On July 28, participants of the “Diaspora” Summer School Program (participants of the Course for Community Leaders, the Accelerated Armenian Language Course and the Courses for Teachers of Armenian Language and Educators of Armenian Schools of the Diaspora) visited the Armenian Virtual University of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).

Long distance teacher and coordinator of the hybrid program Arpine Talakalyan received the participants and delivered a cognitive lecture.

Greeting the guests, Talakalyan provided background information about the Armenian Virtual University.  “Although the Armenian Virtual University Program was drafted in 2004 by President of AGBU Silicon Valley Chapter Yervand Zoryan, the first academic year was launched in 2009. The University offers programs for different levels and in six languages, including Armenian (Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian), English, Russian, French, Spanish and Turkish. As a matter of fact, the University launched the Turkish language program just recently at the request of Armenians living in Turkey and lacking knowledge of Armenian,” Arpine Talakalyan emphasized.

The Armenian Virtual University offers courses on Armenian Language, Armenian History, Armenian Culture and Chess. The long distance chess course was created in association with the Chess Academy of Armenia and represents the online version of the chess course held at schools across Armenia. The course is free at www.avc-agbu.org.

The speaker drew the attention of the participants of the summer school program to the University’s hybrid program, which includes conventional and long distance teaching. The program is adapted for daily and one-day schools, as well as one-day centers. Arpine Talakalyan urged the participating teachers of the “Diaspora” Summer School Program to also refer to the University’s multimedia books that users can download from the website for free.

In an interview with Hayern Aysor, Armine Manukyan, one of the participants attending the meeting and teacher of the “Hai Ler Sofia” Armenian Sunday School based in Bulgaria, mentioned that she has been collaborating with the Armenian Virtual University for several years now. The Armenian Sunday School participates in the University’s hybrid program and, according to the teacher, the school is content with the results of the course.

Let us add that the more than 3,800 students of the Armenian Virtual University are between the ages of 14 and 83 and live in 75 countries around the world.