Hello and welcome! My name is Ioanna Varmazi, and I am the founder and main tutor of Greek It Up.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Classics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where I specialized in Classical Languages, Literature, and Linguistics. Later, I pursued my passion for language teaching through a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with a specialization in Teaching Greek as a Second/Foreign Language.

During my postgraduate research, I focused on how native Greek speakers express and respond to gratitude in different contexts, and how this knowledge can help learners gain not only correct grammar and vocabulary, but also the cultural awareness needed for real communication. This research continues to inspire the way I design my lessons, helping my students feel confident in using Greek naturally and appropriately.

I am a native speaker of Modern Greek, fluent in English, and I also have a strong background in Ancient Greek. Over the years, I have built my expertise in areas such as phonetics, phonology, pragmatics, vocabulary acquisition, and second language teaching.

Since 2017, I’ve had the pleasure of working with students of all ages, both children and adults, from all over the world and in various teaching settings. I couldn’t imagine a more fulfilling and rewarding journey than the one I have experienced through interacting with each learner over the years. Teaching has also kept me a lifelong student myself, and I’m excited to continue sharing, learning, and growing through this beautiful journey of Greek language and culture.

My mission as a teacher is to make your journey into Greek engaging, supportive, and rewarding. Learning a language is not only about words and grammar—it is about connection, culture, and feeling at home in another way of speaking and thinking.

I look forward to guiding you on your Greek language journey and helping you reach your goals with confidence.

See you in class,
Ioanna