KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Yerevan today hosted presentation of at least 10 manuals [in the Russian language and literature] designed for schools with in-depth Russian language classes. The textbooks were published at the initiative of Russian agency “Rossotrudnichestvo.”

The authors of the textbooks are Bella Yesajanyan, Professor of Armenian State Pedagogical University, Liliya Balasanyan, Head of the Armenian Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature, and other leading specialists of the sphere.

Over 5000 ABC books and 7500 other textbooks are intended for the same number of pupils of schools with a Russian language bias and will be given to them free of charge.

The presentees were greeted by Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin who said the publication of the manuals was a long-awaited and joyous event. He stressed that at the beginning of the new academic year schoolchildren would be pleasantly surprised to see new and updated textbooks created by a group of professionals in the result of hard and serious work.

The ambassador also thanked Armenian Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan, as well as the authors of the manuals for cooperation and their efforts in the promotion of the Russian language and literature in Armenia. Mr Volynkin underlined that the teaching of the Russian language has always been a priority in Armenia in terms of preservation of the Russian language and culture. 

"The Russian language has its unique place among foreign languages taught in Armenia: the knowledge of the Russian language provides a key to the global culture.  It also familiarizes Armenian youth with Russian culture and spiritual values," Minister Armen Ashotyan said in his welcoming remarks. The minister emphasized the fact that today many employers consider the knowledge of foreign languages, including that of the Russian language, as an advantage when recruiting someone to work.

The minister underlined that the publication of the handbooks marks the beginning of ongoing cooperation as Armenians have always demonstrated a bit different – much friendlier - attitude towards Russian.

"When I was examining the textbooks, I wondered how I would describe the occasion. You will probably agree with me that this is a great joy and event for specialists and pupils," ASPU Rector Rouben Mirzakhanyan said. He was proud to note that most of the authors of the textbooks are lecturers of the Pedagogical University.

Bella Yesajanyan, the editor-in-chief of the textbooks, considered the publication of the manuals an important event for her and her colleagues. She said it was the first complete collection of textbooks to be published in Armenia. 

"For 25 years I have been insisting that school-leavers in Armenia should know at least two foreign languages: languages are the wealth of a nation," said Professor Bella Yesajanyan. Once again she congratulated and thanked all people who had had their contribution to the compilation and publication of the manuals and for whom the textbooks are a great achievement and pride.

Bella Yesajanyan also informed Russian teachers that a study guide had been published that would help them work with the new manuals. 

Besides Russian-language textbooks designed for 2nd-12th graders of schools with intensive Russian languages classes, copy-books, manuals and materials for teachers have been published. [The teaching of the Russian languages begins from the second grade in Armenia].

The textbooks will be given to 65 Armenian schools with in-depth study of the Russian language (35 in Yerevan and the others in marzes). Each textbook has 4000 -4500 copies.

The publication is initiated by the Russian Embassy in Armenia in collaboration with the Armenian Ministry of Education and Science, "Russkiy Mir" Foundation and Association of Teachers of the Russian Language in Armenia.