National D.E.A.R. Day

The highlight of today’s session at the GABFEST Club (at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) was the farewell visit of the Fulbright exchange Professor Heidi Allen. Ms. Allen was kind enough to find some time for us in her busy schedule. She shared with us her plans about traveling to top Ukrainian destination – the Crimea. Nearly every club member recommended a place in Crimea for visiting. The funniest part of the discussion was instructing   Heidi about traveling on Ukrainian trains.  At the end of the visit the Club members gave Professor Allen an authentic souvenir of our region – household utensils decorated with Petrykivka paintings.   The Club activists explained the basic facts about Petrykivka art and its symbolism. The farewell group picture will be a good memento about the visits of our charismatic guest from the USA.The official topic of the session was celebrating the D.E.A.R Day in the USA. D.E.A.R. is the acronym for Drop Everything and Read.  National Drop Everything and Read Day is an annual event, which is celebrated on April 12, the birthday of beloved children's book author Beverly Clearly. According to the official D.E.A.R. Web site, "National D.E.A.R. Day is a special reading celebration to remind and encourage families to make reading together on a daily basis a family priority." In one of the popular children's books by Beverly Cleary, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, Ramona's class celebrates National D.E.A.R. Day. Ramona reading a book is a part of the DEAR Day logo.
We have watched several videos about   Beverly Cleary’s books and their impact on several generations of Americans. The discussion was launched about reading and its importance for educated people. A book/DVD display “READ versus WATCH” was presented to the Club members. They were impressed with the amount of book/film pairs availableat the Window on America Dnipropetrovsk Centre.
The session was funny and educational.
more picture here 

The number of visitors – 28 persons.

Rain Man

At the Window on America center in Dnipropetrovsk  Rain Man (1988) – 134 min. was presented to all who wish to improve their language skills.
Plot: Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt's father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country.
Director: Barry Levinson
Writers: Barry Morrow (story), Ronald Bass (screenplay)
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino

California – Golden State

WOA Dnipropetrovsk continues its project “Discover USA”.
The Head of Dnipropetrovsk information and resource center "Window on America" Svitlana Usenko met two groups of students from school # 23.
She informed the students and their teachers about the funds and resources of the Oblast Scientific Library named after the Slavic apostles Cyril and Methodius.
All the participants of the event were acquainted with the "Window on America" Center. The Center will be useful to all English language learners.
The following activities were offered to the attention of the students:
-    Slide show “California – Golden State”
-    Youtube video “California";
-    a Portrait Display of books about the President Thomas Jefferson.
 Number of participants – 65.
Have a look at more pictures, please 

Fairy Tales

Today’s session of the Gabfest Club (at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) was dedicated to the International Day of children’s book.
We decided to focus on the fairy tales as a highlight of the children’s literature.
A collection of English speaking fairy tales was presented to the group. We had some fun comparing the English and Russian titles of world famous tales.
The next funny activity was to describe illustrations to the American book “The Red Riding Hood”. The most exciting moment was the description of the final illustration where the Grandmother was having a glass of wine to celebrate the saving from the Wolf’s belly.
The other book under scrutiny was an American version of the “Three Bears”. We have discussed the illustrations and watched an animated cartoon about the bears and Goldilocks.To draw the line of the discussion we have discussed the American tale “Little Chicken”. The plot of the tale was funny and innocent at the beginning. But the club members were shocked by the twist in the tail – a helicopter crashed on the wagon where Little Chicken and other poultry characters were incarcerated by the cunning Fox. Such development was considered inappropriate for the children’s story.
The session was both funny and educational. The adult Club members enjoyed the topic that aroused nostalgic feeling in each participant.
Number of participants – 29  persons.
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President Thomas Jefferson

The Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk (Ukraine) prepared a Portrait Display of books about the President Thomas Jefferson. The display was presented to the Gabfest Club members to mark the 270th anniversary of the America’s third president who was born in April.

A slide show about the legacy of Mr. Jefferson was demonstrated to the group.  Basic facts about him from “American History homework” were presented:

-  participation in the  committee to write a document declaring independence for the 13 colonies. Jefferson, a skilled writer, was the principal author of the Declaration. Very few changes were made to this document. The club members were particularly impressed by the words about the pursuit of happiness as an unalienable right of people;

-  the Louisiana Purchase. In 1803 the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from the French Emperor Napoleon. The territory had been named for King Louis XIV of France.  The territory of 828 000 square miles was bought for 3 cents an acre.

The   club members interested in the personality of the America’s third president were offered numerous sources about his life.

The session was very informative.

Have a look at more pictures, please 

Black Swan

At the Window on America center in Dnipropetrovsk Black Swan (2010) – 108 min. was presented to all who wish to improve their language skills.

This is America

Kids from school # 23 watched the 1^st part of movie «This is America, Charlie Brown».

Have a look at more pictures, please 

Discover USA. California

WOA Dnipropetrovsk continues its project “Discover USA”.
The Head of Dnipropetrovsk information and resource center "Window on America" Svitlana Usenko met the visitors from school # 23.
She informed the students and their teachers about the funds and resources of the Oblast Scientific Library named after the Slavic apostles Cyril and Methodius.
All the participants of the event were acquainted with the "Window on America" Center. The Center will be useful to all English language learners.
The following activities were offered to the attention of the students:
•    Slide show “Meet the USA”
•    Slide show “California”
Number of participants – 20 ( teachers of English – 2, pupils – 18).
Have a look at more pictures, please 

Thomas Jefferson – Renaissance Leader

The Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk (Ukraine) prepared a Portrait Display of books and illustrations about the President Thomas Jefferson. The display was presented to mark the 270th anniversary of the America’s third president who was born in April.
Have a look at more pictures, please