On November 29, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and Chairman of the Governing Council of Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU), Tigran Sargsyan, met with
educators trained at Russian-language training centers in Armenia. The meeting took place at Tekeyan Cultural Center in Yerevan.
The head of the Armenian Government stressed the importance of training teachers, which, he said, is a good opportunity for raising the level of knowledge of the subject in schools.
“The knowledge of foreign languages significantly increases the productivity of the state apparatus staff. On the other hand, we can see that a person who masters only one language encounters serious problems in his/her activities,” Mr. Tigran Sargsyan said adding that the teaching of foreign languages should be a priority in Armenia.
Speaking about the latest teaching methods and the need to promote proficiency of the Russian language, Tigran Sargsyan highlighted the role of Armenian State Pedagogical University, stressing that the University has begun paying more attention to the teaching of foreign languages in its curricula.
“We understand the University’s mission in the preparation of Russian language teachers but the importance and proficiency of foreign languages in different spheres led to adding foreign-language classes [by four times] in all faculties of the University,” ASPU Rector Rouben Mirzakhanyan said adding that the 70 years of the Soviet rule reinforced historical, political and cultural ties between Armenia and Russia.
With regard to the major concern of the Armenian intelligentsia that the Armenian language is gradually yielding its place to foreign languages, Mr Mirzakhanyan assured the attendees that the teaching of Russian is not carried out at the expense of Mother Tongue, but for the sake of Mother Tongue.
Let us mention that the specialists of the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute have trained over 137 educators from Armenian marzes (provinces) at Russian-language training centers in Armenia. During the meeting, some of them received certificates personally by RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
