November 2018 in Dnipro

Through the month November – EDUCATION in the USA display.

The Dnipro Window on America center presented a book & brochure display for the ambitious patrons who consider study abroad.

The recent brochures sent by USA universities interested in Ukrainian students provide a lot of useful information about the study in the USA.

The Universities offer graduate and postgraduate courses. Their colorful brochures give details of the courses as well as beautiful images of the campuses in different states.

All WOA’s patrons interested in studying in the USA receive advice about the procedures and the “Education USA” center in Dnipro.

The display reviewed by all visitors of WOA center in November.

200 persons.

November, 16-30 – “Colors of Tolerance” display.

To observe the International Day for Tolerance the Dnipro Window on America center presented to the patrons a book & brochure display “Colors of Tolerance”. The display highlights the books on tolerance from the DOUNB Library collection. In a world of diversity, tolerance is a prerequisite for peace. It is also a lever for sustainable development, as it encourages the construction of more inclusive and thus more resilient societies that are able to draw on the ideas, creative energy and talents of each of their members (UNESCO).

The display reviewed by all visitors of WOA center in November.

 

On November, 3 –

This afternoon “Gabfest” English-speaking Club (Window on America center in Dnipro, Ukraine) devoted to the World Science Day. Celebrated every 10 November, World Science Day for Peace and Development highlights the significant role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues. It also underlines the importance and relevance of science in our daily lives.

Participant numbers – 35 persons.

on November, 6  – Activate English group 10.5. at Dnipro Window on America center.

This afternoon the English learners practiced dialogues about "Shopping" and discussed the best buy from Ukraine and Dnipro city. The home task is to prepare the topic "SPORTS".

The professional EFL lecturer T. Gavryliuk combines the lexical exercises with important cross-cultural information that will help the English learners to understand their foreign counterparts better and to avoid awkward situations in communication.

All the participants found the session educational and helpful.

Number of participants – 26 persons.

November, 10 – UKRAINIAN PAPER CUT-OUT ART.

To close the “European Cultural Heritage Year” WOA Dnipro hosted a presentation about Ukrainian ethnic cut-outs art. The presenting artist was Ms. Olena Polovna – an enthusiast of the “paper painting” and a talented person.

Ms. Olena is a professor of art history at Oles Honchar Univeristy (Dnipro city). She teaches design students to cut out in traditional style and promotes traditional Ukrainian designs.

Olena Polovna achieved great success incorporating traditional Ukrainian cut out art into modern interior design. In Dnipro city one can order a window screen with ethnic cut-out motifs by Olena Polovna.

The audience was impressed with the samples of Olena Polovna’s cut-out masterpeices.

Participants number – 35 persons.

November, 10 – EUROPEAN HERITAGE YEAR at WOADnipro.

This afternoon the Gabfest Club members summed up the results of the European Cultural Heritage Year. They have rendered into English the information about Ukrainian ethnic paper cut-out art. The modern European paper cut-out artist Henri Matisse was introduced and discussed.

The basics of paper cut-out art was illustrated with English YouTube videos.
Further discussions about cultural heritage led us to European gastronomy heritage. The group discussed the plans of Ukraine to enter Ukrainian beetroot soup “borscht” into the European heritage list following the example of other countries: France has entered champagne and cognac, Italy has entered Naple’s pizza. The topic was illustrated with YouTube videos .The Club members learned how to tell the borscht recipe in good English.

Participants number – 35 persons.

on November, 13  – Activate English group 10. at Dnipro Window on America center.

The DOUNB Library and the Window on America Dnipro center offer the library patrons an “Express English” activity that will help them to activate their passive knowledge of the foreign language and to overcome the fear of speaking in English.

 Ten two hour- lectures are offered for the participants to improve their conversational skills in pairs.

The professional EFL lecturer T. Gavryliuk combines the lexical exercises with important cross-cultural information that will help the English learners to understand their foreign counterparts better and to avoid awkward situations in communication.

All the participants found the session educational and helpful.

Number of participants – 31 persons.

November, 14 - MOVIE CLUB.

WOA Dnipro’s Movie Club big-screened a romantic comedy “Dan in Real Life” “Dan in Real Life” is a 2007 American film. It was directed by Peter Hedges, and stars Steve Carell, Alison Pill, Juliette Binoche and others. Some critics described it as “a non-holiday holiday film” that is derived from that genre and the rom-com genre in general. Its budget was $25 million and it grossed $68.4 million in four years after the release.

Participants number – 5.

on November 17 – US Veterans Day.

Today’s session of the Gabfest Club in Dnipro Window on America center (Ukraine) had a topic “Veterans Day in the USA”.

Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11. It honors military veterans - persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day.

The topic was illustrated with the History channel videos about Veterans Day celebration.

The highlight of the session was the story prompted by our US volunteer Mr. Jason who is a veteran and travels extensively around the world. The group was familiarized with the WWII episode on Solomon Islands where the islanders saved JFK. The group was told about the War memorial visited by Mr. Jason.

The topic was complicated, but many club members enjoyed it.

Participants number – 31 persons.

on November, 20 – Express English Started: Activate English 10. at WOA Dnipro, Ukraine.

«Window on America» Center Dnipro invited civil servants, police officers, students, specialists with higher education, high school students to join a free mass open course «Activate English! 10.0.».

The objective of this library project is to help English learners to discover more facts about the United States and to improve English conversational skills at the DOUNB library under the guidance of mentors who are fluent English speakers.

We welcomed all the new students and hope they will have a great time!

Participants number – 25 persons.

On November, 21 – Thanksgiving at WOA Dnipro.

This morning a big group of Ukrainian schoolchildren from Dnipro’s school No. 140 visited the “Window on America» center. The WOA’s staff member T. Gavryliuk welcomed the group and offered a presentation about the forthcoming US Thanksgiving day.
We started with the introduction of the new vocabulary for the 4th grade students. They enjoyed the stories about pilgrims and the Indians who helped them to survive. The Turkey Pardon ceremony at White House was also very new to them. We have learned traditional dishes at a Thanksgiving feast.

The information was illustrated with funny YouTube videos with cheerful season songs. Even the EFL teachers learned something new from the WOA’s presentation.
Participant number – 31 (27 students + 4 teachers).

on November, 21 – «Wednesday Movie Club» / «Кіноклуб по середах» – American Graffiti.

American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming-of-age comedy film directed and co-written by George Lucas.

Set in Modesto, California, in 1962, the film is a study of the cruising and rock 'n' roll cultures popular among the post–World War II baby boom generation.

The genesis of American Graffiti was in Lucas' own teenage years in early 1960s Modesto. He was unsuccessful in pitching the concept to financiers and distributors, but found favor at Universal Pictures after United Artists, 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros., and Paramount Pictures turned him down.

In 1995, the United States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. A sequel, More American Graffiti, was released in 1979.

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 – 5 persons.

on November, 24 – USA–Canada Cruise Presentation.

 This afternoon the Gabfest Club members had a pleasure to meet a guest from Canada. Mr. Barry volunteered to make a presentation about a popular tourist attraction – Great American Lakes Cruises.

Mr. Barry has a background in tourism industry; he delivers lectures on US and Canadian tourist attractions and on history. The group was familiarized with US and Canadian ports that are included into the cruise itinerary. We were told about the popular spots in both countries and the beauty of the Great Lakes district on the border between the USA and Canada.

After the presentation, we had a Q&A session with Mr. Barry. The group enjoyed his   understandable English and the insights into the Canadian way of life.

After the session the Club’s committee had an “after-Thanksgiving” tea ceremony with the guest, many club members enjoyed it.

Participants number – 25 persons.

on November, 27 – Activate English group 10.8. at Dnipro Window on America center: Home-work – TRANSPORT.

Students of the "Activate English!" express course learned to market themselves while talking about their education and occupation.

The course instructor, the DOUNB library staff member Tamara Gavryliuk, uses the McMillan Language House textbook to teach students new vocabulary for the topic "Transport".

 Correct grammar constructions, business etiquette and courtesy will help to make a good impression about you in cross-cultural communication. The social conversation skills are an important thing for Ukrainian students of English.

All the participants found the session educational and helpful.

Number of participants – 25 persons.

on November, 28 – «Wednesday Movie Club» / «Кіноклуб по середах» –

One Fine Day is a 1996 American film directed by Michael Hoffman, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney as two single working parents. The title comes from the 1963 song "One Fine Day" by The Chiffons.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("For the First Time").

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 – 12 persons.