Several times a year, we receive inquiries about learning Armenian. On this page is listed various textbooks and tapes you might want to purchase (or read at a major library), as well as some summer language institutes.
The first choice you must make is whether you want to learn ashkharhabar (modern Armenian) or grabar (Classical Armenian). If ashkharhabar, you need to choose between Western Armenian (the language of the Armenian diaspora, excluding Iran), or Eastern Armenian (the language of the Armenians of the Republic of Armenia, as well as those of Karabakh and Iran).
Western Armenian
Bardakjian, Kevork B. and Robert W. Thomson. A Textbook of Modern Western Armenian (Delmar, NY: Caravan Books, 1977).
Boy, Stella Malkasian and Hagop Atamian. Functional Armenian, Level One (New York: Armenian General Benevolent Union, 1977).
Kurkjian, Haroutiun. Practical Textbook of Western Armenian: Self-Teaching
Armenian Language Method Adopted for English by Virginia
Pattie (Paris, Beirut, Los Angeles: Armenian Diaspora Series, 1980).
This is a book and a set of cassette tapes.
Melkonian, Zareh. Armenian Made Easy There are three volumes total, with a second edition published by the AGBU in 1975-76, and apparently reprinted by Zareh Melkonian himself in 1979.
Sakayan, Dora. Modern Western Armenian for the English-Speaking World: A Contrastive Approach (Montreal: Arod Books, 2000).
Samuelian, Thomas J. A Course in Modern Western Armenian: Exercises and Commentary (New York: Armenian National Education Committee, 1989). This was reprinted by the publisher in 2000.
Samuelian, Thomas J. A Course in Modern Western Armenian: Dictionary
and Linguistic Notes (New York: Armenian National
Education Committee, 1989).
Vocabulearn Armenian (Western) (Carlsbad, CA: Penton Overseas,
1988).
This is a set of cassette tapes.
Zekiyan, Boghos Levon (ed). Hayeren Khosink: Manuale Guida per il
Corso Audovisivo di Linga Armena (Venice: Universita degli Studi di
Venezia, Associazione Padus-Arxes, 1993). and the accompanying videotape
Hayeren Khosink: Corso Audiovisivo de Lingua Armena.
I'm not sure if this is sold in the U.S. or not.
Fairbanks, Gordon H. and Earl W. Stevick. Spoken East Armenian
(Ithaca, NY: Spoken Language Services, 1989).
This is a book and a set of cassette tapes.
Raffi Kojaian's Cilicia website has Eastern Armenian lessons online now. Go to www.cilicia.com/armo_lesson000.html
Thomson, Robert W. An Introduction to Classical Armenian (Delmar, NY: Caravan Books, 1975).
Where to buy all this material:
1) National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), 395 Concord Ave, Belmont, MA 02178 (617-489-1610) is the largest Armenian bookseller in the U.S.
2) Hamo Vassilian's Armenian Reference Books, P.O. Box 231, Glendale, CA 91209 (818-504-2550) is one of several California-based booksellers.
3) Berj Bookstore, 422 S. Central Ave., Glendale, CA 91204 (818-244-3830), is another. Sardarabad Book Service, also in Glendale, is a third.
4) The Diocese (630 Second Ave, New York, NY 10016, 212-686-0710) and
the Prelacy (138 E. 39th St., New York, NY 10016, 212-689-7810)
are also major booksellers (and publishers).
5) Caravan Books (P.O. Box 344, Delmar, NY 12054-0344) keeps all their books in print (not inexpensive, but in print).
The Armenian Relief Society sponsors one every summer in Massachusetts. The Armenian Library and Museum of America in Massachusetts also sponsors one as well. There is also a summer institute in Venice (sponsored by the Universita degli Studi di Venezia), as well as one in Ann Arbor (sponsored by the University of Michigan, e-mail Julie Septrion [septrion@umich.edu] for more information). Yerevan State University (YSU) also has a program. Concerning Yerevan State University, we have two sources of information: 1) a flyer printed by the Armenian Studies Program at CSU-Fresno that says that American students can study at YSU for either a semester, a year, or a degree (the flyer says to apply through the Fresno program, and 2) a booklet published by YSU itself. The booklet says that YSU has agreements with Fresno, Riverside (also in California), Michigan, Northeastern, and George Mason University.
Arizona State University has a summer program. E-mail James Hathaway (hathaway@asu.edu) for more information.
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