Teaching, Testing, and Evaluation of Armenian language for Non-native Speakers

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and the Izmirlian Foundation

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and the Izmirlian Foundation to initiate the implementation of the program "Teaching, Testing, and Evaluation of Armenian language for Non-native Speakers".

During the event, a Cooperation Agreement was also signed between the Language Committee, Yerevan State University, and the Izmirlian Foundation. 

The purpose of the initiative is the development of a system for teaching, testing, and evaluating the Armenian language proficiency for non-native speakers.

Based on the latest update of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and the Armenian version of the same framework ("Language Learning/Awareness Pan-European System: Education, Teaching and Evaluation”), a six-level system of education, evaluation, and assessment of Armenian language (corresponding to A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) will be developed along with the legal mechanisms necessary for its implementation. The system will operate both Armenia and beyond its borders. It will provide the opportunity for non-native speakers to learn Armenian, assess their language proficiency, and obtain a certificate verifying their level of proficiency.

The RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Zhanna Andreasyan expressed her gratitude to the partners for uniting around an important idea and for their support to the Foundation. "The necessity of the program was more than evident, and it has been a longstanding item on our agenda," she said. "There are many issues in this field to be addressed. Despite our focus on the development and promotion of the Armenian language, we still face challenges with fundamental tools. With this program, we will finally have a toolkit that can be applied across various dimensions," stated the minister, as she outlined the diverse range of beneficiaries who will greatly benefit from the program.

"Anyone arriving in Armenia requires certification and validation of Armenian language proficiency based on internationally recognized standards. We also encounter legislative challenges, such as the need to regulate Armenian language proficiency requirements for positions like judges and deputies. The program holds crucial significance for foreign and Diaspora Armenian students enrolled in Armenian universities. Similarly, this issue affects schools, where many children returning to Armenia after studying abroad face challenges in assessing their Armenian language proficiency levels. Therefore, the need for continued efforts in assessing and verifying Armenian language skills for enhancing the effectiveness of the educational process is obvious," stated Zhanna Andreasyan.

She further underscored the significance of the program in driving institutional reforms. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, with the development of criteria for assessing Armenian language proficiency, aims to establish a comprehensive system that, as a methodology, will be applicable to other processes as well. The Minister emphasized that the new program is considered within the realm of developing language policy and will contribute to outlining scope of this concept.

A professional group will be established within the framework of the program. This group will include experts from Yerevan State University (YSU), Brusov State University, and the Language Committee. The head of this group will be Davit Gyurjinyan, the rector of Brusov State University.

In addition to the Minister's remarks, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Artur Martirosyan highlighted that the new system for assessing Armenian language proficiency will not only evaluate individuals' language skills but also enhance opportunities for Diaspora Armenians and foreign students to study in Armenia.

Siranush Dvoyan, Chairwoman of the RA Language Committee, underscored the importance of establishing the new system, which will enhance the vitality of the Armenian language in the contemporary technological world. "It may appear that only widely spoken languages can develop such systems or participate in the technological sphere. However, modern realities dictate otherwise: even languages with a limited reach can establish systems that integrate into global processes. This program aims not only to address language challenges within Armenia but also to promote the broader adoption of the Armenian language beyond Armenia," she emphasized.

Siranush Dvoyan expressed gratitude to YSU, the Izmirlian Foundation, and the program's professional team, highlighting their active cooperation. She emphasized the necessity of taking clear steps towards international recognition of the system, indicating that legal mechanisms for its implementation will be developed in the near future.

"The criteria aligned with international and European standards will be developed by the end of this year. During the first half of 2025, we will formulate tasks and create the platform. Subsequently, we will conduct testing of the overall system, enabling us to identify any issues with the assistance of relevant specialists and address them," stated the chairwoman of the Language Committee.

Armen Chobanyan, Country Director of the Izmirlian Foundation, expressed gratitude to the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport for effective cooperation and joint implementation of projects.

"Education is perhaps the most important of our Foundation's strategic goals. Despite Armenian being one of the world's oldest languages, we lack a measurable tool to assess language proficiency. This program is also crucial for the economy because in a changing world, there is an increasing demand for foreign language skills and foreign workforce, which is a typical process in developed economies," Armen Chobanyan emphasized, underscoring the program's importance from an economic development perspective.

The program is implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of the Republic of Armenia and the Language Committee with the co-financing of the Izmirlian Foundation.