KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

A few days ago, professors and the administration of the Faculty of Philology at the Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) had an online meeting with head of the “Erebuni” Armenian community of Seville of Andalusia Community of the Kingdom of Spain Hakob Yapujyan-Dermishyan and the teachers of the Armenian community’s “Mesrop Mashtots” Armenian Sunday School. Back in February of this year, the ASPU and the Armenian Sunday School concluded a Memorandum of Understanding.

During the online meeting, the School’s Principal Lusine Hovhannisyan-Matinyan, teachers Lianna Mazmanyan-Simonyan, Anush Khachatryan and Kristine Tonoyan, who, in fact, is an alumnus of the ASPU, talked about the activities of the School and presented the issues that they face while teaching Spanish-speaking and Armenian-speaking children Armenian as a second language in different age groups.

Dean of the ASPU Faculty of Philology Ashot Galstyan presented the activities of the Faculty which provides education for Armenian language and literature teachers to teach at schools in Armenia and in the Armenian Diaspora. The Professor emphasized that the University collaborates with Armenian educational institutions in different countries around the world and raises the current issues during the meetings that are held on a regular basis.

During the online meeting, corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Head of the ASPU Chair of Armenian Ancient and Medieval Literature and its Teaching Methods, Professor Aelita Dolukhanyan gave valuable professional advice to the teachers, noting that pupils must first and foremost feel the teacher’s love and his or her willingness to transmit knowledge with pleasure.

Associate Professor of the Faculty of Philology Naira Khachatryan attached importance to the use of didactic materials during instruction, as well as the viewing of Armenian animated films and movies, while Associate Professor Karen Khanyan attached importance to not only teaching Armenian at the Sunday School, but also making Armenian become an everyday conversational language in the household.

At the end, head of “Erebuni” Armenian community of Seville Hakob Yapunjyan-Dermishyan expressed gratitude to the administration of the Armenian State Pedagogical University and the representatives of the Faculty of Philology for the helpful advice.

Dean Ashot Galstyan assured that these meetings will be ongoing; the professors of the University are ready to always provide assistance to the “Mesrop Mashtots” Armenian Sunday School with their words of advice and methodical books.