ruthie's armenian preschool - inchuig

Ruthie has been going with our tutor's daughter, Iren, to an Armenian preschool called Inchuig. Inchuig means "Little Why". Cute. It meets two days a week for two hours. There are 5 classes that last about 20 minutes each. Since it's a bit overwhelming for a little 6 year old to dive into school classes that she can't understand... guess who's been sitting in on them with her? Yup, me. (although today Kevin had the pleasure!) It's been interesting for me, though, since I love kids and especially that age. (and since my degree is in early childhood education...) For most classes the kids, about 15 of them, line up in little kid sized chairs along the walls and the teachers stand in front. They play a few little games and sing some songs.

Ruth and her Armenian friends study English, art and computer, Russian, music and dance, and math and letters. English is pretty easy for her... :) And Russian is haaard... they're teaching Russian in Armenian! Heh. We don't catch toooo much, but I tell her to just listen anyway. (She's usually sucking her thumb!) Music and dance is kinda fun and she's warming up to that. Coloring and computer times are interesting. She wants her coloring to be perfect and that can be stressful! And for the computer time, they each take turns and watch the others do their turn. The Math and Alphabet class is probably the most like a class in America, with a desk and papers to write on... so she likes that one. Plus, she's good at her math!

All the teachers are very kind to us! Some of them speak English. And I'm hoping to learn Armenian here... :) Most of the moms just wait there since it takes a while to get anywhere in a big city. You'd get there and have to come back. So I've visited a little bit with a couple moms. They like that I'm trying to learn Armenian and think it's a little strange that I came here. One gal said we all want to go to America and you came here! And another gal said that it's a great pleasure that I'm taking the time to learn their language.

In June, they'll put on a little program to show all they've learned. We went to Iren's last "party" and watched her sing and dance. I kinda doubt that Ruth will get up there to perform!? But it's still been an experience for her to be making friends and to be in that environment. When she's sad or shy, her little friends say "vochinch, vochinch" (It's okay, it's okay...) and when it's time to go to the next class Iren says "ari, ari" (come, come...)

I wish they had a little free time to play together. Ruth would be able to interact a little more with the friends that way... When they get outside they run up and down the sidewalk and giggle. It can be easier to make a friend when you're playing! :) But they've all be kind to her, too... In Russian class they were going over the Russian alphabet and when the got to the "R" sound a little boy said - Like Ruth! Sweet.