Armenian Language

Josh Kleinbaum Anahid Keshishian is quick to point out that her latest stage venture is not a poetry reading, even though the actors will be reading poetry. "It's very theatrical, it's very visual," said Keshishian, the creator and director of "They Were Poets," a play featuring Armenian poetry translated into English. "It's a risky thing to do, taking poems and making them into theater, because it's an emotional roller coaster. They go from the jubilee of a wedding to a funeral, and then to erotic love songs.

Josh Kleinbaum Whenever the Glendale Public Library tried to add Armenian-language books to its collection, the library always had to pay a premium. The books are hard to find, and because they are hard to find, they are expensive. This week, the library hit pay dirt. The American Armenian International College, a school affiliated with the University of La Verne that has been closed for more than a decade, is donating its entire Armenian-language collection to Glendale.

The Pacific Park branch of the Glendale Public Library will host a special program focusing on Armenian-American heritage. Armenian Heritage & Culture vis-a-vis the American Identity begins 2 p.m. Saturday. A panel of guests will address keeping Armenian traditions alive in the U.S., backgrounds of Armenian families, influences on Armenian society and the Armenian language. Panelists include Ardashes Kassakhian, Nareg Keshishian, Tamar Kevonian, Jenny Kilejian, Roger Kupelian, Stepan Partamian, Anahid Oshagan, Serouj Ourishian and Garen Yegparian.

ANI AMIRKHANIAN Extracurricular activities such as dance and singing lessons at the Armenian Society of Los Angeles were an added bonus to my Saturday Armenian classes. No student ever graduated Saturday Armenian school without being instilled with some musical talent. Singing lessons were offered with little instruction and excluded any formal training in note reading. The instructor, who was also the language teacher, would accompany the students with his violin.

ANI AMIRKHANIAN A job in public service of any kind has its advantages as well as disadvantages. A definite disadvantage is that you have to put up with peoples' whining, complaining and most of all excuses, since a lot of people happen to think that the rules don't apply to them. An advantage to working for the public sector is that one always leaves work knowing that a helping hand can make the difference in someone's day. Another advantage is that it allows one to learn about different personal characteristics and human behaviors.

Josh Kleinbaum Half an hour before a special service for the Feast of the Pentecost, a man named Gegham sat alone on a bench outside the sanctuary of St. Matthew's Church. As parishioners walked in, he stood, smiled and shook their hands. But for Gegham, an Armenian American, the exchanges go no further than a handshake. "He's been coming here for about three years," Pastor Keith Banwart said. "He's probably one of our most faithful members, and he doesn't speak a word of English."

PATRICK AZADIAN As an Armenian, it seems almost every task has a certain element of suffering attached to it. My theory is that 3,000 years of oppression in the hands of foreign invaders has introduced a "suffering gene" to the Armenian makeup. It makes us suffer even on a simple trip to Trader Joe's. Moreover, it is not uncommon that in certain situations we fabricate an oppressor, and willingly fill the role of the oppressed. One note of caution on this column to the ultranationalists: The following contains plenty of embellishments and nonscientific generalizations; put on your light-hearted hat. On the matter of crossing the street Some Armenian-American senior citizens, who would not be able to fast-walk to save their lives, will attempt to cross Brand Boulevard at undesignated areas during rush hours.

Gary Moskowitz Since the district's English Language Development program came under criticism last summer from parents, Joanna Junge has been busy correcting what she calls simple misconceptions about how the program works. Junge is the coordinator of curriculum and intercultural education and instructional services for the Glendale Unified School District. She works closely with the district's Welcome Center staff and language translators, who determine students' language skills when they enter the district.

Gary Moskowitz A pilot program to offer Korean-language classes at Crescenta Valley High School has sparked so much interest that Glendale Unified board members intend to make the classes permanent. Board members this week said that a high amount of interest -- 66 students enrolled in two Korean-language classes at the school -- was sufficient to continue offering the classes. Any new class requires between 35 to 60 students to be considered for permanent status, officials said.

The city went Hollywood on Monday as Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams got made up and memorized lines for a public-service announcement filmed as part of the city's pedestrian safety campaign. Five public-service announcements will be shot to focus on children and senior citizens, as well as cell-phone safety and the flashing pedestrian crosswalks, city spokesman Ritch Wells said. Adams will do the tagline, "Walk defensively. It may save your life," on all the English versions of the commercial.