English Speaking Club

The English Speaking Club again began its work In December 2014.  Now it is led by Australian citizen Colin Palmer. There were three meetings of the club in December. The first meeting took place on the 13^th of December. Colin introduced himself and acquainted with the people. The second meeting was on the 20^th of December. Its topic was “Why do you learn English”? Everybody was asked and answered. Some people learn English in order to pass different kinds of exams, some for the better communication with foreigners while travelling to the English speaking countries and of course it is learned just for fun and pleasure of reading books in English or watching movies in it etc.  During the third meeting on the 27^th of December the members of the club played the board game “Scrabble”.

One Small Cup of Coffee

  Women’s club “One small cup of coffee”began to work in the Window on America center. There were two meetings of the club in November. During the meetings members of the club among communicating to each other usually drink coffee. Two first meetings were devoted to the discussion of different topics, among them the creative work of Nobel Prize winners Patrick Modiano and William Faulkner, introduction of the modern painters Sally Swatland and Redondo, acquaintance with the rules of interior design of the bedroom, the art of dressing (autumn street-look), workshops on handmade décor and patchwork style “Grandmother’s flower garden”. It is planned to gather users of the library and held two meetings of the club per month.

Opportunities to study in the USA

On Sunday November 23th, we conducted a presentation on different opportunities to study in the USA at the Window on America Center. During the presentation the information was given about Global UGRAD, Fulbright programs and “Opportunity” grant. Alumni Kyryl shared his academic and volunteering experience which he gained being participant of the Undergraduate Exchange Program.

International Education Week in Sumy

In frame of the International Education Week on November 19 Nataliya Bulgakova, director,EducationUSA Adviser (Kharkiv) presented International Academic Exchange Programs funded by the US Government. During the presentation our participants students from Academy of Banking knew about Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD), Fulbright Graduate Student Exchange Program, Opportunity Funding Program. The meeting was also attended by Undergraduate Exchange Program alumni Kyryl. He shared his study and students life experience with our patrons and answered the questions.

Meeting with English Teachers

On November 17, Sumy Window on America Center hosted meeting with 10 English teachers from “Green Apple Language School”. The presentation on English language teaching and learning resources online were introduced to our participants by the center's coordinator. We introduced new library members to our center services and collections. Also our guests had the opportunity to learn about and work with the iPads and Kindle.

 

Window on America center services and resources for studying English

   On November 6, 19 first year students from Sumy Pegagogical University visited Window on America center. We carried out the presentation for students about the goals and objectives of the Window on America Center and the main activities for students. We provided detailed information on books and information resources for studying English. Special attention was paid to the fund of literature of Window on America center. It was a nice event and we hope to see our students at the Center again!

Meeting with vice consul

   On October 30 Sumy Window on America center had set up special event with Sharon Ryan – Vice Consul of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine. Our guest gave presentation on studying abroad. More than 100 students from different universities were able to know about education opportunities in the USA with different US exchange programs such as Work and Travel, Camp Counselors, Au Pair, Intern program. Also they got faithful information on visa application procedure. At the end of this interesting and very informative presentation vice consul answered numerous questions on the topic.

Games and fun activities are a vital part of teaching English

   Do you want hundreds of ideas and inspiration to make your teaching easier and more fun?  Do you need to know how to motivate your pupils, help them learn and enjoy your lessons more? On October 29  we discussed these questions with English language teachers from Sumy and Sumy region. We presented different websites, Kindles and iPads which help teachers to put the fun back into their teaching, to teach English language through games, short stories, songs. Games will help students master English vocabulary and grammar, develop good word recognition, listening, reading and spelling skills. Our participants became interested in Window on America center resources and we hope that they will effectively use them in their academic activities, visit the center more often on their own and together with their students.

Gaming Day

Gaming Day continues to be quite popular at the American Center! We hold our Gaming Day every week at the Center. There are a lot of the world’s best board games available for play. Come to us every Sunday at 14.00 to play and have a good time.

English Speaking Club

Good news from the Sumy Window on America Center. From October 2014 the English Speaking Club began its work two times a week. Now those who are interested in learning English can meet on Wednesdays and Fridays. As usual during the meetings people learn new words and word combinations, repeat grammar rules, discuss interesting topics, watch TV programs and movies in English. It is great that from now they have an opportunity to meet twice as often. Let's speak English!

 

"Bridge to Ukraine"

Returned PC volunteers and Sumy Window on America center started new project “Bridge to Ukraine”. The main goal of it is to help refugees in Ukraine, to fundraise and then strategically provide financial assistance to refugee camps for internally displaced Ukrainians. Our center collects quantitative data about the refugees and camp needs as well as documentation of the refugees’ stories.

http://www.bridge2ukraine.org/

https://www.facebook.com/bridge2ukraine

http://vk.com/uaheart

Living Library Project

  On August 22 Sumy Window on America center had an interesting event Living Library designed to create dialogue, promote understanding and reduce prejudice. A collection of “human books” (vegetarian from Poland, dentist from Donetsk, student who took part in Work and Travel Program) was offered on “loan” to visitors. Our visitors “borrowed” the human book for up to 30 minutes for an open conversation in English.  We invited our patrons to pull up a comfortable chair and a cold drink and enjoyed our collection of living books.

This project generates a great deal of interest in the library. A great tool to tempt new users into the center.

PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION

Friday, June 20

If you accepted to the U.S. college or university -
take part in PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION!

Time: June 20, 2014, 10 AM - 3 PM
Place: Kyiv EducationUSA Advising Center

Pre-Departure Orientation is a special event held annually at our center to help students prepare for their time abroad during the summer. This is the unique opportunity to meet other students accepted for fall and academic year 2014-2015 as well as EducationUSA alumni.  

We've compiled a great program for you:

• academic life in the US
• useful tips on travel and living in the US
• campus life
• cultural differences and adjustment

One of the highlights includes session on Student Visas by Consular Section
of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

To visit our event please register.
Participation is free of charge and upon registration only!

Kyiv EducationUSA team

Meeting with English teachers

 On May 15, Sumy Window on America Center hosted meeting with 18 English teachers from Sumy and Sumy region. The presentation on English language teaching and learning resources online were introduced to our participants by the center's coordinator. Our guests had the opportunity to learn about and work with the iPads and Kindle. Also we spoke about center’s book collection, activities, projects. We invited them to special events held at the library over the summer. These are usually fun, exciting and educational.

 

In April we discussed some appealing topics together with Robert: American and Ukrainian stereotypes, cultural issues, higher education in the USA, Easter traditions in Ukraine and the USA. The participants shared their family traditions of celebrating this holiday. Robert told us much amusing and striking about the way people celebrate Easter in the USA.

Conversation Circle

In April there were three meetings of the Conversation Circle in Skype format. People gathered and communicated via Skype respectively on the 1st, 8th and 15th of April. People exchanged views on different topics – life, hobbies, sports, politics and others. Learned new words and word combinations. As always there were much laughter and personal interest in learning English.

Schoolchildren visit Window on America Center

On April, 25 Sumy Window on America Center hosted schoolchildren who visited our center for the first time. We told them about books and magazines, movies and board games, about interesting events that take place here. The students got particularly interested in using Kindle and iPads. In the end of the meeting our guests played Kinect games, and we invited to come to our center more often, to take part in different programs.

Opportunity Funding

 On 23 of April presentation of

Opportunity Funding Program was held in Sumy Window on  America center. The presentation was given by Natalia Bulgakova EducationUSA adviser from Kharkiv. For those who got interested in getting the education in United States Natalia gave a detailed information about Opportunity Program Application Process( how to complete application form, how to plan the process of choosing the right university, how to pass English language tests). She also answered many questions of future applicants.

Book Display

Last week we received wonderful books from the USA.We thank our friends Don and Martha for their gift of books. We are absolutely thrilled at the selection!!! Look our book display and come to read new books!

Postcards connecting the world

   Sumy Window on America center is proud to present display of postcards, which our patrons received taking part in project called the “Sumy Postcard Project”.

  The display is designed to show people in the Sumy region the power and opportunities which are available to people when they learn a new language. Furthermore, the display will show just how important learning new languages is to communicating in a global environment.

Visit of 8th grade students

On April 2^nd, the 8^th grade students of the School №29 visited the Sumy Window on America Center. It was their first visit here and they were very much interested. They found out about resources of the center used for the learning of English, namely about books and DVD collections, iPads and Kindles. After that kids played Kinect games. They were very happy and excited to visit the Window on America Center and decided to come here regularly in order to learn English better and to learn more about the USA.

Meeting with Sumy Librarians

Librarians from different libraries of Sumy visited the Sumy Window on America Center. It was their first visit. The coordinator of the Center, Tatiana Luchkina, told about work of the Center and spoke in details about new trends in librarianship. Namely she told about work with e books, e library cards, blogs, and after that presented new gadgets used in the Center. Librarians  worked with iPads and Kindles, found out much new information and were very grateful for the opportunity to visit our Center.  

American traditions

Welcome to English-Speaking Club. Last month we had a variety of topics discussed:

12.03 – American traditions

Today we got acquainted with our new club leader, Robert. He presented himself, after what every one was asked to tell a few things about himself. This first club meeting was quite interesting, as the participants learnt a lot about American traditions, way of life and they asked Robert eagerly about things they were interested in.

19.03 – Political Situation in Ukraine

26.03 – Unidentified flying object

 

Conversation Circle

In March the format of the meetings of the

Conversation Circle was changed. Since Ashley returned to the USA we continue meetings of the club via Skype. So there were three meetings of the Skype format Conversation Circle in this month. Meetings took place respectively on the 11^th, 18^th and 25^th of March.  There were no special topics discussed. People just talked about their life, personal achievements, political news etc. As usual there were much laughter and real interest in learning English. 

7th grade students at the Window on America.

On March 24, 14

students of the 7th grade (school №10) visited Window on American center for the first time. We helped them to explore our collections, to have fun with books, iPads, Kindle and Kinect games. Kids looked around and got comfortable, and we hope they will soon learn to enjoy visiting Window on America Center, studying English language and knowing the USA better.

Gaming with Kinect

On March 21 Sumy Window on America Center run two tours for pupils of the 3th and 4th forms of the school №8. During school holidays our center becomes a favorite place of leisure activity for many schoolchildren. They just came to the library to learn some new games. We suggested them to play Kinect Games. Kinect has changed the way people play games and experience entertainment. We invite kids to come and enjoy playing games with friends on the big screen!

Meeting with English teachers

 On March 18, Sumy Window on America Center hosted meeting with 14 English teachers from Sumy and Sumy region. They were welcomed by the center's coordinator talk about center’s book collection, activities, projects, TEA and Fulbright programs for school teachers. During the meeting the main eLibraryUSA databases, online English language teaching and learning resources were introduced to participants. Also our guests used Kindle e-readers, iPads and experienced the fun of using them. Hope we will see them in our center with their students.

What Is Happiness?

Welcome to English-Speaking Club. Last month we had a variety of topics discussed:

4.02 Are You Confident of Your English?

11.02

What Is Happiness?

-Are you happy?

- What do you need to be happy?

- Can a man be taught to be happy?

These and a lot of other tricky questions were asked at our today's club meeting. The participants tried to get answers working in groups. Everyone was envolved in the debates and got a lot of pleasure trying to present his or her arguments.

18.02 Our Best and Worst Times

Conversation Circle

In February three meetings of the

Conversation Circle took place. The topic of the first and the second meetings on February 5^th and 12^th respectively was “Cooking”. Members of the club exchanged recipes of different meals and drinks, told how they cook them. There was much joy, laughter and good spirits. And of course people learned many new English words and phrases. The 3^rd meeting of the club was devoted to the discussion of the Personal Questions. It aroused a great interest among the members and helped them to know each other better.     

Resources for English Teachers

On 25 of February Sumy Window on America Center presented its resources and programs for English teachers from Sumy and Sumy region. We told them about center's activities, acquainted them with our center’s book collection, eLibraryUSA databases, iPads and Kindles. Also our guests leant about free online resources for learning and teaching English. Our guests expressed great interest in learning about our resources and programs.

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) in Eurasia and Central Asia is a program of the Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and is supported by the people of the United States. The
Global UGRAD program provides opportunities for undergraduate students for full-time non-degree study in the United
States. Students must have at least one term remaining at their home institutions upon completion of the program.

Participants are selected through an open, merit-based competition.

Participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and the Russian Federation will spend one semester

of non-degree study in a US university or community college. Participants from Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,

Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan will spend one academic year of non-degree study in a US university or community college.

All participants will:

· Attend classes full-time during their academic program;

· Perform a minimum of 20 hours of community service in their host city; and

· Complete a professional development component during their program: part-time internships during the second

semester for academic year participants and Workplace Excellence professional field trips for semester participants.
Students in their 1st-year at the time of application will live with host families or in dormitories and will be enrolled in two-year

community colleges. All other students will live in dormitories at four-year colleges and universities.

The fellowship is fully funded and provides:

· J-1 Visa Support;

· Round-trip travel from participant’s home city to host institution in the United States;

· Accident and sickness coverage;

· Tuition and mandatory university fees;

· Room and board (housing and meals);

· Small incidentals allowance;

· Limited allowance for books; and

· A wide variety of alumni networking and training opportunities.

See application for eligibility requirements and selection criteria.

All fields of study are considered.

Application Deadline: 5:00 pm, Friday, February 28, 2014 Applications for the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central Asia can be obtained and submitted by contacting IREX field

offices in Eurasia and Central Asia or online at www.irex.org

Please note that fellowship awards for the 2014-2015 Global UGRAD program are contingent on the appropriation of Federal funding by the

United States Congress.

IREX-Ukraine: 36D Saksahanskoho, 2nd Entrance,

5th Floor, Kyiv, 01033,

Tel/fax (044) 537-0604, 586-2780

E-mail: ugrad@irex.ua,

Website: www.

Social and political issues.

Welcome to English-Speaking Club. Last month we had a variety of topics discussed:
14.01 Traditions in Ukraine
21.01 Parents and kids.
28.01

Social and political issues. 

The participants of the club worked in groups and discussed the following questions: if the government should fund space-programs, if parents should attend parent-courses before giving a birth to a child, if a person, who doesn't vote, should be fined. The discussion was held in a form of debates and each group expressed its point of view. 

 

Living Library

Window on America, Peace Corps Volunteers, and Center for European Initiatives present: come to the 2^nd floor of the Sumy Oblast Research Library - on Saturday, February 22^nd, 1:00 pm to practice English. Sign up for three 30 minute sessions where you will be able to ask questions and converse with native speakers. We will have four presenters from the United States, one presenter from Germany, and one from Poland. All presentations will be in English.  

Conversation Circle

After the Christmas’ and New Year’s holidays Conversation Circle began its work. The first meeting took place on January 8^th and was devoted to the discussion of the above mentioned holidays. Members of the group congratulated each other and told how each of them spent the holiday time. After that they compared the celebration of these holidays in the USA and Ukraine. During the second meeting on January 15th Ashley proposed to learn and repeat the “Games Vocabulary”. The third and the last of January’s meetings of the Conversation Circle took place on 29^th of January. People played different board games and enjoyed the process of the learning of English. As it always happens every meeting was cheerful and informative.        

Tradition of Celebration New Year and Christmas

Welcome to English-Speaking Club. Last month we had a variety of topics discussed:

3.12 – What will our country look like in 100 years?

10.12 - Etiquette, tradition of celebration New Year and Christmas in the USA and Ukraine.

Every country has its own tradition of New Year and Christmas celebration. Today we got to know what people in the USA usually do on the New Year' Eve and on Christmas. The participants of our English-Speaking Club had a chance to share their own experience of celebrating these great holidays. They also told our volunteer David about their plans for this year celebration.

Conversation Circle

Because of the Christmas Holidays and the New Year celebration there were only three meetings of the Conversations Circle in December. The first meeting on December 4^th was devoted to the grammar of English, namely to the proper use of the English verbs. The second meeting took place on December 11^th and the members of the Club discussed topic “Intercultural Traditions”. They found out a lot of new things and exchanged views on the point of discussion. During the third meeting of the Club on December 18^th were discussed Christmas and New Year traditions both in the USA and in our country. Besides of the discussion took place a kind of celebration. There were much laughter, smiles and good spirits. Great results as for the end of the 2013 and the first part of the “academic year”!