When a lesson becomes a spark

There are moments that remind us, in the most beautiful way, why teaching a language is so much more than vocabulary, grammar and exams.

It was with great joy that I received Shipwreck in Paradise, the book written by my dear student, Konstantinos Pantazopoulos, together with a dedication that is a great honour to me:

“Thank you for teaching me the foundations of the English language and for opening the door to the world of fiction. Your lessons lit a spark that grew into a passion. That passion led to this book and hopefully many more to come.”

Konstantinos’ words express, in the most moving way, what I strive to cultivate every day at our school: not only strong foundations of the English language, but also a love for stories, literature, imagination and creative expression.

This is also the deeper reason why theatre is an integral part of teaching at Zachariou Foreign Language School. Through roles, dialogue and action, children do not simply learn English. They learn to think, to feel and to express themselves. Language stops being a lesson on paper. It becomes action and inspiration.

This dedication moves me deeply. Konstantinos, I am truly proud of you and of your creative journey.

May this be the first of many more books.

Irene Zachariou