The undersigned have all taken courses with Professor Elias Theodoracopoulos at various levels in Latin, Greek, and Classical Studies. Lately, his course assignment has been seemingly reduced, teaching only CLA 101: Classical Mythology, CLA 201: Greek Civilization, CLA 203: Roman Civilization, and CLA 250: Greek and Roman Tragedy this past academic year. The two years prior saw Introductory and Intermediate Greek under his instruction, and Intensive Introductory Latin for years before. Since then, however, he has not taught any language courses despite having once taught courses in the 300 level for Greek and Latin. Consequently, we would like to see that Professor Theodoracopoulos be able to teach more courses in addition to those listed above. The signatures of those supporting this action are listed below:
Updates
April 13, 2017
Seeing so many of you share stories about how these language courses shaped your own paths reminds me why his instruction is so essential to our department. This is about ensuring that future students get the same rigorous foundation that we were lucky enough to receive.
April 13, 2017
Seeing this much support for Elias reminds me how many of us were truly changed by his language seminars. I am honestly overwhelmed by the momentum behind this because I know exactly how much his teaching meant to my own growth at this university.
25 Comments
I stand emphatically behind this petition. It is because of my strong foundational study of Latin that I know to write "I stand emphatically" instead of "I emphatically stand," and that foundation began in my Greek and Latin Roots of English class with Professor Theodoracopoulos. His class set my love of language on fire, inspiring me to continue on to higher level Latin and Ancient Greek courses (like the 8am intensive class Katrina Powers wrote about) and even to cobble together my own Linguistics major through the Thomas Hunter Honors Program. Professor T taught some of the most memorable, engaging, and challenging courses I was privileged to take at Hunter. It would be a shame for his vim and vigor to be wasted on freshmen trying to fill a prerequisite.
Professor Theodoracopoulos taught my Latin Intensive course as well as further intermediate study courses on the subject of that are other Classics subject. He remains the GREATEST TEACHER WITH WHOM I'VE EVER WORKED. I'm 36 years old and had attended educational institutions all over the US and the world. His passion for the subject, breadth of knowledge and inherent love of language make him a master. His ability to communicate with students and go the extra mile to ensure that they succeed and "get" the sometimes hard to crack system that is Classics makes him one of our country's greatest teachers. When I remember Hunter College, I remember Prof. T. Learning from him taught me that teaching can truly be a vocation. I am yours, sincerely, Lauren Elizabeth D'Alvia
I not only enjoyed my classes with Prof. Theodoracopoulos (Greek and Roman Tragedy, Golden Age of Athens, and Roman Civ), but the knowledge I learned in them continues to help me now in graduate school. While only having me for a single semester in my first year, Prof T always had time for me to come and talk with him whenever he was in the office.
one of the most rewarding experiences with any professors I've had at hunter
When I reflect back on my undergraduate career at Hunter, Professor Theodoracopoulos stands out as one of the most intelligent, engaging, and passionate professors whom I have had the honor of knowing and learning from. I have had the privilege of being a student in Professor Theodoracopoulos's "Beginning Latin Intensive" (LAT 107) course, "Latin Reading" (LAT 110) course, and "Greek Reading" (GRK 110) course. My coursework with Professor Theodoracopoulos was interesting, fun, and rigorous. Professor Theodoracopoulos is not only an expert classicist and philologist, but also an excellent pedagogue. All too often students have professors who are absolute experts in their fields, but don't know the first thing about teaching. Professor Theodoracopoulos, on the other hand, embodies the heart and practices of an effective teacher, something that I'm able to recognize as a teacher with a Masters in Education. As such, Professor Theodoracopoulos is an asset to Hunter's Classics Department, and he should rightly have his course assignments increased so that his knowledge, skills, and gifts can be best utilized.
I took intensive beginning Latin with Professor Theodoracopoulos in 2009, a very difficult and extremely rewarding course that met from 8-10 am four days a week. Most of the students were unhappy about the time, but we always showed up. Professor Theodoracopoulos managed to make the class so engaging, and got all of us so interested in the frustrating intricacies of the language, that we wouldn't miss it. He was extremely helpful and encouraging to me when I came to see him during office hours, and he was directly responsible for persuading me to take another full year of Latin before I graduated. His influence, both in teaching me at the beginning level and convincing me to move on to a second year, has been enormously helpful in my doctoral studies in early modern Spanish literature at the University of Chicago. Many of the other students from the Latin class I took with him went on to pursue further studies in Classics, and all looked back on our introduction to Latin with fondness and gratitude. Offering Latin courses with Professor Theodoracopoulos as the instructor is a service to the Latin language and to the students of Hunter College.
Theo is like everyone's grandpa. He looks grumpy, smokes his pipeweed like a hobbit, glares at you when you make a grammatical error in Greek or Latin (usually Latin), laughs at his own jokes until he chokes, and would give you the shirt off of his back if you needed it. I took three classes with Theo and I only wish I could've taken 30 more. He is a gentleman and a scholar who takes nothing but the best you can give and will help you push out even more. The "[Latin] Dictionary", as he was once called, is able to connect with all levels of students, from those who were "exceeding expectations" to those like myself who were "acceptable". Whenever you need Theo, he is always an e-mail or visit away and is always willingly to help.
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The undersigned have all taken courses with Professor Elias Theodoracopoulos at various levels in Latin, Greek, and Classical Studies. Lately, his course assignment has been seemingly reduced, teaching only CLA 101: Classical Mythology, CLA 201: Greek Civilization, CLA 203: Roman Civilization, and CLA 250: Greek and Roman Tragedy this past academic year. The two years prior saw Introductory and Intermediate Greek under his instruction, and Intensive Introductory Latin for years before. Since then, however, he has not taught any language courses despite having once taught courses in the 300 level for Greek and Latin. Consequently, we would like to see that Professor Theodoracopoulos be able to teach more courses in addition to those listed above. The signatures of those supporting this action are listed below:
Updates
April 13, 2017
Seeing so many of you share stories about how these language courses shaped your own paths reminds me why his instruction is so essential to our department. This is about ensuring that future students get the same rigorous foundation that we were lucky enough to receive.
April 13, 2017
Seeing this much support for Elias reminds me how many of us were truly changed by his language seminars. I am honestly overwhelmed by the momentum behind this because I know exactly how much his teaching meant to my own growth at this university.
25 Comments
I took both Latin and Greek with Prof. Theodoracopoulos. Halfway through the Latin intensive I felt swamped by the pace and amount of information we had to know. I was ready to flee the class and never take a classics course again. Prof. Theodoracoupoulos convinced me to double up my effort, and not just continue in Latin but also register for Greek in the fall! Clearly, he knows his pedagogy and psychology as much as he knows his Latin. Prof. Theodoracopoulos converts people to classics and is by far the greatest apologist for its importance and continuity in a wider world. Do not waste your best resource!
I stand emphatically behind this petition. It is because of my strong foundational study of Latin that I know to write "I stand emphatically" instead of "I emphatically stand," and that foundation began in my Greek and Latin Roots of English class with Professor Theodoracopoulos. His class set my love of language on fire, inspiring me to continue on to higher level Latin and Ancient Greek courses (like the 8am intensive class Katrina Powers wrote about) and even to cobble together my own Linguistics major through the Thomas Hunter Honors Program. Professor T taught some of the most memorable, engaging, and challenging courses I was privileged to take at Hunter. It would be a shame for his vim and vigor to be wasted on freshmen trying to fill a prerequisite.
Professor Theodoracopoulos taught my Latin Intensive course as well as further intermediate study courses on the subject of that are other Classics subject. He remains the GREATEST TEACHER WITH WHOM I'VE EVER WORKED. I'm 36 years old and had attended educational institutions all over the US and the world. His passion for the subject, breadth of knowledge and inherent love of language make him a master. His ability to communicate with students and go the extra mile to ensure that they succeed and "get" the sometimes hard to crack system that is Classics makes him one of our country's greatest teachers. When I remember Hunter College, I remember Prof. T. Learning from him taught me that teaching can truly be a vocation. I am yours, sincerely, Lauren Elizabeth D'Alvia
I not only enjoyed my classes with Prof. Theodoracopoulos (Greek and Roman Tragedy, Golden Age of Athens, and Roman Civ), but the knowledge I learned in them continues to help me now in graduate school. While only having me for a single semester in my first year, Prof T always had time for me to come and talk with him whenever he was in the office.
one of the most rewarding experiences with any professors I've had at hunter
When I reflect back on my undergraduate career at Hunter, Professor Theodoracopoulos stands out as one of the most intelligent, engaging, and passionate professors whom I have had the honor of knowing and learning from. I have had the privilege of being a student in Professor Theodoracopoulos's "Beginning Latin Intensive" (LAT 107) course, "Latin Reading" (LAT 110) course, and "Greek Reading" (GRK 110) course. My coursework with Professor Theodoracopoulos was interesting, fun, and rigorous. Professor Theodoracopoulos is not only an expert classicist and philologist, but also an excellent pedagogue. All too often students have professors who are absolute experts in their fields, but don't know the first thing about teaching. Professor Theodoracopoulos, on the other hand, embodies the heart and practices of an effective teacher, something that I'm able to recognize as a teacher with a Masters in Education. As such, Professor Theodoracopoulos is an asset to Hunter's Classics Department, and he should rightly have his course assignments increased so that his knowledge, skills, and gifts can be best utilized.
I took intensive beginning Latin with Professor Theodoracopoulos in 2009, a very difficult and extremely rewarding course that met from 8-10 am four days a week. Most of the students were unhappy about the time, but we always showed up. Professor Theodoracopoulos managed to make the class so engaging, and got all of us so interested in the frustrating intricacies of the language, that we wouldn't miss it. He was extremely helpful and encouraging to me when I came to see him during office hours, and he was directly responsible for persuading me to take another full year of Latin before I graduated. His influence, both in teaching me at the beginning level and convincing me to move on to a second year, has been enormously helpful in my doctoral studies in early modern Spanish literature at the University of Chicago. Many of the other students from the Latin class I took with him went on to pursue further studies in Classics, and all looked back on our introduction to Latin with fondness and gratitude. Offering Latin courses with Professor Theodoracopoulos as the instructor is a service to the Latin language and to the students of Hunter College.
Theo is like everyone's grandpa. He looks grumpy, smokes his pipeweed like a hobbit, glares at you when you make a grammatical error in Greek or Latin (usually Latin), laughs at his own jokes until he chokes, and would give you the shirt off of his back if you needed it. I took three classes with Theo and I only wish I could've taken 30 more. He is a gentleman and a scholar who takes nothing but the best you can give and will help you push out even more. The "[Latin] Dictionary", as he was once called, is able to connect with all levels of students, from those who were "exceeding expectations" to those like myself who were "acceptable". Whenever you need Theo, he is always an e-mail or visit away and is always willingly to help.
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I took both Latin and Greek with Prof. Theodoracopoulos. Halfway through the Latin intensive I felt swamped by the pace and amount of information we had to know. I was ready to flee the class and never take a classics course again. Prof. Theodoracoupoulos convinced me to double up my effort, and not just continue in Latin but also register for Greek in the fall! Clearly, he knows his pedagogy and psychology as much as he knows his Latin. Prof. Theodoracopoulos converts people to classics and is by far the greatest apologist for its importance and continuity in a wider world. Do not waste your best resource!