Posters display: Let Us Not Fall Asleep While Walking
Pictures and Book display: The Road of
American Democracy
September,
1 – ESC Gabfest at 2:00 p.m.
September, 3 – Grasshoppers Club at 3:30 p.m.
September, 5 – Wednesday
Movie Club at 5:00 p.m.
September, 6 – Grasshoppers Club at 3:30 p.m.
September, 6 – Start English Club at 5:00 p.m.
September,
8 – ESC Gabfest at 2:00 p.m.
September, 12 – Start English Club at 3:30 p.m.
September, 12 – Wednesday
Movie Club at 5:00 p.m.
September, 13 – Grasshoppers Club at 5:00 p.m.
September,
15 – ESC Gabfest at 2:00 p.m.
September, 17 – Start English Club at 3:30 p.m.
September, 19 – Wednesday
Movie Club at 5:00 p.m.
September, 19 – Start English Club at 3:30 p.m.
September, 20 – Grasshoppers Club at 5:00 p.m.
September,
22 – ESC Gabfest at 2:00
p.m.
September, 26 – Wednesday
Movie Club at 5:00 p.m.
September, 26 – Start English Club at 3:30 p.m.
September, 27 – Grasshoppers Club at 5:00 p.m.
September,
29 – ESC Gabfest at 2:00
p.m.
Through the
month September - Book Display: The Road of American
Democracy
Window on America Dnipro
offers the Book Display «The Road of American democracy» to observe the
International Democracy Day (15th September).
The display showcases the
history of the US democracy, its major documents (The Bill of Rights, The
Constitution), its major bodies (The Presidency, The Congress) and
personalities.
The display is complemented
with the materials about the academic exchange opportunities in the USA that
may interest Ukrainian scholars and students.
Through the
month September - Poster Display: Let us not
fall asleep while walking.
Marina Repan Yes we here at WOA tried to analyze what's
in these pictures, which are definitely strange for the author, I think if the
photographer had a chance to come to WOA, we would explain everything to him.
Marina Repan I can see that on these pictures the
photographer expressed his impressions about Ukraine, Ukrainian people interior
of Ukrainian buildings, these impressions are objective, and background in
these pictures is light, I can see light and shadows there.
Marina Repan lots of messages in these pictures, probably
the photographer was impressed that many people have heavy weight, that there
is a mess on the streets, repairing of buildings also seemed to be interesting
for him, and how welding is being done.
Marina Repan lots of positive and negative sides
impressed the photographer, so in these there are lots of questions about
Ukraine, for example, what is it? why does it look like that? is it everywhere?
could it all be different?
Marina Repan there is a question - is this a picture of
some guy that looks like Dolf Lundgren or of Dolf Lundgren himself?
Marina Repan yes, it is really strange why these twins
are wearing gas masks, were they joking?
Marina Repan the photographer is strongly impressed with
bars over the building, bars on windows also seemed strange.
September, 01 – World Literacy Day.
This afternoon the Gafest Club
members started with the small talk about the Ukrainian national celebration of
the “Knowledge Day”. It’s a good start of the academic year for Ukrainian
students. A week later, on September, 8 UNESCO observes World Literacy Day.
The issue of literacy is a key
component of the UN's Sustainable
Development Goals and the UN's 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development.
This year’s theme is ‘Literacy and skills
development.’ Despite progress made, literacy challenges persist,
and at the same time the demands for skills required for work, evolve rapidly.
The group was familiarized
with the UN Literacy Awards and the US projects that have won these prizes in
the last decade. The information was illustrated with relevant YouTube videos.
We discussed different types of literacy that one needs in the 21st
century, among them digital, emotional, visual, media literacy, etc.
Participants number – 24 persons.
On September, 1 – Q&A Session with American
Volunteers.
Our US friends attended the
Window on America center Dnipro session today. They had some questions about
the Ukrainian Cossacks for the group. The Ukrainians managed to explain the
basics about the Cossacks and their importance for the national history and
heritage.
The group recommended the US
guests to attend the City Day celebrations next Saturday. The Ukrainians
answered the questions about the background of the celebrations and the best
attractions to attend on the City Day.
Participants number – 24 persons.
On
September, 5 – "Fundamentals of Academic
Integrity" Project for schools students.
"Window to America" Information and Resource Center has many
partner schools in Dnipro city. For school students we offer events that
improve their English skills.
But this academic year the WOA
staff continues to familiarize students with the concepts of
"plagiarism" and "academic integrity."
The Window to America Head Svetlana Usenko presented to school students
of School #39 a video aimed to emphasize to the students that knowledge
acquisition is hard and independent work they should do on a daily basis.
In senior classes students begin to write scientific papers for different
projects, they will need to prepare themselves for the Final Tests and
University studies. The ability to distinguish plagiarism from non-plagiarism,
familiarity with the quotation rules, and the awareness of the codes of honor
in colleges – all these steps will lead today’s school kids to a successful
career.
The participants number – 20 people.
on September, 5 – «Wednesday Movie Club» / «Кіноклуб по середах» –
On September, 5 – «Wednesday Movie Club» in DniproWOA offered the big screening of the
film “The Last Shot”.
The Last Shot is a
2004 comedy film starring Matthew Broderick and Alec Baldwin. The movie was
written and directed by Jeff Nathanson, who also wrote Catch Me If You Can and
The Terminal.
WOA’s patrons enjoyed the film, and
the discussion after watching the movie was moderated by Marina Repan – a WOA
volunteer, a long-time movie club member. Moderation was in form of questions
and answers. The club members were active during the discussion and they
expressed how they liked the movie and their opinions and conclusions they
made.
Number of participants – 13.
on September, 6 – Volunteering Thursday.
The young volunteer of Window
on America Center in Dnipro - Anna Motorina - continues to help young and adult
patrons of the library to learn English.
The summer vacations of the
young schoolchildren - the members of the Grasshoppers club - are over, so our
beloved Grasshoppers are back to Window on America Center and open to the new
knowledge.
The adult patrons of the
library will continue to look through English Grammar tables to refresh and
deepen their knowledge on English Grammar.
The multimedia equipment of
the WOA Center makes English sessions more active and intensive, music and
videos make the English sessions more fun and entertaining. So both - young and
adult patrons of the WOA Center are happy and inspired to continue to learn
English.
Number of the participants - 8 persons.
On September, 8 – September Activities, Songs and Quotes.
This afternoon the Gabfest Club (Window on America center in Dnipro) dedicated its session to
September, the first month of autumn. We started with the introduction of the
autumn idioms list and the popular quotes about September.
The group was
introduced to the iconic English songs about September – “September Morn” and
“September” by the American R&B group “Earth, Wind & Fire”.
The highlight of the
session was the information about the iconic US insect and iconic September
activity - facilitating the fall migration of the Monarch butterflies. We
talked about similar projects in Ukraine and Australia.
Participants number – 7 persons.
on September, 8 – From Eric – A trip to Greek Island.
The fans of travelling
in Dnipro Window on America center listened to Mr. Eric’s report about his holidays
on a Crete Island. They have learned a lot of interesting facts about local
tourist attractions and lifestyle.
Participants number – 7 persons.
on September, 11 – Interested
youth in the DOUNB Library.
A presentation for the
2nd-year students of the National Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine took place
this afternoon at WOA Dnipro. The students’ major is “Technical Translation”.
The topic of the presentation was «Professional Improvement with Free resources
of the Window on America Center".
The head of the center
Svetlana Usenko introduced the Center’s activities. She suggested to play the linguistic game
"Apples to Apples", which improves the English language vocabulary
and knowledge of synonyms.
The students were
invited to join the Wednesday Movie Club and the Gabfest Club on Saturdays.
At the end of the
visit the students were offered a short tour of the DOUNB Library and visited
several departments: foreign literature, art,
department of periodicals.
Participants number – 4 persons.
on September, 12 – Start English.
The young volunteer of Window
on America Center in Dnipro - Anna Motorina - continues to help adult patrons
of the library to learn English.
The adult patrons of the library
will continue to look through English Grammar tables to refresh and deepen
their knowledge on English Grammar.
The multimedia equipment of
the WOA Center makes English sessions more active and intensive, music and
videos make the English sessions more fun and entertaining. The adult patrons
of the WOA Center are happy and inspired to continue to learn English.
Number of the participants – 5 persons.
on September, 12 – Wednesday Movie Club: The Great Gatsby.
“Wednesday Movie Club” at Window
on America center Dnipro (Ukraine) offered screening of the drama film “The
Great Gatsby” (2013) to all who wish to improve their language skills.
The Great Gatsby is a 2013 Australian-American 3D drama film based on F.
Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel of the same name. The film was co-written and
directed by Baz Luhrmann, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire.
It follows the life and times of millionaire Jay Gatsby and his
neighbour Nick, who recounts his encounter with Gatsby at the height of the
Roaring Twenties. While the film received mixed reviews from critics, audiences
responded much more positively, and F. Scott Fitzgerald's granddaughter praised
the film, stating "Scott would have been proud".
At the 86th Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Production Design
and Best Costume Design, winning both.
In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald offers up commentary on a variety of
themes — justice, power, greed, betrayal, the American dream, and so on. Of all
the themes, perhaps none is more well developed than that of social
stratification. The Great Gatsby is regarded as a brilliant piece of social
commentary, offering a vivid peek into American life in the 1920s. Fitzgerald
carefully sets up his novel into distinct groups but, in the end, each group
has its own problems to contend with, leaving a powerful reminder of what a
precarious place the world really is. By creating distinct social classes – old
money, new money, and no money – Fitzgerald sends strong messages about the
elitism running throughout every strata of society.
WOA’s
patrons enjoyed the
warm discussion followed the film watching and touched the different aspects of
the film: the actors’ playing, the director’s work, the soundtracks and the
lifestyles of the fiction heroes.
Participants number – 9 persons.
September, 15 – International Day of
Democracy.
The
Session of the Gabfest Club was dedicated to the International Day of
Democracy.The United Nations created the holiday to celebrate the system of
values democracy promotes, which give citizens the power to make decisions
regarding all aspects of their lives. The UN’s goal is to promote government’s
role in maintaining open democracy among all member nations of the UN Charter.
When we think of democracy, we often think of its origins in Athens and Rome.
However, anthropologists have uncovered evidence that suggests humans have been
practicing this form of free expression and group decision making as far back
as pre-agrarian societies. Over thousands of years — and much trial and error —
we have arrived at the free forms of government found all over the world today.
The topic was illustrated with UN videos.
The
theme of the day in year 2018:”Democracy under Strain: Solutions for a Changing
World”. We watched the “Voice of America” video that illustrated the strained
state of the US democracy. The Ukrainian club members told the foreign
volunteer about the Ukrainian achievements in democracy – the Ukrainian Cossack
State that was the first military democracy in Europe and Pylyp Orlyk’s
constitution of the Cossack state that was the first constitution in Europe.
The
topic was complicated, but the group has learned a lot of frequently used terms
relevant for the topic.
Participants
number – 26 persons.
On September, 15 – Small Talk about David Denil’s Photo Exhibit.
The
America House “Gallery-on-the-go” Program provided a new exhibit for WOA Dnipro
patrons. Its title is “Let Us Not Fall Asleep While Walking”. The patrons were
asked to examine the photos and select 3 images: one they liked, one they
disliked and one they haven’t understood.
It
was interesting to hear the viewers’ thoughts about the photos of Ukrainians
made by a foreigner. The most debatable
was the photo “Twins”, the most disliked was the photo “Belly”. It was
interesting to learn how everyday life in Ukraine strikes foreigners from
countries that enjoy more comfortable life without war.
Participants
number – 26 persons.
Through September
– David Denil’s Photo
Exhibit.
The
America House “Gallery-on-the-go” Program provided a new exhibit for WOA Dnipro
patrons. Its title is “Let Us Not Fall Asleep While Walking”. The patrons were
asked to examine the photos and select 3 images: one they liked, one they
disliked and one they haven’t understood.
It
was interesting to hear the viewers’ thoughts about the photos of Ukrainians
made by a foreigner. The most debatable
was the photo “Twins”, the most disliked was the photo “Belly”. It was
interesting to learn how everyday life in Ukraine strikes foreigners from
countries that enjoy more comfortable life without war.
on September, 19 – Wednesday Movie Club: Driving Miss Daisy film.
This afternoon the Window on America center’s Movie
Club (at
Window on America center Dnipro, Ukraine) offered the
big-screening of a Driving
Miss Daisy film.
Driving
Miss Daisy is a 1989 American comedy-drama film directed by Bruce Beresford and
written by Alfred Uhry, based on Uhry's play of the same name. The film stars
Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman, and Dan Aykroyd. The story defines Daisy and her
point of view through a network of relationships and emotions by focusing on
her home life, synagogue, friends, family, fears, and concerns over a twenty
five year period.
At
the 62nd Academy Awards in 1990, Driving Miss Daisy received ten nominations,
and won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Actress (Jessica Tandy), Best
Makeup, and Best Adapted Screenplay. At the age of 81, Jessica Tandy became the
oldest actress to win an Academy Award.
WOA’s
patrons enjoyed the
warm discussion followed the film watching and touched the different aspects of
the film: the actors’ playing, the director’s work, the soundtracks and the
lifestyles of the fiction heroes.
Participants number – 7 persons.
On September, 22 – Interesting facts about Australia.
The volunteer of the English-speaking club Gabfest in the Information
and Resource Center Window on America in Dnipro the Australian Mr. Eric was a
moderator of the session. When he talked he described and demonstrated the
videos about musical art of the aboriginals of Australia and the most popular
sports of his native country (cricket, rugby). The communication was in form of
questions and answers. The topic was interesting and the club members were
excited by it. Those who were present were impressed by polyhistory of the
knowledge of our Australian friend, enjoyed his humor and benevolence.
The meeting of the English-speaking club members ended in friendly
tea-party and sophisticated small talk.
Participants number – 32 persons.
on September, 26 – Wednesday Movie Club: Enough Said.
This afternoon the WOA’s Movie Club (at Window on America
center Dnipro, Ukraine) offered the big-screening of a film Enough Said.
Enough
Said is a 2013 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by
Nicole Holofcener. The film star Louis-Dreyfus plays Eva, a divorced masseuse
who begins a relationship with Albert (Gandolfini), only to discover that he is
the ex-husband of her client and friend Marianne (Keener).
The
film received several major award nominations. Сritics Consensus: Wryly charming, impeccably acted, and ultimately quite
bittersweet, Enough Said is a grown-up movie in the best possible way.
WOA’s
patrons enjoyed the
warm discussion followed the film watching and touched the different aspects of
the film: the actors’ playing, the director’s work, the soundtracks and the
lifestyles of the fiction heroes.
Participants number – 11 persons.
27 вересня – Відеоконференція з американською бібліотекаркою і
письменницею.
Керівник інформаційно-ресурсного
центру «Вікно в Америку» Світлана Усенко взяла участь у віртуальній зустрічі із
Дженніфер Веласкес, автором книги "Real-World Teen Services" (Послуги
для підлітків у реальному світі»), що була видана ALA Editions Press, а також
численних статей, присвячених бібліотечному обслуговуванню підлітків і молоді.
Популярний лектор і консультант, Дженніфер вважається міжнародним лідером у
галузі філософії та практики бібліотечного обслуговування. Її ідеї та
дослідження щодо залучення молоді та трансформаційної сили бібліотек
допомагають формувати нове покоління сервісів. У 2011 році «Library Journal»
визнав її «Mover & Shaker» («Енергійним рушієм і мотиватором») інновацій.
Вона отримала нагороду «Бібліотекар-2005» від газети «New York Times». Дженніфер
працює координатором послуг для молоді у публічній бібліотечній системі
Сан-Антоніо (штат Техас) та викладачем у Школі інформації Університету Сан-Хосе
(Каліфорнія). Вона – активний член Американської бібліотечної асоціації.
On September, 29 – Greetings to Ukrainian Libraries Day.
This
afternoon the Gabfest Club members (in Window on America center, Ukraine
dedicated its session to the professional holiday of the Ukrainian librarians.
The
group was familiarized with the “Bibliomist” project”. Bibliomist” was implemented through a partnership between the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation, IREX, the Ukrainian Library Association (ULA),
and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The Club members
learned how modern Ukrainian libraries serve the communities through various
new activities. These activities help library patrons in employment, economic
development, using e-services, governance and reforms, in access to
information. Other modern DOUNB Library projects were introduced to the first-timers
(Code Club, Makers’ Space, Media Literacy and others).
We
also introduced the best practices of American Libraries that set high
standards for other national libraries. Our foreign volunteer Mr. Eric was
interested to hear from the Club members about the unusual practices of
Ukrainian libraries.
The
Club’ s Committee and WOA Dnipro librarians had a tea after-party to celebrate
the 20th anniversary of the Libraries ’Day in Ukraine. A lot of warm greetings
Club members extended to WOA Dnipro and DOUNB Library staff.
Participants number – 32 persons.
on September, 29 – NEM Blockchain
basics at DniproWOA.
The
Window on America center in Dnipro was happy to give the floor for a
presentation to its patron Gennady.
Gennady
has been actively using WOA Dnipro’s resources since he was a high school
student. He needed to be fluent in English as his aim was to become an IT
specialist.
Gennady
introduced the WOA patrons to the basics of Blockchain technology. He familiarized
the Ukrainians with the type of Blockchain platform called NEM and showed some
real cases of using it. NEM is a multi-purpose blockchain platform launched on
March 31, 2015.
The
NEM.io Foundation is incorporated in Singapore as a company limited by
guarantee. The purpose of NEM Foundation is to introduce, educate, and promote
the use of the NEM blockchain technology platform on an international scale to
all industries and institutions.
Gennady’s
case showed how good English skills can help to find an interesting occupation
in IT.
Participants
number – 32 persons.
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