Today’s session of the Gabfest Club ("Window on America" (Dnipropetrovsk / Ukraine) was dedicated to the 24th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence.
Our US volunteer Mr. Jason came to congratulate the Club members with this important holiday. His presence allowed the group to demonstrate their knowledge of patriotic symbols and explain them to the foreigner. We have discussed the basic attributes of an independents state: the coat of arms and a national flag, national anthem. Each attribute was illustrated with a relevant video or image. The club members were encouraged to explain the symbolism behind the attributes as well as other controversies. Some artifacts of Ukrainian decorative art where used to provide the topic for conversation about folk art. The modern tradition of celebrating Independence Day was also discussed.
Our surprise guests from Australia Mrs. Irina and Mr. Eric joined the conversation as well. They were given an insight into the Independence Day traditions in Ukraine.
The second part of the session was dedicated to the Australian guests’ presentation. We were told about the national symbols of Australia and their meanings. The Club members put numerous questions to the guests about Australia.
The session was educational for all the participants.
Number of participants – 23 persons.
“Wednesday Movie Club” at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine.
The film “The Truth about Cats & Dogs” was presented to all who wish to improve their language skills.
The Truth About Cats & Dogs is a 1996 American romantic comedy film directed by directed by Michael Lehmann and starring Janeane Garofalo, Uma Thurman, Ben Chaplin and Jamie Foxx. It was written by Audrey Wells. The original music score was composed by Howard Shore. The film is a romantic comedy in the style of Cyrano de Bergerac, where two women date the same man, resulting in large explosions in their friendship
WOA’s patrons enjoyed the film and the discussion that followed.
Семінар-тренінг для керівників WOA.
Керівник інформаційно-ресурсного центру «Вікно в Америку» Світлана Усенко брала участь у семінарі «Американські центри в Україні: креативні програми, нові технології, ефективний менеджмент», що відбувся за підтримки Посольства США в Україні у м. Київ.
Вона знайомилася з діяльністю, креативними програми та інноваційній ними технологіями Американського Дому, Національної бібліотеки для дітей, бібліотеки Гете-інституту та Американської бібліотеки Національного Університету «Києво-Могилянська Академія». Світлана Усенко звітувала перед колегами про реалізований в ДОУНБ інноваційний проект «Американська мистецька вітальня у Дніпропетровську», яким було охоплено більше ніж 1000 учнів, студентів і відвідувачів бібліотеки.
Корисним було дізнатися про відкриття електронного читального залу в Одеській науковій бібліотеці з використанням технології «тонкий клієнт», побачити зразки сучасного бібліотечного дизайну, всіх учасників семінару вразив піар-розголос молодіжного проекту «Вікна в Америку на велосипедах», про який дізналася вся Україна з випуску новин ТСН каналу 1+1, якісно і ефективно було реалізовано проект «Читаємо Хемінгуея» у Кіровограді, всіх здивував новий гаджет – електронний інтерактивний стіл у Херсоні, який полюбила молодь.
Новим напрямком діяльності центрів «Вікно в Америку» стала необхідність впровадження 3D-технологій – на порядку денному придбання 3D-принтерів і створення «Творчого простору» / Makerspace в українських бібліотеках.
At the WOA ("Window on America" (Dnipropetrovsk / Ukraine) the “Gabfest” Club President Mrs. Larissa Karnoza prepared and presented a training session, the topic was "Wedding traditions in Ukraine and the United States."
Participants watched the illustrative videos, read and translated articles on weddings, remembered the weddings they attended, some shared their dreams about own wedding ceremonies.
The meeting was ethnographical and educational at the same time; everyone present has enriched the vocabulary, activated language skills, had fun and enjoyed the interesting topic.
Number of participants – 19 persons.
“Wednesday Movie Club” at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine.
The film «Ocean's Eleven» (2001) was presented to all who wish to improve their language skills.
Ocean's Eleven is a 2001 American comedy heist film and the remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film of the same name. The 2001 film was directed by Steven Soderbergh and features an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Andy García, and Julia Roberts. The film was a success at the box office and with critics.
Plot: Danny Ocean and his eleven accomplices plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously.
WOA’s patrons enjoyed the film and the discussion that followed.
Today’s session of the Gabfest Club was dedicated to the topic “Pow-Wow – the traditional festival of Native Americans”. We have read and translated an article about the structure and rituals of this ethnic event, watched several You Tube videos with the songs and dances of Native Americans. We also reviewed the list of 10 most famous Native Americans.
The WOA’s books on different aspects of Native American history were introduced to the group.
Big help was offered by our volunteer Mr. Jason who answered numerous questions of the Club members about modern life of Native Americans.
After the conversation about the Native Americans we continued to discuss the phenomenon of “indigenous people” in Ukraine and provided our volunteer Jason with a lot of useful info about the unique ethnic groups that live on the territory of the modern Ukraine.
The session dealt with difficult topic, but it refreshed the knowledge of the Ukrainian public about the history of the Native Americans.
Number of participants – 32 persons.
“Wednesday Movie Club” at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine.
The film “Two of a kind” was presented to all who wish to improve their language skills.
«Two of a kind» is a 1982 American romantic comedy film, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
God has had just about enough of the human's attitude so he will destroy the planet very soon. It is up to a struggling inventor and a bank teller, both with very amateur criminal minds, to save the world...
WOA’s patrons enjoyed the film and the discussion that followed.
On August, 10 Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk welcomed a big group of FLEX program graduates from Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblast. FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange Program) celebrated its 20th anniversary recently and is popular in many countries of the world among the high-school students who wish to spend one academic year in the USA.
The FLEX alumni had a chance to meet each other and share the experiences of their life in the USA. To break the ice several out-door activities were offered to the participants in the beautiful park near the DOUNB Library. The WOA Dnipropetrovsk’s activist and Flex graduate Olga Chychykalo was in charge of the meeting’s preparation and the key-note speaker. American volunteer Mr. Jason joined us and had a pleasant time talking to FLEX alumni.
The full-day agenda of the meeting allowed the FLEX alumni to make new friends, to exchange ideas and reminiscences about the USA student exchange program.
The networking of the FLEX alumni in two neighboring oblasts will be very beneficial for promotion of volunteering projects that the young people will initiate in their respective towns and Universities.
Moreover, we've talked about opportunities for youth in Ukraine and therefore, had a charming guest from youth organization AIESEC.
Number of participants – 17 persons.
On the eve of the Ukraine’s Independence Day in the "Window on America" Dnipropetrovsk / Ukraine Speaking Club “Gabfest” was a session dedicated to the heroic heritage of Ukrainian Cossacks. Our American volunteer Mr. Jason, a fan of history and cultural tourism, was very interested to learn more about the Cossack sites in Dnipropetrovsk region. At first each Club-member mentioned the important thing that should be known about Cossacks. The group told Jason about Cossack’s role in the Ukrainian history, their recognizable dress and head gear, their holy guardian – Virgin Mary, the warrior skills and dances derived from the martial art (Gopack, Polzunets, etc.).
Particular tribute was paid to a legendary Cossack whose death anniversary is observed by patriots in Dnipropetrovsk oblast on a regular basis. Ivan Sirko (1610–1680) was a Cossack military leader, Koshovyi Otaman of the Zaporozhian Host. It is believed that he participated in 55 battles and won all of them. After his death, Ivan Sirko — one of the most popular Cossack leaders in Ukrainian history— became a hero of many myths, folk songs and poems.
In 1967 the Kakhovka water Reservoir was threatening the Otaman Sirko's burial site, so he was reburied near the village of Kapulivka, 70 miles from Dnipropetrovsk. Each year on August, 01 modern Ukrainian Cossacks and patriots visit the burial site to commemorate the anniversary of Otaman Sirko’s death.
The presence of our American volunteer Jason motivated to Ukrainian Club-members to reveal interesting facts from the local history and improve their conversational skills.
The topic was complicated, but educational for all participants.
Number of participants – 18 persons.
Windows Go Biking in Poltava.
Svitlana Usenko presented the city Dnepropetrovsk in the event.
“Wednesday Movie Club” at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine.
The film «Оne Fine Day» was presented to all who wish to improve their language skills.
«One Fine Day» is a 1996 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Hoffman, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney. The title comes from the 1963 song «One Fine Day» by The Chiffons. Michelle Pfeiffer served as an executive producer on this film.
The plot: Melanie Parker, an architect, and Jack Taylor, a newspaper columnist are both single parents. One day their children miss school field trip and are stuck with the parents. The two adults project their negative stereotypes of ex-spouses on each other, but end up needing to rely on each other to watch the children as each must save his job. Humor is added by Sammy's propensity for lodging objects in his nose and Maggie's tendency to wander.
WOA’s patrons enjoyed the film and the discussion that followed.
The "Window on America" Center Dnipropetrovsk presented to the patrons a new book display "Summer reading".
Today’s session of the Gabfest Club ("Window on America" Dnipropetrovsk / Ukraine) was a pleasant surprise for the regular members and new-comers. Our American volunteer Mr. Jason was back in Dnipropetrovsk from his trip around Eastern Europe and came to share his travel experiences.
It turned out that Jason is interested in Roman history and was fascinated with the legend about Count Dracula .So he planned a trip to Transylvania via Ukraine’s neighboring countries – Transnistria, Moldova and Romania.
The photos of Transnistrian towns Bendery and Tiraspol returned us back to the USSR, but Jason was rather interested in the artifacts of this bygone era. The stay in Moldova was not particularly exciting for Jason as he was not interested in wine tasting which is the main tourist attraction in the country .The greatest impression was produced by Romania. This big country boasts beautiful landscapes, Carpathian Mountains and rich history. One of the tourist brands nowadays is Transylvania and Dracula tours. Jason told the group a lot about the castles and fortresses that he visited in the homeland of Dracula. The legends about the famous vampire became popular after the Bram Stoker’s book was published. But historical background was rather controversial.
The tourist’s story about Romania made the Ukrainian part of the group remember the facts about the neighboring country – the things we have in common and the things we dispute about. The session was educational as the participants immersed into the authentic American English speech and had a chance to evaluate their own skills of speech comprehension.
Number of participants – 25 persons.
