UNA's English language program holds a reunion of volunteers (12/15/96)

UNA's English language program holds a reunion of volunteers

by Roman and Stephanie Karpishka

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - The October 19-20 weekend reunion at Soyuzivka of English language teaching volunteers in Ukraine brought together veterans and novices of the summer teaching experience - 1996 marking the fifth year of these joint Ukrainian National Association (U.S.) and Prosvita (Ukraine) projects.

Under the direction of Dr. Zirka Voronka (project director) and Oksana Trytjak (project coordinator), the successes of the past five years were discussed and recommendations for the future were elicited from the participants.

It was most interesting to observe the exchange of ideas between various teachers who expanded upon the formal teaching materials and manual to develop their own methodology in order to get a greater level of student participation in the English courses.

Some teachers encouraged poetry writing - with sensitive and touching thoughts being expressed by even the youngest students. Others had democratic election procedures explained to them and reviewed recent political events relating to Ukraine. For example, they acted out election procedures and spoke about the highlights of President Leonid Kuchma's recent visit to the United States.

Several educators, adopting a more flexible style of teaching as compared to the formalistic methods still prevalent in Ukraine, insisted on having their charges sit around in a circle, rather than row by row, for ease of communication. Some of the students' parents would come by to observe this "novel" yet probably very ancient Socratic method of student-teacher dialogue, and all seem to have been impressed by the results.

Generally, the teachers agreed that flexibility was essential to tailor their lessons to the age and receptivity of their respective student groups. Thus, various field trips were worked into the summer's teaching programs - as long as the theme of "speaking English" was adhered to.

One participant of the reunion, having recently retired from active pedagogical duty, expressed a desire to return to Ukraine to develop linguistic programs of his own. Thus, he himself "graduated" from summer ESL teaching experiences to another enriching career with the UNA/Prosvita "English as a Second Language" courses.

Several teachers also noted their personal hopes for some of their more gifted students by expressing a serious interest in encouraging talented and well-motivated youngsters to come to America to study, being ready to accommodate them in their own homes in order to support the keen scholarship of promising individuals. Discussion also centered on immigration requirements and various post-secondary academic admission forms and documentation that might facilitate students' visits to America.

Two teachers spoke of their problems with U.S. Embassy personnel in Kyiv, who seem to assume or suspect that young students will not want to return to Ukraine. Others noted that, with privatization and joint ventures in Ukraine, the knowledge of English will soon be a tremendous asset for any ambitious and global-thinking individual living in Ukraine.

There was no doubt that English language proficiency for Ukrainian youth is the key to the world of business, diplomacy and for the better promotion and recognition of Ukraine's national interests and identity beyond its borders.

It was particularly fascinating to hear certain teachers without any Ukrainian heritage or background express their happiness with Ukrainian youths, and consistently state that they would return again next summer. The courses also offered chances to convey North American values and lifestyles to youths whose early academic years were impeded by the repressions and restraints of Soviet society.

Unfortunately, the summer of 1996 experienced some reductions in the teaching program, as many parents, not having received timely wages in Ukraine, could not budget for ESL course expenses. There were some discrepancies in the programs' applications, but in certain instances these were quite understandable (for example, Chornobyl children were taught free of charge).

Recommendations included future use of video materials in English to supplement the course books wherever TV monitors and video systems could be provided by schools. The opportunity to introduce Ukrainian cultural content into the English courses was noted also. (Perhaps various Ukrainian youth organizations active in North America might attempt to develop the contents of such new "Ukrainian cultural content" ESL course materials, and forward such to UNA participants in the summer teaching sessions.)

On Saturday evening, the teachers' reunion was highlighted by an embroidery presentation by Myroslava Stachiv and her husband, Dennis. The Stachivs have participated in teaching in Ukraine since the inception of the UNA/Prosvita program in 1992. Mrs. Stachiv's embroidered heraldry from various oblasts and regions of Ukraine was displayed in the Soyuzivka library, offering a better appreciation of Ukraine's history and heritage.

All the volunteer English teachers shared a renewed enthusiasm for future efforts in Ukraine, and expressed encouragement for other qualified and dedicated persons to seriously consider a four-week teaching - and learning - experience in Ukraine in the summer of 1997.

(Details of the 1997 program will be announced in The Ukrainian Weekly early next year.)