(June 10, 2011) -- What’s one class where sophomores have an opportunity to interview an individual about a certain historical event (or idea), and simultaneously expose themselves to a primary source? If you guessed Humanities, then you’re correct. Humanities is a class where students explore sophomore World History and analyze it through their sophomore English class.

Senior Andranik Mkrtchyan reflects back to the class and sees how it has shaped him and provided him with an in-depth analysis of historical events.

“Humanities was an interesting class,” said Mkrtchyan. “I began to appreciate history more than I ever had, since I had the chance to really dig deeper and write about it.” Mkrtchyan said that he enjoyed doing the oral history project and that the project gave him a more insightful view on the life of being a kid during World War II.

The class all started with readings like Kaffir Boy where students had the chance to read about life under apartheid and be influenced by the words of Mark Mathabane: “I followed destiny.”

“Kaffir Boy made me appreciate what I have in life,” Mkrtchyan said. “It tells us the horrors of apartheid that we never saw before the book.”

Following Kaffir Boy, they applied their knowledge on French history to create an imitation newspaper that would be valid during the times of the French Revolution (well, only the students who had the Davises).

As time passed by, students enjoyed their time in Humanities class, they would soon be reading books about the world wars, books like All Quiet on the Western Front and Night.

Toward the end of the year, Mkrtchyan read William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar since he had English teacher Diana McGrath. Mkrtchyan said that history teacher Loretta Ngo would teach them about Rome while they read Julius Caesar and that the lessons allowed him to “completely understand” the subject matter.

“When I first learn history, it seems as if the occurrence is just another thing,” Mkrtchyan said. “But when I explore more about it by listening and understanding primary sources, I actually understand its monumental and global impact.”