The Role of Language, Faith and Community in School Choice for Armenian Families
The Armenian diaspora adds value to communities around the world. And makes for an interesting culture for natives to engage with and learn about. When it comes to education, Armenia offers a solid grounding in literacy and the basics, but many head abroad for higher education to boost their business, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and either stay locally as part of an exciting new culture, or head back home to add value to Armenian businesses and industry.
For young Armenians looking to escape Russian influence, as the country moves beyond post-Soviet traditions, US and European destinations are highly tempting, offering a route to high-quality English language teaching and exposure to western culture.
With such a flow of ideas and education, this article gives an overview of the needs of Armenian families and students, and how language, faith and community play a key role. With many heading to the US, France (as it plans to join the EU) and Canada.
The Armenian Apostolic Church plays a keystone role in the country’s culture, and is broadly welcomed wherever Armenians settle, but for those of other faiths, they will typically find a warm welcome in most nations.
Also, Armenian culture is spreading fast, and families can use newly local influences to develop a foothold in new countries and communities, and bring their families along for a valuable education in a new country. Only a possessive fear of losing culture and offspring prevents this, which is usually unfounded in the vast majority of experiences.
The Role of Education for Armenian Communities
American schools and colleges might appear in the headlines for all the wrong reasons with politics and campus shootings a growing problem. But they still offer largely secure educational institutions with globally recognised awards, and a welcoming student body that is already highly diverse.
Most are protected by advanced security systems and school security cameras to keep students safe from the prosaic problems of day-to-day education, and most are now well drilled against more serious incidents. American culture also identifies and focuses on any strong skills students have and will promote them heavily through extra-curricular and higher-level education.
The Power of Language
US Armenian schools are predominantly based in New York and California, making them prime targets for students. Some schools in Armenian communities will make special efforts to promote Armenian culture, language and religion, while providing the best of American, British (focused on London), or more local education facilities. This can often involve sharing courses or integrating students, depending on the specific area and need.
Learning English to a high level obviously has major cultural benefits and educational value, boosting a young pupil’s academic development, and hugely increasing the social skills of older students. While parents are naturally concerned about the loss of culture, most local diasporas have enough gravity toward the homeland to create little Armenia’s that promote the best of culture and help to integrate with the broader community through social and cultural events.
Those alone will help younger Armenians studying abroad retain some respect for their home values, and be proud enough to share them with others. Through online resources, home is never really that far away for families or students, and with a proud online voice, absorbing news and culture from home integrates into every student’s day.
Religion and Education Values in Harmony
While religion plays a minimal role in most US schools, the world’s faiths are tolerated and welcomed. And any Christian education typically follows similar values to those of Armenian Apostolic and related religions and influences.
Schools with a strong Armenian student base can become a second home outside the church for religion, as well as a hub for Armenian-focused social events and traditions, to help retain local customs and knowledge.
Armenian education can access knowledge and lessons from across the generations with parents and grandparents being involved. Partnering with Armenian schools can deliver shared stories about the old and new worlds, held over Zoom meetings or by arranging exchanges to help maintain and grow new ties.
Every home culture worries about the loss of tradition when individuals and groups move abroad, but in the majority of cases, those worries are unfounded. Even after some high-spirited early months away from home. But that’s the case for all students, who will soon learn the values of their new culture while becoming more comfortable with their own, and integrating the two in their own unique way.
Armenia continues to take its place across the global landscape with a progressive, yet traditional outlook. One that will see more of its young head abroad to study. Wherever they go, and whatever they study, they will stay connected through language, faith and community in all their forms.
