Ukrainian Catholic University hosts American Studies Summer School (08/01/04)

Ukrainian Catholic University hosts American Studies Summer School

by Tom O'Keeffe

LVIV - The fifth annual American Studies Summer School was held from May 29 to June 5 and hosted by the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. Over 30 participants and 18 presenters attended a week of intensive seminars and lectures that addressed the topic "Continuity and Change in American Studies." The American Studies program is supported by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine to enrich teachers of American studies and English with the cultural knowledge that is crucial to a true understanding of a language and people.

Dr. Martha Bohachevsky-Chomiak, director of the school and coordinator of the Fulbright Program in Ukraine, explained: "It is very difficult to learn a language without some knowledge of the society in which it is spoken. That is why, during the period of the existence of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, few of us in the West were able to learn the languages spoken in that vast conglomeration of nations well. The tight control exercised by that regime of those who could enter or leave the country severely limited the opportunities for free exchange of linguistic niceties, let alone normal conversations. The Western languages Soviet citizens spoke were formal and stilted; the Eastern languages we learned were for the most part dated and imprecise."

The participants included professors and teachers from all over Ukraine who desired to enhance their understanding of America in order to better educate their students. Originally, the conference was to be held at the University of Uzhhorod, but due to technical reasons the conference was moved to the city of Lviv. For many this was a welcome change, as Lviv is a UNESCO Cultural Landmark with nearly 750 years of history.

The participants arrived Saturday, May 29. After a welcome luncheon, the sessions immediately got under way, starting with a lecture titled "Diversity in Contemporary African American Fiction" given by Prof. Yurii Stulov of Mensk University in Belarus. An American Literature specialist and one of the only non-American presenters, Mr. Stulov began with a humorous anecdote concerning how it used to be mandated that he include a quote from then-Premier Leonid Brezhnev in his first thesis on American literature. As he was finishing up his paper, Brezhnev died and he was stuck desperately searching for a quotation from the next premier, who happened to be very reticent, especially on the topic of American literature. Today the environment is much different in Ukraine, however, Prof. Stulov said he fears Belarus might be regressing toward its previous ways.

Throughout the week guests came from all over to present in their fields. Prof. Jeffrey Sedgwick, associate professor of political science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, flew in to lecture on the American government, the economy of the United States and the philosophy of Thomas Jefferson. Other American professors had less distance to travel, as many have been lecturing and living in Ukraine already for some time.

Charles Crowther an American English language fellow has been working in Symferopol. He delivered several talks exploring the works of writers from his native New England. Prof. Crowther said he was impressed by the diversity of topics covered by the conference, which matched the diversity of specialties practiced by the students.

ANNAMARIE (her legal name, written in capital letters) is a Peace Corps volunteer who has been living in Cherkasy for three years, training the teachers of the university in Western teaching methods. Developing democracy was a central theme as she deconstructed the film "The Patriot," relating the experiences of America during its first few years of democracy with Ukraine, which is still undergoing its own first few years.

"I was enthusiastic about working at the American Studies Summer School because there are people in Ukraine interested in finding out about democracy and how it should work. The students here represent some of the best professors from the best universities and I want to know what they feel they can do to help democracy develop," she commented.

As for the Ukrainian students who participated in the seven-day program of non-stop lectures, they were exhausted but filled with a greater understanding of America.

Loda Danik, a linguistics teacher from Kherson State Technical University, remarked, "It's the small things that make you understand people better. I didn't know people in America had fences and that they were more popular in Vermont than in California."

The program was not restricted to the classroom but designed to encourage interaction elsewhere, whether it be at dinner, the hotel or exploring the city. As Loda said, "While you talk during coffee breaks, you can discuss the teaching styles that the Americans use and how that differs from our style."

Another student, Olya Kushnikova from Cherkasy, commented on the Ukrainian Catholic University, where the event was held. "It surprised me how kind-hearted the people are here. Students here are serious, the spirit is special, not like at our university."

Even American teachers accustomed to the Ukrainian university system were impressed. "It's so light and bright, so different from what I've seen elsewhere in Ukraine," remarked ANNAMARIE.

Ms. Kushnikova summed up the conference in the following way: "We have learned about differences in the educational system. We have also been given new modern books to bring back to our universities. Most important we have new knowledge we can share with our students."

Further information about the UCU in English and Ukrainian is available on the university's website at www.ucu.edu.ua. Readers may also contact the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation, 2247 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622; phone, (773) 235-8462; e-mail, [email protected]; website, www.ucef.org. The phone number of the UCEF in Canada is (905) 465-3388.

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