Within the frame work of the “Discover USA” project Window on America Dnipropetrovsk arranged a session for the students from the local high school No. 28.
At the beginning of the visit the WOA Head arranged for the group a tour of the library. The 7th year students learned a lot of useful things about the DOUNB Library. We hope that love of reading will be part of their life for the future. The library tour ended at the premises of the Window on America Center.
The group was offered a slide show about the city of Washington – the capital of the USA. The WOA’s Head Svitlana Usenko who has been to Washington city shared her positive emotions about the trip to the USA.
The students had to read and translate the text on the slides and comment the images on the slides. The focus of the presentation this time was on the architecture of the buildings and the interiors of the world-known sites – the White House, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court building, etc.
The teacher and the students were impressed by the visit and will be happy to cooperate with the WOA Center in the future.
Participants number – 12 persons.
Within the framework of the “U.S. Art Residence in Dnipropetrovsk” project the staff of the "Window on America" Center (Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) visited the local high school No. 28
School pleased us with the signs of Ukrainian patriotism: the state flag on the flagpole in the yard, an exhibition at the school library dedicated to the famous Ukrainian humorist Ostap Vyshnia. The music lessons room impressed us with a real mini-grand piano in it. Music studies are taken very seriously at this school.
The objective of the visit was to introduce the students to the art of George Gershwin as a musical innovator with Ukrainian roots.
A two groups of senior students (8-9 years) was invited to the lecture. The WOA Head S. Usenko presented to them the “Window on America” Center and its free resources for studying English. Students were informed about the opportunity to study at an American university, if they have a high level of English language.They were also reminded about the hight student exchange program “Summer Work and Travel USA” and referred to respective Facebook page of the US Embassy in Kyiv.
The senior students watched several interactive slide shows about the background and the career of George Gershwin. The students already knew certain things about Gershwin. Today they have learned a lot of interesting facts about Gershwin’s innovations in music and about his impact on American culture.
The presenter T. Gavryliuk added a new aspect to the presentation. There is an opinion among the Ukrainian music scholars about the Ukrainian roots of the world famous lullaby “Summertime” by G. Gershwin. The story is similar to the rooting of the “Carol of the Bells” from a popular Ukrainian folk song.
The WOA staff member T. Gavryliuk presented several inter-active slide shows about the background and music of George Gershwin. The students were fascinated by the sounds of blues and musicals by George Gershwin.
To check the comprehension of the complicated material the students were asked to answer the questions of a quiz. They managed to give several correct answers, but they certainly need to learn more about opera in general.
Participants number – 30 persons.
America’s Day at school No. 28 - “Kobzar’s American Friend” presentation
Dnipropetrovsk school No.28 is a specialized school with the focus on foreign languages study (English). The school is located quite far from the DOUNB Library, but it does not hinder its close ties with WOA Dnipropetrovsk; we have been partners for a long time.
The WOA staff was invited to participate in the Foreign Languages Week at school on a day dedicated to the American English.
The WOA’s Head Svitlana Usenko introduced the WOA centre and its resources to the school children and teachers. She demonstrated to the group the authentic maps of the USA available at the WOA Centre – the political and geographical ones. She also briefed the student on her visit to the USA through the “Open World” Exchange program.
The WOA staff member Tamara Gavryliuk created a slide show “Kobzar’s American Friend”.
The PP presentation reminded the students about facts of Shevchenko’s biography with the focus on his painting talent, introduced new vocabulary and art terms. The presentation highlighted the fact of Shevchenko’s acquaintance and friendship with an outstanding African-American Shakespearian actor – Ira Aldridge .The students’ attention was drawn to Ira Aldridge’s portrait by Shevchenko. They read and rendered into English the memoirs of the person who witnessed their friendship.
The 200th Shevchenko’s anniversary is widely celebrated in Ukraine and the information about his friendship with the outstanding American actor has cultural and educational value.
Number of participants – 75 persons.
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