκατάστημα-Θυγατρική Επιχείρηση”: Foreign companies can establish a branch or sister enterprise in Greece. Such an enterprise may take various forms, including AE and EΠΕ.

Foreign Company Office “Αλλοδαπή Εμποροβιομηχανική Εταιρεία” (ΑΕΕ): Under Law 89/1967 and subsequent amendments, foreign business firms can establish an office ιn Greece to provide shared services, including consulting, marketing, logistics, and data processing. 

Self-Employed Professional “Ελεύθερος Επαγγελματίας” is an independent contractor or free-lance service provider, the largest category of employment in Greece. Independent providers are required to tender a receipt for services rendered. Such a receipt is used to document self-employment income and the worker’s contributions to the Single Social Security Entity (Ενιαίος Φορέας Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης-ΕΦΚΑ). Therefore, such a contractor is referred “a professional with a receipt book” (ελεύθερος επαγγελματίας με μπλοκάκι). 
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