For intermediate Armenian speakers, readers, and writers. It is better to take this class if you have either taken 104A or have at least a bit of knowledge of reading, writing, and speaking, but want to improve. If you are already too advanced or don't know enough, you likely won't be able to take it. That aside, 104B with Mrs. Hovhannisyan was great. Having learned how to read and write in 104A, this class was focused on refining skills and improving upon reading texts and answering questions about them, writing, and learning new vocabulary. This class I found to be much more interactive, especially because we paired up a lot to practice reading to each other and studying the new vocabulary words we learned together. Homeworks were discussed as a class. Overall, a great class, definitely worth taking. If you put in the work and show that you are trying, you will get an A. I was always a slower reader and test taker in Armenian, but Mrs. Hovhanissyan understood and took that into account. Try your best, and you'll enjoy 104B. Also, Mrs. Hovhanissyan always gives extra credit opportunities to give a bump to your grade as close to an A+ as possible, but be prepared to put in the work for it. It's better to attend class and participate so you won't have to make up assignments. This class will also help you build confidence, because everybody gets a chance to speak, present, and answer questions. She is very compassionate, both when you mess up and when you do well. The exams are usually oral vocabulary exams and written, but are very doable as long as you keep up, especially because she gives practice exams and tells you what to study.

Professor Hovhannisyan teaches in a very calm and clear way, and it made the material feel approachable no matter your starting level. The assignments were reasonable and always connected well with what we were learning, and she checked in often to make sure everyone was following along. Our discussions were interesting, and over time I noticed myself becoming more comfortable speaking than I ever expected. Her enthusiasm for the language makes the class feel meaningful, and it’s clear she cares about her students’ progress. I’m really glad I took this class and would definitely sign up for more courses with her in the future.

This class was one of my favorite ones I have taken at UCLA. Professor Hovhanissyan is not only great at teaching Armenian but she is also understanding of students’ proficiency levels in Eastern Armenian. When I took this class, I only knew the
Armenian letters and could read very slow. She was very understanding and assigned me targeted assignments, which are usually just writing or reading a small paragraph. The class is conducted in Eastern Armenian, which further improved my
Armenian speaking skills. By the end of the class, I could read and write much faster and had more confidence speaking Armenian with my friends and family. Professor Hovhanissyan truly cares about each student and does everything she can to ensure she provides ample opportunities for each student to do well in class. If she sees you trying to improve, you will do very well in the class. I am glad the Armenian department at UCLA has incredible lectures like her!