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Birthright Armenia Next Step Alumni Project

Next Step Report

Betterment of English in Schools of Armenia

Sponsor: Birthright Armenia

Participants: Chilingaryan, Shoghakat

Avagyan, Nare

Date of Report: November 9, 2011

Project Duration Date: June 27, 2011 – August 30, 2011

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

MISSION AND GOAL OF PROJECT

STEPS TAKEN TO MEET PROJECT GOALS

TARGET POPULATION

STRUCTURE/PLAN OF ORGANIZATION

STRUCTURE OF CLASS

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY

GRADUATION CEREMONY

WHY CONTINUE?

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS?

FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS

FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS

BUDGET

RECEIPTS

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“Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time.

Action with vision is making a positive difference”

MISSION AND GOAL OF PROJECT

o Provide opportunity for students in Armenia to develop a deeper

understanding of the English Language

o Create an environment for students to feel open and expressive, while

developing a deeper understanding of individual awareness

o Inspire and motivate youth to see newer possibilities for the future

o Help students improve language skills required for university entrance

tests as well as increase employment opportunities which require mastery

of the English language

STEPS TAKEN TO MEET PROJECT GOALS

Developing self-expression

o Creative writing assignments

! Example: “Where would you like to see yourself in 5 or 10 years?”

o Games which promote usage of vocabulary and interaction between

students in order to develop creativity and discover additional ways of

communication

o Group discussion and analysis of reading topics on “self-expression” – an

indirect way to inspire and introduce valuable ideas to students, while

improving communication skills in English

o Creating opportunities for students to socialize and bond with each other.

(Trip to Tsaghkadzor, class outdoors)

o Creating and acting out skits with different scenarios

• Inspire and motivate youth to see new possibilities for the future

o Sharing our own educational experiences through question/answer based

discussions

o Students sharing their own experiences (example: Haykuhi Harutyunyan

who studied abroad in the US through a program which gave students

from different cities in Armenia the opportunity to compete for a lifetime

learning opportunity)

Students introducing each other Students acting out different scenarios

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TARGET POPULATION

o Why High School?

! Transitions to real life – Students are in a transitional point where

they are preparing for university entrance exams and discovering

new opportunities. Support and guidance is important during the

transitional period, during which students are making serious

decisions about careers.

! Employment opportunities after high school; there is a higher

demand for proficiency in the English language.

! Communication with other professionals around the world: i.e:

internship opportunities, study abroad programs, (FLEX),

familiarity with field specific research (ex: pre-med students

reading articles on medical advancements, etc.)

o Why Hrazdan?

! Eager school staff – school #1 – known to be a challenging school

– students have eagerness to expand their academic horizons

! Lack of academic opportunities for ambitious students in Hrazdan

! Exchange of information with international students – Hrazdan has

relatively low exposure to tourists – hence not as much exchange

of ideas

o Why English?

! To increase global understanding

• English is the lingua franca in almost every country around

the world and thus the knowledge of English will allow

communication with a wide variety of cultures and

individuals

! Create new vision of life

o “A different language is a different vision of life.”

o Learning English language will give students in Armenia a

glimpse into the American culture and way of thinking. The

intention is not to wash away the rich Armenian culture that

already exists among the students, but instead it is to

introduce a new way of viewing the world that may

potentially open up new and bright ideas among the

students.

o A fully developed knowledge of English language can develop wider

career opportunities for individuals.

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STRUCTURE/PLAN OF ORGANIZATION

o Contacts

! Started with mission/goal of project

! Contacted interested schools in Armenia

! Approval from 3 participating schools

o Participating schools

! About 20 students from each of 3 Avag schools in Hrazdan

! Classes held at #1 High School

! Students were initially contacted by school directors to be

informed about orientations

o Orientations

! Separate orientations were held at each of the participating schools

during which the program objectives and goals were presented to

the students

! During the orientation, interested students were registered into the

program

With Mrs. Movsisyan (Director of Avag School #1)

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STRUCTURE OF CLASS

o Basic Level: For students with little or no knowledge of the language

o Advanced Level: For students who have had exposure to the language

whether through school or private lessons.

! Daily agenda

• “Do Now” warm up activity – written assignment about

specific topics – purpose was to have the students

independently work on thinking and writing allowing them

to review the vocabulary and grammar learned. Warm up

activity also consisted of class discussions about the

previous day or any topic chosen by the students.

• Reading passages – followed by translation and discussion.

Reading was often followed by a group activity where

students were given instructions pertaining to the passage

read in class (ex: handouts, written assignments, skits…)

• Class discussion about specific topics of interest – quote

translation and discussion, role plays, life stories, etc..

• Vocabulary – each day new vocabulary was presented (ex:

common nouns, verbs, adjectives – in addition to new

vocabulary learned from class exercises and discussions.)

• Exams – to test learned material – included grammar,

vocabulary, and reading passages

! Means of testing for improvements

• Written assignment first and last day of class

• Bi-weekly exams to test knowledge of learned material

Correcting sentences Classwork

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Students acting out skits Groupwork

Class-work Students taking an exam

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EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY

o Outdoor class

! Different environment to avoid monotonous activity

! Free expression of thought

! Allow for interaction time for students

o Excursion

! Trip to Tsaghkadzhor

! Break from studying

The purpose of the trip was to allow the students to interact and socialize with one

another in a setting outside of the classroom. It was an opportunity for everyone to get to

know each other better and it created a bonding opportunity for students and teachers.

Overall, the experience of planning and proceeding with the trip brought out important

characteristic traits from the students. Some students were very eager to support with the

planning of the trip. Many students gave good ideas on how to plan so as to assure

smooth flow. Other students played an active role in giving us guidance as to where to

locate various items that were necessary for the trip. It overall gave us, as the

teachers/leaders, an opportunity to observe the strengths of the students and how those

strengths show up in a team setting. When effective observations are made during such

an experience, it later supports the leader/teacher to apply this gathered knowledge in the

classroom in order to better understand how to interact with each individual student. In

addition, when the bonding activity is organized well, it creates an opportunity to connect

with one another on a deeper level which later will support students in the classroom as

they will feel more comfortable as a group.

Trip to Tsakhkadzor

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Visit to Kecharis Chopanuxi ride

Enjoying quality time in Tsakhkadzor Walk to Chopanuxi

Getting ready for lunch Enjoying lunch in fresh air

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GRADUATION CEREMONY

! Students who participated in the program throughout the entire

duration were given certificates of completion

! Selected students who excelled in the program were awarded with

additional certificates of excellence (including perfect attendance)

! Total of 6 students (from both classes) were awarded VivaCell

Calling Cards (1000AMD) for perfect attendance

The graduation ceremony consisted of certificate distribution for all the students who

participated and fully completed the program. Each student who was consistently present

to class received a certificate. We had a total of 50 graduating students.

Graduation Ceremony Group I Graduation Ceremony Group II

Surprise performance by students on graduation day

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WHY CONTINUE?

o The continuation of such a project is at high demand

o We received positive feedback from current students

o Students requested for the program to take place next year

o Need to invest in education system in Armenia

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS?

o Participate in SKYPE chats with students to establish and maintain

communication

o Support and motivate students to organize/plan their own personal projects

o Give them guidance and listen to their ideas (this can easily be done

through facebook and SKYPE)

o Continue to share motivational stories from our lives in order to spark

creative ideas for our students as well as ourselves

FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS

Anahit Sargsyan: “1.Learning English is important as it is an international language today

and it can comunicate people from different contries! 2. Program gave me not only

knowledges about English, but also it helped to created new relations and find new

friends! 3. It is very useful project, because it helps us to improve our lenguage, it is not

an ordinary lesson but it is olso a great experience.”

Ashot Yepiskoposov: “1.For me learning English is very important because it is the

international language. 2.I learned many means of the words,how make a sentence and

other important an helpfull things. 3.I think that you can continue this program and help

other pupils.Thank You very much!!!!!!”

Anna Meloyan: “Anglereni imacutyun@ indz ognel e nranov vor hima ayntex vortex es

sovorym em shat lav gitem angleren ev ognumm em myusnerin.”

Izabella Sargsyan: “Es sovoreci angleren shat xosakcakan barer.Dprocum miayn

qerakanutyun enq ancnum , bayc aystex sovorecinq angleren xosel.Shnorhakalutyun em

haytnum im usucichnerin!”

Varduhi Narimanyan: “Ays programi yntacqum es mec informacia staca USA-i

masin,amerikyan anglereni masin yev mi qani angam mecacri im anglereni pashar@ vori

hamar shaat shnorhakal em Nareic u Shoghikic.)

Diana Khachatryan: “karciqov angleren@ shaaaat anhrajesht lezu e,qani vor ayn

mijazgayin e.angleren@ Hayastanum hamarvum e otar lezu,sakayn shat ayl erkrnerum

ayn hamarvum erkrordakan kam arajnayin lezu.Karcum em vor shutov Hayastanum el

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ayn kdarna erkrordayin lezu,qani vor grete bolor ashxatavayrerum pahanjvum e anglereni

imacutyun@.Kam shat mardik aysor irenc apagan tesnum en Hayastanic durs,vortex

angleren@ pahanjvox lezu e.AncamB es programic cerq bereci shaaat giteliqner,voronq

inc nerkayis anglereni parapmunqnerum ognum en.Cerq bereci nor @nkerner ev hacheli

usucichner voronq mer hamar naev @nkerner ein.Project@ ancnum er shaaat hiasqanch

xaxerov u cicaxov li,vochvoq cher cancranum ev cher poshmanum projectin

masnakcelu ,amarayin arcakurdner@ parapmunqnerin tramadrelu hamar.Karcum em vor

programi sharunakutyun@ partadir e ayl erexanerin hachuyq patcharelu ,giteliq

poxancelu hamar.”

Emma Khachatryan: “Engish is lenguage of comunication.It is important for everyone to

learn or improve his Enlish. This program help me to improve my English knowledges. Is

was a big opportunity for us and thank you Nare and Shoghik fot it. I hope you will

cotinue this program.”

Mariam Khazhakyan: “I think it is important because it's internetional language and

English is used in almost all countries Nare and Shoghik you are good teachers and I

know many children who wish to participate in your program... We and the other children

ask to <Depi Hayq> ,that the program continued .”

Haykuhi Harutyunyan: “1.Learning English and knowing talking in English is really

important. It is a 21 century language, it's international. You just got to know English if

you want to get good information, knowledge and new friends.

2. First thing I want ton say THANK YOU. I have probably said it like 100 times but I

am saying it again. Thanks to Nare, Shoghik and to people who sponsored and helped

this program to become real. This program helped me to a lot. I learned many English

common words expressions. I got to know many wonderful people and be friends with

them. I really enjoyed being part of that program 3. I think that you should continue this

program definitively. Students learn English at school in here but it is not enough and

usually they can't talk in English very well. This program helped many students improve

their English and start to talk in it easily than before. So we expect to see you here next

year too. You are doing a great job.Go ahead!! Good luck, Miss you very much!!.”

Anna Meloyan: “Es husov em vor myus amar noric klini nman cragrer.”

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FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS

Nare Avagyan

It is hard to grasp the idea that what was just a simple idea about a year ago became a

reality – an experience that allowed me to grow in many ways. First and foremost, I feel a

sense of accomplishment for having taken a risk to work on a project with little

experience. The journey of organizing and planning the details of the project with a great

friend, allowed me to realize my own potential. The idea of giving back to Armenia has

always been a dream. What I realized after working in Armenia, meeting and interacting

with different people, is that it takes motivation and ambition to make what is just a

dream into something bigger – something that will motivate me so much more to

continue expanding my steps.

The success along with the obstacles faced during the planning of the project, including

the initial communication with the school directors in Hrazdan, allowed me to understand

my own strenghths and weaknesses. It was hard to explain the objectives and goals of a

project which we ourselves did not know much about – it was hard to predict how what

we envisioned would turn out to be once we started to work with the students.

Working with the students allowed me to see their ambition for knowledge, new

opportunities, and potential to succeed academically. Often times, we had class breaks

during which we discussed about different topics, where students would have to share

their opinions. I realized how day by day the students were becoming more confident in

expressing themselves. The interaction between the students, who were from different

schools, allowed them to exchange ideas, become more self-aware and also build

friendships.

Seeing the positive impact of the program on the students as well as on us, only motivates

me more to take part in bigger projects. I have become more aware of my potential to

make a difference. I look forward to engaging in other projects and continuing to work

with the intelligent, driven, and supportive people who contributed to the success of the

project. I especially thank Birthright Armenia, for the guidance throughout the planning

of the project, in addition to the financial support, without which the project would not

take place.

Shoghakat Chilingaryan

3 Reasons why others should take part in such a program as BESA

1) Influential position that will allow you to make a difference in the lives of others.

Placing myself in the role of teacher, I realized what an important position I was in

because of the fact that I could so easily influence a group of young students who have

the energy and motivation to grow and learn new things. Finding myself in such an

influential position made me more self-aware, in the sense that I constantly had

motivation to work and improve on myself so that what I project to my students would

be the most ideal version of me. I kept telling myself that however I project myself

during my interaction with my students, would be the messages that my students would

pick up from the experience. For example, if I gave myself the permission to let go of

my ego and be self-expressive by openly sharing with my students about my limitations

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and challenges, it would support them to overcome their limitations and feel

comfortable to express themselves as well. I constantly shared with them my

limitations of the Armenian language and asked for their support to enhance my

Armenian vocabulary and overall self-expression in the Armenian language. My intent

was to support my students to feel more comfortable to speak and self-express in the

English Language.

Being in a space where I can make a difference in the lives of others makes me feel

very good and gives me lots of motivation in my life. Teaching is one option that I

would highly recommend for others to consider if they also have the desire to make a

difference.

2) Opportunity to develop leadership skills

I was placed in this role with little knowledge of what its like to be a teacher other than

what I have observed from the teachers I have had in my life. This experience

supported me to gain and develop my leadership skills. The following is what I gained

from the experience.

a. Managing and leading students to a common goal (In our case learning

English)

b. Developing speaking and communication skills.

c. Developing skill to connect with a variety of individuals of various

personalities and learning types.

3) Opportunity to gain deeper understanding of the culture in Armenia and to connect

with the people

We were placed in all kinds of new experiences as we participated in the project. We

visited and communicated with the department of education opened up dialogues with

principles, teachers, staff members, and students in Armenia. This allowed us to

observe and understand the challenges that currently exist in the education system. We

also learned about the positive areas of the current education system in Armenia and we

will incorporate those techniques into our BESA project in order to further enhance the

quality of education we provide.

Finally by interacting with so many locals throughout the process of our journey, we

became even more enmeshed and felt more part of the culture in Armenia. Due to this

involvement, we gained a deeper understanding of the culture that is of the same root as

the culture we were raised with, yet has branched off in many directions that we did not

have the opportunity to understand because of the fact that we grew up in different

environments. The branches of our culture developed in different environmental

conditions from the branches of the culture that has developed in Armenia, yet there is

a common root that ties all of us together and gives us the opportunity to understand

one another on a level that other cultures cannot. With this common root as well as the

overall experience of meeting and working with locals in Armenia, we developed a

very strong understanding of what the culture is like in Armenia and this supported us

to connect with the people as well.

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BUDGET

Budget in USA

1) Basic Grammar Book - $19.80

2) Basic Grammar Workbook - $12.36

3) Basic Grammar Book - $30

4) Nonfiction Reading Compression – $8.99

5) Inferencing Workbook - $6.99

6) Sales Tax - $4.48

Total in USA: $82.62

Budget in Armenia (6/20/11 – 8/30)

7) Transportation (Yerevan-Hrazdan) –137,000 AMD a. 27,000 AMD (with different taxi drivers) b. 110,000 AMD (with primary taxi driver)

8) Class Excursion –37,600 AMD

a. 10,000 AMD (bus/transportation)

b. 15,000 AMD (Super market)

c. 750 AMD (bread)

d. 6,850 AMD (fruits+veggies)

e. 5,000 AMD (park fee for 4 hours)

i. To promote group activity

ii. Interaction, games, incorporate information based discussions (ex:

FLEX, Armenia-US exchange student opportunity

9) Other supplies – 1200 AMD a. 340 AMD (notebook)

b. 860 AMD (chalk, pens etc.)

10) Xerox/Copies of worksheets and reading handouts - 47,220 AMD

a. 22,660 AMD (with receipt)

b. 24,560 AMD (without receipt)

i. Copies were made for total 55 students

11) Communication with students and taxi driver – 6,000 AMD

a. Viva cell phone card

12) Certificates – 5,980 AMD

a. 4,600 AMD (50 sheets of Thick Paper)

b. 1,380 AMD (Print)

13) Gift for Principle – 2,000 AMD 14) Rewards for students with perfect attendance – 6,000 AMD

15) Information packets – 5,790 AMD

a. Packet is for further study (topic: grammar + vocab)

Total Armenia: 248,790 AMD = $692

Grand Total: $692 + $82.62 = $774

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