This was by far the most group-oriented and interactive class of the 104 series. The workload in terms of learning vocabulary and homework was much less. We spent about half of the class working on a class project, being split up into different groups and all contributing somehow, someway. We learned new vocabulary, and our homework consisted mainly of answering questions about texts we read, learning about various famous places in Armenia. We were able to use all of the skills we learned in previous Armenian classes and use them. We did a few fun group presentations and activities, which felt more like fun than hard work. At the end of the class, we had a final written exam and an oral vocabulary exam, which was very doable. Personally, I messed up on a section of the exam, and Mrs. Hovhannisyan allowed me to do extra credit to bump my grade from an A to an A+ ! It was overall one of my favorite classes at UCLA, and I made a lot of friends within the class, because it was so interactive.

I really appreciated Professor Hovhannisyan's approach to teaching in this class. The pace was steady, and she explained everything in a way that made it easy to follow along without feeling rushed. The assignments weren’t heavy, but they pushed me to actually practice and improve more and more. What stood out was how consistent the class felt. Each week built on the last, so it was easy to see progress over time. The discussions in Armenian were relaxed but still helpful, and participating didn’t feel stressful. I also liked that she checked in with us often and adjusted explanations depending on where people seemed confused. By the end of the quarter, I realized my speaking skills had improved more than I expected. Overall, it was a good learning experience, and I’d recommend the class if you want an environment that’s supportive without being overly intense.

Professor Hovhannisyan’s class has honestly been one of my favorite parts of last quarter. She’s incredibly patient and explains everything in a way that makes you want to learn more. The coursework is thoughtful and manageable, and she always makes sure you’re keeping up and actually understanding the material. You can tell she truly cares about her students and wants them to do well. I’ve grown so much in Armenian thanks to her, and I’m really grateful for the effort she puts into every class. She comes to every class with enthusiasm and the discussions we have in Armenian are very interesting. After improving my Armenian language skills in this class, I decided a present a project on Armenian language in the UCLA 9th Annual Colloquium in Armenian Studies. Even I an surprised how far I have come in speaking
Armenian because of Professor Hovhanissyan. I wish there were more classes like this and will continue taking classes she offers.