Would you love to learn a bit of the lingo before you arrive?
Even in the sprawling city of Athens it's not guaranteed that you'll find English-speaking locals. A great way to get a little further under the skin of a country is to learn a little of the local language. A little effort goes a long way in this part of the world.
This isn't full immersion, it's more like dipping your toe in the Mediterranean, which will enable you to, among other things, be polite and respectful to your hosts, barter for souvenirs and communicate during emergencies.