August 26, 2016

ANEC Releases Bilingual “Let's Chat” Book

In 2015 the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) released a series of four full-color handouts, “Let’s Chat,” written in Armenian (both in Armenian and Latin script) and English, intended as an aide for the teaching of Armenian as a second language. The premise of the texts was to bring together some of the core vocabulary needed for an elementary conversation, fleshed out with appropriate short dialogues. The series was very well-received by the schools under the jurisdiction of ANEC and quickly went out-of-print.
Encouraged by the success of this endeavor, ANEC undertook the preparation of a 24-page booklet along the same premises, incorporating and updating the material of the handouts, and including new material under the following titles: “Meet and Greet,” “Mood,” “What’s Going On,” “Greetings,” “Congratulations,” “Courtesy,” “Who and Where,” “Numbers,” “Age,” “Time,” “Days of the Week,” “Seasons of the Year,” “Months,” “Time Information,” “Questions,” “Expressions,” “Weather,” “Comprehension,” “Directions,” “Location,” “Home,” “Parts of the Body,” “Colors,” “Travel.”
“While ‘Let’s Chat’ is primarily classroom material, it can also be used as a phrase book,” Dr. Vartan Matiossian, ANEC Executive Director, remarked. “We have tried to offer material that is both linguistically accurate and visually enticing for the learner. Although the main target is an Armenian as a second language class, the booklet can be also helpful in other environments.”
“Let’s Chat” has been published thanks to a generous donation from Dr. Aram and Mrs. Seta Semerdjian. ANEC is currently working in the preparation of a follow-up, as well as on an introductory text on Armenian history.
Copies of “Let’s Chat” may be ordered through the Armenian Prelacy bookstore by contacting the Bookstore by email (books@armenianprelacy.org) or phone (212-689-7810). The price is $10 plus shipping and handling.





August 12, 2016

Պոստոնի Ս. Ստեփանոս ազգ. վարժարանի ամավերջի հանդէսները



Պոստոնի Ս. Ստեփանոս ազգ. վարժարանը յաջողութեամբ բոլորեց իր 32րդ դպրոցական տարեշրջանը: Մանկապարէզի ամավերջի հանդէսը տեղի ունեցաւ Յունիս 16ին, իսկ նախակրթարանի հանդէսը՝ Յունիս 17ին, ներկայութեամբ մեծ թիւով ծնողներու, բարեկամներու եւ շրջանի հայ եկեղեցիներու հոգեւոր հովիւներուն:

May 11, 2016

The Digitization of Armenian Cultural Heritage

In its tradition of disseminating Armenian cultural heritage, the American University of Armenia (AUA) has digitized and made freely accessible over 60 volumes of Western Armenian literature penned by authors who perished in the Armenian Genocide. Project Director, Mr. Merujan Karapetyan, told an audience in mid-April that this is the latest stage in the digitization of Armenian literary treasures, launched by AUA in the 1990s as “part of the longstanding Armenian tradition of safeguarding Armenian cultural wealth.” Now, with the digitization of over 60 volumes of Western Armenian literature, it can confidently be said that Armenian literature is not only preserved but more widely available than ever. 

May 09, 2016

A Generation of Silence: Why Armenian Schools Matter

Sevana Panosian
 
Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent. Ludwig Wittgenstein

The Armenian diaspora is slowly raising a generation of silence.
This statement may come as a shock, but it stems from the philosopher and linguist Ludwig Wittgenstein’s treatise on language where he states “the limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
I remember learning about his theories in graduate school while studying other linguistic theorists like Mikhael Bakhtin, but these words entered the “where are they now” files of my musings and memory until I heard my older daughter correct my younger daughter as she spoke about the importance of being Armenian and her pride in balancing her ability to code switch not only between English and Armenian, but also between Western and Eastern Armenian.