Bardi Invites You to Avedisian School
Tens of thousands of people participate in this online game every day. It is known as Blockhead in Great Britain, Literati or Words with Friends in the United States, Vocabulario Puede in Spain, and Балда (Balda) in Russia. The Avedisian version of this game is offline and has been named Bardi (Armenian: Poplar) by teacher Z. Sargsyan who introduced it to the school.
7 Years Already
The game was introduced at Avedisian School seven years ago. Initially, it served as a pedagogical tactic to enhance vocabulary and instill a love for reading among elementary school students. Playing Bardi without learning new words would be akin to traveling without leaving the room.
For the erudite, book-loving, and intelligent students at Avedisian School, Bardi has become a cherished activity. It rapidly gained popularity among high schoolers as well. Within 2-3 years, Bardi has become “contagious”, capturing an interest in almost all of our young lexophiles. The results are evident in the students’ enriched vocabulary, showcased through the use of synonyms, antonyms, neologisms, archaisms, professional jargon, and word formation. Some students have even ventured to play the same game in foreign languages.
Bardi Championship
The Bardi championship, determining the best Bardi team of the academic year, began in 2018. Teams from each grade initially compete against each other, and the winning teams advance to the next round. The unique aspect of this competition is that it unfolds in absolute silence, with no casual walk-ins allowed. Language enthusiasts breathlessly follow the words on the screen, keeping score of their favorite teams, and mentally creating new words as if they were participants. An exciting moment is when Mrs. Geghamyan announces the winning team, which then proceeds to play against the teachers’ team!
Since 2022, Bardi has seamlessly integrated with Avedisian’s rich traditions. Before each Bardi contest, the school’s talented students showcase Armenian songs, musical performances, and poetry recitations, adding a cultural touch to the event.
A Draw: Which Team Will Compete Against the Teachers?
With such broad participation and intense competition, it’s no surprise that no winners were chosen in the 2022-2023 academic year. The final tournament, on the eve of their exams, ended in a draw with a score of 40-40 between the 11th and 12th-grade students.As the suspense yet awaits a resolution, the 11th-grade team took initiative. The young lexophiles announced that they would step up to play against the teachers at the beginning of the new academic year. They went on to wish success to their seniors in their upcoming graduation exams.
They will have ample time to read and expand their vocabulary during the summer holidays in preparation for the final round.
To all “wordmasters” from schools in Yerevan, Bardi extends a heartfelt invitation to Avedisian for participation in the annual Bardi championships.
