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For the third year in a row and at the initiative of the Department of Foreign Language Teaching Methods, students of Armenian State Pedagogical University have joined their peers to celebrate European Day of Languages marked annually on September 26.
Among the guests were Head of the Department of Foreign Languages at National Institute of Education Anush Khachikyan, a writer from Germany, lecturers, students and pupils.
“Hey, talk to me in different languages of the world.” With these words, the students called on the presentees to unite under the flag of the Council of Europe which symbolizes unity and solidarity.
Congratulating the presentees on the occasion, Tigran Mikaelyan, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, described Europe by defining its root word - ‘open-minded and reasonable.’
Mr Mikaelyan urged the presentees to remain true Armenians at the same time admitting that Europe is a philosophy, a way of life and a guidepost. “It is the keyword for unity, justice and diversity,” he said.
In her speech,Melanya Astvatsatryan, the organizer of the event, Head of the Department of Foreign Languages, urged the attendees to keep and exalt multilingualism and cultural diversity and learn new languages.
“The rich heritage of languages and cultures is common treasure which can turn from barriers to communication into a source of mutual understanding and compensation,” Professor Astvatsatryan said underlining again that languages ensure social solidarity and create a basis for communication between the members of the Council of Europe.
“Diversity of languages and cultures is a great store of wealth as each language has its own way of expressing the world and shaping its own history,” said Donara Ghazaryan, Head of the Department of Romance Languages. She added that plurilingualism is encouraged in Armenia as well and is included in the school curriculum. It aims to create a society where all languages are equally reflected as a means promoting mutual understanding and mutual enrichment.
Donara Ghazaryan then cited the words of a celebrity who said, “Languages are the marvel of Europe and their diversity is the greatest achievement of Europe: learn many languages and look at things from different perspectives.”
Participating in the event were also pupils of the Mkitar Sebastatsi educational complex who introduced to the guests the official website of the educational complex in nine languages.
The European Day of Languages, marked annually since December 2001, celebrates linguistic diversity in Europe and promotes language learning. Language learning increases plurilingualism and intercultural understanding. Furthermore it promotes the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe, and encourages both formal and informal lifelong language learning.
