On July, 03, at 11 am the project supported by the US Embassy in Ukraine was presented to the local journalists at the media agency MOST-DNIPRO.
On the same day at 1 pm the event organizers and activists presented the project at the DOUNB Library head office.
City guests, American Corners’ coordinators from Ternopil, Poltava, and Lutsk took part in a methodological meeting with fellow librarians. WOA Heads who in different years visited best US Libraries (Library of Congress, Chicago Public Library, Seattle Public Library, Northwestern University library and others) shared their unique experience with Dnirpopetrovsk colleagues. They made presentations of their most successful programs, shared their professional experience and new ideas.
Summer - time for rest. Fishing, cook or eat fish?
In the information-resource center "Window on America" (Dnipropetrovsk / Ukraine) held a regular meeting of the English-speaking club "Gabfest" which was dedicated to the Fisherman's Day. Americans celebrate this day with all fishermen of the World in the summer.
Club members watched videos, read, translated, and learned the names of exotic fish. More pleasant was part of the meeting, when everyone said that he knows, loves, or fishing, eating fish or able to cook.
Professional fisherman Nestor surprised us his own hand-made device for catching catfish. Our American guest Jason learned about the most common species of fish in Ukraine and also told us what kind of fish is favorite for Americans.
All who was present improved their vocabulary and had fun discussing the topic of the meeting.
Number of participants – 21 persons.
Today Information and Resource Center "Window on America" in Dnipropetrovsk was attended by the English teachers from schools of Dnipropetrovsk region.
Head of WOA Center Svitlana Usenko presented the Online resources for teaching English. The presentation familiarized the teachers with the American electronic library resource “eLibrary USA Databases”, the electronic portal “American Online English”, the phonetics and grammar teaching program by Rosetta Stone.
The donations by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine were also introduced – electronic gadgets iPad and Kindle.
All the participants were provided with the opportunity to practice the new devices and to search information on the e-Library. The teachers received the center’s brochure and printed copies of the resources for e-Library and American Online English.
Number of participants – 14.
«You only really know what you have when you're about to lose it»
Today «Wednesday Movie Club» at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine offered screening of the drama film «The Clearing» (2004).
WOA’s patrons who wish to improve their language skills enjoyed the film and the discussion that followed.
Plot: As an executive is held captive by an employee, it's up to his wife to deliver the ransom.
Director: Pieter Jan Brugge
Writers: Pieter Jan Brugge (story), Justin Haythe
Stars: Robert Redford, Willem Dafoe, Helen Mirren
Within the framework of the “U.S. Art Residence in Dnipropetrovsk” project the "Window on America" Dnipropetrovsk / Ukraine presented a session dedicated to the Art of Photography.
The session started with a documentary about George Eastman, the founder of the Eastman Kodak company. George Eastman wanted to simplify photography and make it available to everyone, not just trained photographers. In 1888, he invented rolled photography film and the Kodak cameras that could use the new film. "You press the button, we do the rest" promised George Eastman in 1888 with this advertising slogan for his Kodak camera. The video added extra facts about heritage of G. Eastman in the USA.
The second part of the session was dedicated to Margaret Bourke-White. She was an American photographer and photojournalist. She is best known as the first foreign photographer permitted to take pictures of Soviet industry, the first American female war photojournalist. She also traveled to Europe to record how Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia were faring under Nazism and how Russia was faring under Communism. Her abilities resulted in some of the best industrial photographs of that era, which earned her national attention. The group watched a slide show about M. Bourke-White’s background and tried to analyze her world famous pictures.
The topic allowed introducing new vocabulary and activating the analytical abilities of the group.
During the session we were using new sound equipment.
Number of participants – 21 persons.
Have a look at more pictures, please
“Wednesday Movie Club” at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine.
The film «In America» was presented to all who wish to improve their language skills.
In America is a 2002 drama film directed by Jim Sheridan. The semi-autobiographical screenplay by Sheridan and his daughters Naomi and Kirsten focuses on an immigrant Irish family's struggle to start a new life in New York City, as seen through the eyes of the elder daughter.
The film was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay for the Sheridans, Best Actress for Samantha Morton and Best Supporting Actor for Djimon Hounsou.
WOA’s patrons enjoyed the film and the discussion that followed.
Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine was visited by a group of students from the local summer camp ”Friendly family”. The group was introduced to the following WOA’s resources:
* open access encyclopedia, dictionary, fiction and movies collections
* paper display about USA music and musicians
* book display about USA movie stars.
The group was offered a You Tube video with a funny “Shark Song” in English. This video from native speakers presented a language activity with singing, moving and introduction of new words.
Funny atmosphere is a good stimulus for young students – they learn new things more willingly.
The older students in the group were interested in paper-based library catalogues which become history and are replaced by electronic catalogues in many libraries.
WOA’s patrons improved their language skills and enjoyed the active games.
Number of participants – 40.
Have a look at more pictures, please
