Schedule for August

World Population Day

This afternoon the Gabfest English-speaking Club (Window on America center in Dnipro, Ukraine) has offered a complicated topic about the World Population Day (observed annually on July, 11).
The group watched several educational videos which introduced the term “Millennium Development Goals”. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the world's time-bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions: income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion  while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability. They are also basic human rights - the rights of each person on the planet to health, education, shelter, and security.
The highlight of the session was the   video (sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates’ Foundation) about the overpopulation myth.
The group enriched the vocabulary with modern economics terms and learned about the global efforts to provide a better life for the population of this planet.
Participants number – 21 persons.
Moderator: T. Gavryliyuk.
Pictures: S.Usenko.

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Chocolate in our diet and social life

The topic “Chocolate” was offered for conversations to the Gabfest Club members DniproWOA. The participants talked about the role of chocolate in our diet and social life.
Participants number – 18 persons.

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Graduation in Summer Heat

The Basic English group - 6 of the Express-English course at DOUNB Library completed their curriculum.
The learners (in Window on America center in Dnipro, Ukraine) were offered several units of educational information: English alphabet and sounds pronunciation; reading rules and reading practices; basic vocabulary; basic speaking practices (greetings in English, introducing oneself, talking about one’s family).
Particular attention was given to the phonetical differences in American English and British English.
At the final session the group was able to listen, read, comprehend rather big texts, and they could make speeches in English.
The course became a good impulse for the participants – they will continue to study English Grammar on-line and some of them will join higher level groups offered at DOUNB Library’s Express-English.
The Basic English group impressed the instructor Tamara Gavryliyuk with their enthusiasm. The students showed good progress.
Instructor: T. Gavryliyuk.
Pictures: S. Usenko.
Number of participants – 12 persons.
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42

This Wednesday the Window on America Dnipro's Movie club has big-screened a 42.
42 is a 2013 American biographical sports film written and directed by Brian Helgeland about the racial integration of American professional baseball by player Jackie Robinson, who wore jersey number 42 through his Major League career. The film stars Chadwick Boseman as Robinson, and Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey, with Alan Tudyk, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, Andre Holland, Lucas Black, Hamish Linklater and Ryan Merriman appearing in supporting roles.
WOA’s patrons enjoyed the film and the discussion that followed.
Participants number – 5 persons.

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What do you know about CHINA?

The Gabfest Club members #DniproWOA was offered a set of questions about their attitude to China, its culture and politics.
Participants number – 22 persons.

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World Cocoa and Chocolate Day

This afternoon the Gabfest Club members DniproWOA were offered to talk about chocolate. This year the group was offered to focus on chocolate production. We have watched and discussed a video about the US iconic chocolate company – HERSHY’s. Hershey's, is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as the Hershey Chocolate Company.
The conversation   drifted from Hershey’s kisses chocolates to other famous chocolates with recognizable shape – Swiss triangle “Toblerone ” and Belgian  sea horses and sea shells.
We discussed the modern trends in chocolate industry and shared information about good places to buy hand-made chocolate.
Participants number – 23 persons
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Love Actually

This evening the WOA Dnipro's Movie club has big-screened a film Love Actually.
Love Actually is a 2003 Christmas-themed romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis. It features an ensemble cast, many of whom had worked with Curtis in previous film and television projects. The screenplay delves into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their tales progress. Most of the film was filmed on location in London. The story begins five weeks before Christmas and is played out in a weekly countdown until the holiday, followed by an epilogue that takes place one month later.
The film was a box-office success, grossing almost $247 million worldwide on a budget of $45 million.
WOA’s patrons enjoyed the film and the discussion that followed.
Participants number – 10.

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FLEX alumnus tells about China trip

This afternoon the Gabfest English-speaking Club members (Window on America center in Dnipro, Ukraine) were surprised with the topic for discussion. The WOA’s activist and a FLEX Program graduate Ms. Olha Chichikalo delivered a presentation about her educational trip to China.
As Olha is experienced in American life style she was able to compare the mentality of Chinese, American and Ukrainian people. She told the group about the popular tourist attractions she has visited in China. The focus of the presentation was on Shanghai – the second largest city in China.
After Olha’s slide presentation the Club members had a Q@A session with her. The questions were about the China’s education system, the everyday life of Chinese people, and their favorite pass times.

It turned out that quite a big number of Gabfest members are interested in China or visited it earlier. They have asked Olha more questions after the Club’s session. She was kind enough to answer all questions with great enthusiasm.
Participants number – 23 persons.

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Jumper

Wednesday Movie Club: Jumper.

This afternoon the WOA’s Movie Club (at Window on America center Dnipro, Ukraine) offered the big-screening of a science fiction film.

Jumper is a 2008 American science fiction action film loosely based on the 1992 science fiction novel of the same name written by Steven Gould. The film is directed by Doug Liman and stars Hayden Christensen, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson, Max Thieriot, AnnaSophia Robb, Diane Lane, Michael Rooker, and Samuel L. Jackson. The film follows a young man capable of teleporting as he is chased by a secret society intent on killing him. The script went through a rewrite prior to filming and the roles for the main characters were changed during production. Jumper was filmed in 20 cities in 14 countries between 2006-07. 

The film was released on February 14, 2008 and a soundtrack on February 19. The film held the first position in its opening weekend with $27.3 million, but received generally unfavourable reviews from critics, mostly due to the many changes from Gould's novel, rushed plot and anti-climactic ending.

WOA’s patrons enjoyed the film and the discussion that followed.

Participants number – 7 persons.

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Activate English Group in July

Activate English 6.7.: My favorite book is….
On July, 11 students of the Dnipro WOA’s “Express-English” course the Activate English Group-6 was created for people who have been studying English for several years, but are too shy to speak.
The objective of the course is to activate the passive knowledge and enable the students of English to express themselves in English no matter how small might be their vocabulary.
The participants of the group will be offered some revision activities to refresh their grammar skills. The vocabulary for the topics will be presented and illustrated with native-speaking videos to activate their comprehension skills.
The activation of the speaking skills will take place during the conversation pair practice.
Number of participants – 25 persons.

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Activate English 6.8.: My work.
Number of participants – 25 persons.
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On July, 25 the Activate English Group-6 is coming to an end. Today the last but one lesson of the WOA’s “Express English” course took place.
The conversation with the topic “Transport of Dnipro city” caused a lot of laughter and jokes. The instructor-lecturer Tamara Gavryliuk started the lesson with conversational exercises in pairs – to activate popular grammatical construction.

The home task for the group was to prepare presentations about preferred transport. Today some students presented their speeches to the public. The challenges of Dnipro transportation system were mentioned: absence of cycling culture and aggressive towards cyclists drivers, neglect of safety rules (no helmets even on moto cycles). The row of laughter started when we described out subway - probably the shortest subway in Ukraine and maybe in the world. The lesson was very educational and provided a lot of cross-cultural information. The students practiced to talk about complicated things in simple, but idiomatic English.
 Number of participants – 14 persons.
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My Dream Vacation

The Gabfest English speaking Club members (at Window on America center in Dnipro, Ukraine) was offered an educational game "Speed English". The topic for the conversation in pairs was “My Dream Vacation”.  This topic was relatively easy to discuss, so the members of the club talked with pleasure and stayed longer than usual.
Participants number – 27 persons.

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The 270th anniversary of the American Cossack

The Gabfest English speaking Club members (at Window on America center in Dnipro, Ukraine) have learned already to present in English the Cossack history and glory of the Dnipro river area. Today we have surprised them with an incredible story of the American Cossack – the US Admiral John Paul Jones.
This historical personality will   give something common to share for the people of the USA and Ukraine.
This July we celebrate the 270th anniversary of the U.S. national hero, one of the founders of the American Navy – Mr. John Paul Jones. The amazing fact is   that Mr. Paul Jones was also the Rear Admiral of the Russian Empire’s Navy (1788). He was the commander of the Black Sea sailing flotilla and took an active part in the Russian-Turkish war. He participated in the so-called Battles of the Liman that took place in the estuary of the Dnipro river near the Ochakiv fortress. There he met the legendary Ukrainian Cossacks’ leaders – otamans  Antin Holovaty and Sydir Billy. The Cossacks were so impressed with Paul Jones’s bravery that they have inducted him into the Ukrainian Cossacks Brotherhood and gave him a present – the Ukrainian Cossack traditional outfit.

The Club members were familiarized with the DOUNB Library books dedicated to John Paul Johns. They watched biographical videos   about John Paul Johns, read and translated the article from the US Embassy in Ukraine blog – "John Paul Jones: American Cossack" (by Ms. Emma Hutchins, Public Diplomacy Intern), learned how Americans honor their countryman, responded to the questions of Ms. T. Gavryliuk, the session’s moderator.
The challenge for the English learners was a collective attempt to describe and decipher the battle painting "The Siege of Ochakiv" (by Januarius Sukhodolsky). The picture gave an insight into the army-navy operation in which John Paul Jones took part.
Participants number – 27 persons.

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Students of all generations: Basic English 6.7, 6.8, 6.9

Basic English 6.0. in JulyOn July, 6 - Students of all generations attend the Basic English lessons in Dnipro Window on America center at the DOUNB Library. The Group was founded as a training site for people who never studied English or for those who need to return to the basics of the language.
This afternoon the Basic English group 6.7. has practiced reading  and they are now able to talk about “About myself” in English.
Instructor: T. Gavryliyuk
Pictures: S.Usenko
All the participants found the session educational and helpful.
Number of participants – 22 persons.

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On July, 13 the DOUNB Library had new-comers again that got interested in the opportunity to study English in the library format.


On July, 20- 
The professional EFL lecturer T. Gavryliuk combines the phonetic, reading and lexical exercises with important cross-cultural information that will help the English learners to use the Basic English in communication with foreigners in Ukraine and abroad.
The new patrons were informed about the DOUNB’s resources and modern services.
Participant numbers – 22 persons.

 

The Descendants

This Wednesday the Window on America Dnipro's Movie club has big-screened a comedy-drama film.
The Descendants is a 2011 American comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne. The screenplay by Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash is based on the novel of the same name by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The film stars George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Beau Bridges, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard and Robert Forster, and was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in the United States on November 18, 2011 after being screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.
Tracing the journey of land baron Matt King who struggles with unexpected occurrences in his monotonous life, The Descendants won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as two Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture – Drama and Best Actor – Drama for Clooney.
WOA’s patrons enjoyed the film and the discussion that followed.
Participants number – 8 persons.
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Gallery on the Go - Public Library

Have you ever met a traveling exhibition: Gallery on the Go?
The traveling exhibition of posters "Public Library" by the American photographer Robert Dawson has arrived to the DOUNB Library. This cultural event was organized by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, the America House Cultural Center and the IREX (Council for International Research and Exchanges, Kyiv).
Members of the “GABFEST” English-speaking club (Window on America center, misto Dnipro, Ukraine) with great interest examined Robert Dawson’s photo works displayed by the Information and Resource Center "Window to America".
There are almost 17,000 public libraries in the United States of America. All of them are different; each one has its own peculiarity. The communities of large cities have built and kept modern computerized libraries with theater halls and creative workshops. Provincial towns and villages have small, but cozy and well-stocked libraries. Every American resident can visit a library nearest to his home in order to find information, to meet popular writers, to attend concerts, to surf the Internet, to search for work online, to relax in beautiful interiors, or even to have a wedding. All this in addition to lending books.
Public libraries in America give the opportunity to access information. Information is freedom; freedom is what everyone needs for personal development and growth.
We invite everyone who likes books and libraries to get acquainted with the exhibition “Public Library in the USA”.
The exhibition is displayed on the premises of the Foreign Languages department of the DOUNB Library (Dnipro, prospekt  D.Yavornytskogo, room 18).
You are welcome during the library's office hours:
Monday to Thursday from 10-00 to 18-00
Saturday – from 10-00 to 17-00.

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Is history important to you?

Today’s Speed English (at the Window on America center in Dnipro, Ukraine) was quite interesting and touched the hearts even of those who did not like to study history at school. Discussions in pairs made us so enthusiastic in our considerations on the past and the future of our Ukraine that we forgot about the time and extended the time assigned for the Speed English event. 
It is pleasant to note that there are people among us who feel that are ready to create the new history of contemporary Ukraine!
Participants number – 25 persons.

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John Paul Jones

The event of  DniproWOA was devoted to John Paul Jones (born John Paul; July 6, 1747 – July 18, 1792) who was the United States' first well-known naval commander in the American Revolutionary War. He made many friends and enemies—who accused him of piracy - mong America's political elites, and his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to this day. As such, he is sometimes referred to as the "Father of the American Navy" (an epithet that he shares with John Barry and John Adams). He later served in the Imperial Russian Navy, subsequently obtaining the rank of rear admiral.
Participants number – 25 persons.

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Schedule for July