Elementary Armenian Language Course Filled to Capacity With New Students Eager to Learn

Knar Mekhitarian
Staff Writer

Nayiri, Hagop, Kelli, Svetlana, Ani, Brad, Emily, Lara, and twenty-two other students of all ages, await anxiously in the Family Food and Science Building, Room 216, for instruction to begin. “Parev,” a simple “Hello” in Armenian, is enunciated to the class from Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian, as he promptly receives a greeting in return.

Photo:
Standing (l. to r.) Lara Agulian, Avo Arikian, Hagop Ohanessian, Emily Derderian, Nayiri Moumdjian, Suzan Merdzhimekyan, Tigran Imirian, Johnny Oganesyan, and Lindsey Nielson. Seated (l to r.) Seta Knnablian, Timothy Aivazian, Brad Kalebjian, Ani Menendian, Aaron Telloian, John- Ross Glueck, Natalina Farinelli, Caitlin Tiftick, Ani Samarjian, Erin Surabian, Kelli Parnagian, and Svetlana Bagdasarov.

There are many people who have never had the chance to learn to read, speak and write Armenian due to various reasons. Fresno State is among the few universities in the United States that offer an Armenian language class to students who are interested in the opportunity to learn a very beautiful and ancient language.

A Course in Modern Western Armenian, by Tom Samuelian, is the text used in the class. Worksheets, and reading and writing exercises are also passed out to the students. Students learn to recite and write the Armenian alphabet in both lower and upper cases.

Johnny Oganesyan, a sophomore, is planning on attaining his minor in Armenian Studies. Born in Armenia, his family later moved to Fresno when he was six. Johnny attended the Armenian Community School of Fresno for over five years. “This class is a great way for me to refresh my reading and writing skills, as well as perfect my grammar and spelling.”

Tim Aivazian, a Buchanan High School graduate, is taking the class as a freshman. Born in New Jersey and raised in Fresno, Tim hopes to get a lot out of the class. “I want to learn how to read and write, and expand my Armenian vocabulary. Prof. Der Mugrdechian is a great teacher, and I really enjoy his class.”

The Armenian language belongs to the Indo-European family and is spoken by six to seven million people worldwide. The Armenian alphabet was created by Saint Mesrop Mashtots in 405 A.D. There are 38 letters in the Armenian alphabet, each with a specific sound and pronunciation.

Armenian 1A, Elementary Armenian is a four-unit class offered Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 11:00 to 11:50AM. This semester Prof. Der Mugrdechian is also teaching Armenian 2A, Intermediate Armenian.