Mohyla Institute hosts 37th annual language and culture immersion program (10/01/06)

Mohyla Institute hosts 37th annual language and culture immersion program

by Ron Trischuk

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - The 37th annual Mohyla Ukrainian Language and Cultural Immersion Summer Program was held here on July 5 through August 7.

Thirty-one students arrived at St. Petro Mohyla Institute from Canada to attend the nationally and internationally recognized program. In addition to eight Saskatchewan centers, students originated from Ottawa, Mississauga, King City and Toronto in Ontario, as well as Alpharetta, Ga., and Tucson, Ariz.

Students were under the capable direction of Carissa Klopoushak (program director), while Marko Baran, Nissa Baran and Stephen Harasymchuk were the three couselors. The Ukrainian language instructors were Father Jeffrey Stefaniuk and Dr. Olena Akulova.

The next five weeks involved intensive formal study of the Ukrainian language - 100 hours of instruction - plus bandura instruction, choral singing, Ukrainian dance instruction, folk art and cooking, as well as sports activities daily. Throughout all of the activities the students were expected to maintain the total immersion atmosphere and speak Ukrainian.

Over the five weeks, a conversational hour was part of the schedule each evening. Topics were far-ranging and included current Ukrainian affairs, the Orange Revolution, historical highlights, Kozak legends, folk and contemporary music, and Ukrainian movie classics.

Every Sunday the students attended a Ukrainian-language divine liturgy. Arrangements were made to attend local Saskatoon churches, as well as other parishes in Saskatchewan. In addition, the students performed several mini-concerts as a way of highlighting their accomplishments at Mohyla. This year they performed at Ilarion Residence, St. Joseph's Home, Zeleny Hai (Green Grove Camp) and St. Volodymyr Camp near Pike Lake.

For the third year in a row, the students performed at the Dauphin National Ukrainian Festival's Sunday Showcase. The Dauphin festival has provided students with a tremendous opportunity to watch other fine performances, take in some festival activities, have a great road trip and, above all, provide a performance for a national audience.

The program has developed some best-loved traditions of its own. The folk rituals commemorating the night of Ivan Kupalo took place on the banks of the Saskatchewan River. The "Svichka Ceremony" also took place on the final evening of the Mohyla program. During the ceremony, a single candle is passed around the circle of students and councillors. As the candle reaches each person, he or she expresses feelings and impressions of his/her experiences over the past five weeks - emotional, tearful, grateful, proud and happy. It is a significant moment for all.

The final concert at Walter Murray Collegiate on August 7 was impressive, the auditorium was filled to capacity with more than 300 people. The audience was treated to a two-hour concert.

The organizing committee was grateful for the guidance of Nadia Prokopchuk, Ukrainian language consultant with the Saskatchewan Department of Learning. The Grade 10 students who attended Mohyla piloted Saskatchewan Learning's new online credit course - the first of its kind in Canada. By means of this program, language learning is extended to the home environment, where assistance from family members may be available. Plans are under way to pilot the next level of online instruction, Ukrainian 20, at the Mohyla summer program in 2007.

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