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INCREASED DEMAND FOR ARMENIAN LANGUAGE SKILLS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
20:23, 18 April, 2013
YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS: Though its Western counterpart has been
on an UNESCO endangered language list for a few years, there seems
to be a demand for Armenian-language skills in Southern California,
a mecca for the Armenian diaspora that has settled more steadily in
the area over four decades, reports Armenpress referring to Glandale
News- Press.
The local linguistic landscape of the area is definitely changing.
Rob Sheiffele is one student in ESL-trained teacher Marina Adamian's
10-week Beginning Conversational Armenian class hosted by the Burbank
Adult School that sees the Armenian language as an increasingly
valuable skill.
Having found himself seated at a wedding table as the only non-Armenian
speaker not too long ago and coming in contact with the language
increasingly in both his professional and social life, Sheiffele
thought it was time to start learning.
"I thought it was a practical language to learn," he said between
reciting hard to pronounce words he's mastered. "I wanted to be ahead
of the curve."
Registering at L.A. Valley college was impossible, said Sheiffele,
as the Armenian-language classes there are packed, and usually with
native speakers.
Cristina Ramirez is taking the class for reasons that hit closer to
home: she wants to be able to communicate with her boyfriend's family.
It took her a while learn how to say "shnoragalutuyn," the Armenian
word for "thank you," but she's made some great gains so far.
"It's a lot easier than I thought," she said, adding that her
boyfriend's family is very excited to help her with acquiring her
new language skills.
When Sarita Gomez, a teacher from Burbank, found herself at a local
supermarket unable to speak to an older Armenian-American woman who
asked for help with pricing, she knew it was time to conquer Armenian.
She struggled to connect at first, but then realized the intersection
of her own personal interests and the culture of her newly acquired
skills had another type of language in common, that of food.
"I love to cook, I love to eat, I thought 'that's what I have in
common with you."
Her favorite Armenian treats - "hats yev paneer," bread and cheese,
usually Feta or "lahmajoun," otherwise known as Armenian pizza -
are quite simple, yet ask any Armenian-American and they'll agree
that the simplicity of the meal is what makes it so, so good.
Of course, Sheiffele, Ramirez and Gomez couldn't have come this far
without the help of Adamian and her unique teaching style, blending
language, history and culture together.
"She's very patient with us," Gomez said. "She does it so well,
that all of a sudden, we find ourselves suddenly speaking."
Adamian, who makes it a point to teach her students about Armenian
history, culture as well as food hopes this is just the beginning and
that more courses, including intermediate can be added. A few weeks
ago, she took them on a trip to local Armenian landmarks in Glendale,
including St.Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church and Sardarabad Bookstore.
"Unless you understand the culture, and history, there's no way you
can make a connection to learn the language," she said. Something
tells me she's absolutely right.
From: A. Papazian
20:23, 18 April, 2013
YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS: Though its Western counterpart has been
on an UNESCO endangered language list for a few years, there seems
to be a demand for Armenian-language skills in Southern California,
a mecca for the Armenian diaspora that has settled more steadily in
the area over four decades, reports Armenpress referring to Glandale
News- Press.
The local linguistic landscape of the area is definitely changing.
Rob Sheiffele is one student in ESL-trained teacher Marina Adamian's
10-week Beginning Conversational Armenian class hosted by the Burbank
Adult School that sees the Armenian language as an increasingly
valuable skill.
Having found himself seated at a wedding table as the only non-Armenian
speaker not too long ago and coming in contact with the language
increasingly in both his professional and social life, Sheiffele
thought it was time to start learning.
"I thought it was a practical language to learn," he said between
reciting hard to pronounce words he's mastered. "I wanted to be ahead
of the curve."
Registering at L.A. Valley college was impossible, said Sheiffele,
as the Armenian-language classes there are packed, and usually with
native speakers.
Cristina Ramirez is taking the class for reasons that hit closer to
home: she wants to be able to communicate with her boyfriend's family.
It took her a while learn how to say "shnoragalutuyn," the Armenian
word for "thank you," but she's made some great gains so far.
"It's a lot easier than I thought," she said, adding that her
boyfriend's family is very excited to help her with acquiring her
new language skills.
When Sarita Gomez, a teacher from Burbank, found herself at a local
supermarket unable to speak to an older Armenian-American woman who
asked for help with pricing, she knew it was time to conquer Armenian.
She struggled to connect at first, but then realized the intersection
of her own personal interests and the culture of her newly acquired
skills had another type of language in common, that of food.
"I love to cook, I love to eat, I thought 'that's what I have in
common with you."
Her favorite Armenian treats - "hats yev paneer," bread and cheese,
usually Feta or "lahmajoun," otherwise known as Armenian pizza -
are quite simple, yet ask any Armenian-American and they'll agree
that the simplicity of the meal is what makes it so, so good.
Of course, Sheiffele, Ramirez and Gomez couldn't have come this far
without the help of Adamian and her unique teaching style, blending
language, history and culture together.
"She's very patient with us," Gomez said. "She does it so well,
that all of a sudden, we find ourselves suddenly speaking."
Adamian, who makes it a point to teach her students about Armenian
history, culture as well as food hopes this is just the beginning and
that more courses, including intermediate can be added. A few weeks
ago, she took them on a trip to local Armenian landmarks in Glendale,
including St.Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church and Sardarabad Bookstore.
"Unless you understand the culture, and history, there's no way you
can make a connection to learn the language," she said. Something
tells me she's absolutely right.
From: A. Papazian