Drawing Competition.

Welcome to English-Speaking Club. Last month we had a variety of topics discussed: 1.11 Birthday Party, 8.11 How do you feel, 15.11 Idioms and Set Expressions, 22.11 Thanksgiving Day, 29.11 Drawing Competition.
Are you found of drawing? Have you got imagination? You can come and show your drawing skills. Our participants worked in pairs and the task was to copy the picture but….without seeing it! One of the partners was given the picture and he gave instructions to the other partner, so that he could draw the picture without looking at it. In the end we presented our pieces of art and results were amusing!

Conversation Circle

Window on American Center hosted this month meetings of Conversation Circle for our patrons. In November the sessions devoted to various topics “Halloween”, “Developing countries”, “Creation of a magazine”, “AIDS”, “Thanksgiving Day”, were conducted by Jennifer Alton, US Peace Corps TEFL Volunteer. Discussions were very lively, useful and insightful. Our patrons asked many questions, shared their views, participated in several quizzes and games. All participants were glad to improve their English in such a wonderful way.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities - 3 December 2011

Book exhibition devoted to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with theme for 2011: “Together for a better world for all:
Including persons with disabilities in development”
was organized in Sumy Oblast Research Library. This exhibition attracted special interest thanks to documentary film about people with disabilities titled: “First of all we are people” This film helps to increase the understanding of the issues around disabilities and pays attention to the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

Online English Language Teaching Resources

On 30 of November the English school teachers of Sumy and Sumy region gathered at WOA center. We conducted a presentation on “Online English Language Teaching Resources” for 14 teachers. Our guests were exposed to the WOA book collection and trained to use Kindle and iPads. All educators enjoyed the meeting.

Undergraduate Exchange Program

On November 11 Window on America center hosted the presentation of program of the Open Society Institute Undergraduate Exchange Program for students of Sumy universities.
The presentation was held by Nataliya Bulgakova the director of the Kharkiv Educational Advising Center Osvita. The Undergraduate Exchange Program is a two- year fellowship involving one year, non-degree liberal arts study in the USA and one-year community service leadership in home country.
The students were informed about content of the program, its opportunities, application and selection process.
The presentation revealed a great interest of the students to the studying in the universities of the USA.
For more details and On-line Application Form please visit: www.soros.org/initiatives/scholarship/focus_areas/undergraduate_exchange.

Innovative technologies in the library work

On November 10th a meeting with librarians of district libraries of Sumy Region took place in Sumy Oblast Research Library.
The librarians learnt the specificity of the department work, its books and DVD collections.
For the specialists of library science was presented information about department’s work with the Internet resources: website of the department, literature blog, Facebook page and EBSCO resources which help in the work of professionals.
The most interesting information for the librarians was the information about work of the Window on America Centre.
At the end of the meeting our guests worked with the new gadgets: iPad and Kindle. Meeting took place in a warm atmosphere, the librarians were very much interested and at the same time admired by the work and opportunities of our center.

What would you do to make our city better?

Welcome to English-Speaking Club. Last month we had a variety of topics discussed:
4.10 I’d like to make my city better.
Sumy is a wonderful city with a plenty of places of interest, but still it needs improvements. Today our guests tried to answer the question what would you do to make our city better? They played the game “Mayor election”. Each candidate presented his program on Sumy improvement and spoke about the problems to be solved in our city. At the end participants of our club had to vote for the best candidate.
11.10 Describing a Picture
18.10 Writing a letter to your friend
25.10 Synonyms and antonyms