Educational Institution: Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex, Research High School
Participants: Nare Khachatryan, Katrin Gharibyan, Maria Martirosyan, Albert Hovhannisyan, Robert Mkhitaryan
Grade: 11th grade
Teacher: Mariam Arushanyan
Subject and Working Language: English
Project Period: November 2026
Presentation Date: November 24, 2026
Project Topic: Culture & Identity

About the Project

As part of the “Sebastatsi Days: The Educational Complex Festival” project, we are taking part in a research project called “Earth, According to Us”. The main idea is to create a new message about humanity.

As participants, we have to imagine what we would like to tell another civilization about Earth and humanity. Our choices should show not only what we are proud of, but also the values, stories and ideas that we believe are important for human identity.

Our team represents the Culture & Identity topic. We explore the importance of culture, language, traditions and national identity in human history.

Our Research Topic

Our main question is: Which story, work of art or tradition deserves to be one of the eight choices that represent humanity?

We want to understand what makes a culture special, how it is passed from one generation to another, and how it shapes people’s identity.

During our research, we focus on the following questions:

• How does language express the identity of a nation?
• Why do some traditions continue for hundreds of years?
• How can art tell the story of an entire nation?
• Can people from other cultures understand and appreciate our culture?
• What should we preserve and pass on to future generations?

Our Work Process

In the first stage of the project, we learn about the Golden Records sent into space with the Voyager spacecraft. We study their contents and discuss how we can represent the diversity of humanity through a limited number of choices.

Then, as a team, we start researching possible ideas related to Culture & Identity.

Each team member can suggest a story, work of art, image, object or tradition that they think deserves to represent humanity.

We also pay special attention to Armenian culture. We want to find an example that can introduce Armenia to an international audience.

Our work includes:

• Researching the suggested ideas and learning about their history and importance.
• Using at least two reliable sources.
• Comparing different options and discussing them.
• Writing a short explanation in English for each suggestion.
• Discussing possible opposing opinions and preparing answers to them.

Armenian Culture in the Message to Humanity

It is important for our team that at least one of the final eight choices represents Armenia.

We want to explore which part of Armenian culture can best represent our identity. It could be Armenian architecture, music, literature, miniature painting, language or a tradition.

Our goal is not simply to present Armenian culture. We also want to understand what universal human value we can share through it.

Public Presentation: “What Deserves to Represent Us?”

On November 24, 2026, our team will present its three suggestions in English and explain why they are important.

During the presentation, we will answer questions from other teams and the audience, discuss other possible choices and defend our ideas.

For us, it is important not only to share our opinions but also to listen to other people’s arguments. We may even change our original choices during the discussions.

After discussions and voting, eight out of the twelve suggestions will be selected for the class’s final collection.

Expected Results

As a result of our work, our team will have three researched and well-explained suggestions related to Culture & Identity. At least one of them will represent Armenian culture and identity.

The selected suggestions will become part of the class collection called “Earth, According to Us”, together with their explanations in English.

This project gives us an opportunity not only to explore different cultures but also to think about our own identity, cultural heritage and the values we want to pass on to future generations.

Our main idea is that culture is not just a part of the past that we preserve. It is a part of our identity that continues to grow and is passed on to others.

Օր 1. Երկուշաբթի։ 1 ժամ։

Gateway B1. Student’s book.

Check the answers to thesed questions

Part 1. Understanding Yourself

1. Are you the same person at school and at home? What changes in your behavior, and why?
   
   Yes, I am mostly the same person at school and at home because I am naturally quiet, reserved, and not very talkative in both places. The only slight change at home is that I feel completely relaxed and comfortable in my own space, but my calm and quiet behavior remains the same.
   
2. What is something you believed when you were younger but no longer believe? What changed your mind?
   
   When I was younger, I believed that adults always knew the absolute truth about everything and never made mistakes. Growing older changed my mind as I started studying complex topics like software development and handling real-world projects. I realized that adults, including teachers and parents, are constantly learning, adapting, and figuring things out just like everyone else.
   
3. If someone could see your thoughts for one day, what would surprise them most?
   
   What would surprise people most is the constant stream of technical logic, code structures, and tactical game mechanics running through my head. While sitting quietly, I might be mentally optimizing CSS and Python scripts, calculating paths in a simulator, or designing web layouts.
   
4. What is one thing adults often misunderstand about you?
   
   Adults often misunderstand that spending a lot of time on a computer or phone is just idle entertainment. They do not always see the practical value behind it, such as learning programming languages like Python, mastering software tools, or developing problem-solving skills through technical projects and simulations.
   
5. When was the last time you changed your opinion about someone? What happened?
   
   The last time I changed my opinion about someone was during a collaborative school project. Initially, I thought a classmate was unreliable and would not pull their weight, but when we divided the tasks, they took complete ownership of their part and delivered exceptional technical execution, proving my first impression wrong.

Part 2. Making Difficult Choices

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

If I knew nobody would judge me, I would be completely open about every niche project, game design idea, and unconventional tech experiment I want to try, without caring if anyone thinks it is too geeky or unusual.

Would you rather disappoint your friends or disappoint yourself? Explain your choice.

I would rather disappoint my friends than disappoint myself because compromising your own core values and goals to please others leads to losing self-respect. True friends will understand if you stay true to your own path.

Have you ever agreed with someone just because you didn’t want an argument? What did you really think?

Yes, I have agreed with people in minor debates just to save energy when a discussion was going nowhere. Inside, I knew my perspective was correct, but arguing wasn’t worth the wasted time.

If you could remove one school rule, which one would you choose? What would happen if it disappeared?

I would remove the strict restrictions on using personal devices for educational and informational purposes during breaks. If it disappeared, students could use their phones freely to check information, coordinate tasks, and manage their time more efficiently.

Imagine your best friend does something unfair. Would you defend them or tell the truth? Why?

I would tell the truth because covering up an unfair or dishonest action does not help a friend grow, and integrity is more important than blind loyalty.

__________________________

Օր 2 . Երեքշաբթի 2 ժամ։

Preparation of the project, Think, brainstorm, generate the groups

Օր 3. Հինգշաբթի։ 1 ժամ։

Independent Writing and Reflection (20 points)

Task 10. Choose ONE topic. Write 150–180 words.

Option A — Education

Should students be allowed to use AI for school assignments?

Discuss one benefit, one risk, a specific example and your own conclusion.

Option B — Personal Growth

Is failure sometimes more valuable than success?

Describe a real experience, explain what you learned and discuss whether you would make the same decision again.

Option C — The Future

If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be?

Identify the problem, describe a realistic solution, explain its possible consequences and defend your choice.

Օր 4. Ուրբաթ։ 2 ժամ

Finalize the project, come up with new ideas and ready project.Discuss the remaining part