The Window on America Center Visitors Celebrated Christmas

For many Americans, Christmas is one of the most joyous times of the year. It’s a time for families and friends to gather together, and for many Christians it is one of the holiest days of the year.

And for many Ukrainian people – the Window on America Center visitors - December 25 became a strong tradition to gather at the Center and celebrate the birth of Jesus.

On that day bout 26 people together with singers came to the Center to mark the holiday.

The present audience learned more about the Christmas Holiday in the USA and around the world.  Relaxing instrumental Christmas holiday music was enjoyed with a ggod company and friendly atmosphere.

The mood was really festive with carols and Christmas songs. : “Christmas is coming”, “White winter”, “Let It Snow”, and others.(look at the Video Bar)

We want to say the words of thanks to jazz group “Double voice”, all present people who came and celebrated the holiday with us!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to You all!

We wish You a wonderful and festive time with those you love!

Are You Looking for Information About the United States of America? The Window on America Center in Lutsk is an Excellent Place to Start Learning!

On December 17, 2012 the Window on America Center in Lutsk hosted a creative meeting for the 13 teachers of English language from local and regional schools.

The WOA coordinator Olena Pyshniuk talked about the Center, its resources, great number of programs. The main emphasis was made on the programs that help the people to practice their English with native speakers, mainly Community Clubs meetings.

During a presentation by a WOA Center Coordinator the teachers learned about the WOA Center that provides accurate and current information about the United States of America. The present audience learned much that they could find in the Center, mainly books or films on many subjects ranging from history to culture to politics and more.

The slide show presentation showed the visitors fragments of events with American and Ukrainian guests that were organized in the Center.

The meeting showed that the teachers were interested in the WOA Center materials and resources, mainly books and CDs on methods of teaching.

We believe that the acquaintance with the WOA Center is the first step towards the future collaboration!

WOA Center in Lutsk Hosted a Meeting for People Intersted in the US Exchange Programs.

Every year, hundreds of young Ukrainian students aged between 16 and 18 are sent to America as part of the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) to spend one year living and studying as a normal American high school student. FLEX is a program of the United States Department of State and is administered by Kyiv-based American Councils for International Education and supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

One hour presentation was led by Anatoluj Slobodenjyk, the former FLEX student, the participant of great number of projects with the assistance of the program Youth in Action.

During the meeting the present audience (8 persons) learned about program details, information for future students, program spotlight, stories.

We thank Anatoluj Slobodenjyk and the participants for sharing their ideas, positive and lasting experiences in taking part in FLEX program. 

We believe that organizing such kind of events at the WOA Center is the first step towards creating opportunities for Ukrainian people and Americans to build connections and create networks and build the basis for cooperation and collaboration in the future.

WOA Visitors Gathered at the Center to Have a Meeting on Worlds AIDS Day.

During the period of time from November 30, 2012 till December 6, 2012 the Window on America Center in Lutsk  hosted a series of HIV AIDS Awareness meetings.

Visual AIDS exhibition “A Closer Look at AIDS” had served as an opportunity for people interested in issues related to the topic.

The documentary “A Closer Look at AIDS” attracted visitors interested in the ideas and experiences of people living with HIV AIDS.

We believe that these series of events at the Center helped them to be more aware of that topic.

 For those who had missed the opportunity to be present at the events we invite to the Center to get information and educational materials.

One More Reason to Visit the Window on America Center in Lutsk!

The Window on America Center coordinator is pleased to announce that on December 6, 2012 Lutsk WOA Center has received new arrivals.

The newly received up to date books, interesting movies and cartoons, colorful posters will give good information about life in America, its culture to a wide publics. As usual, the printed resources have well written text and multiple high quality photos.

We want to say the words of thanks to the US Embassy, Information Resource Center Director Valentyna Pashkova, Information Resource Center Assistant Natalka Yasko. 

Without Your regular support the WOA Center in Lutsk would not be a Center that organizes events - lectures, seminars, etc. - that gave Ukrainian people an opportunity to learn more about the United States of America.

 Welcome to the WOA Center in Lutsk!

Welcome New Visitors at the Window on America Center in Lutsk!

On November 28, 2012 a group of pupils together with a teacher of English language visited the Window on America Center in Lutsk.

The goal of the meeting was to attract new people to the Center, to give detailed information about the resources that one could use when learning about the United States of America.

As new visitors, the pupils were bound to have a lot of questions. Two hour presentation helped to uncover the answers to the numerous questions they had. The following topics were discussed:

• Modern technologies at the Center, e-books readers –Kindles and IPads;
• Audio books;
• Clubs;
• And many other WOA Center resources.

By the time the pupils left the meeting, they found it helpful to get acquainted with all these resources and services that gave the great possibility to be aware of the accurate and current information about the United States of America.

We look forward to meet You at the Window on America Center again!!!

Want to Use E-Books Readers and IPads? The Window on America Center in Lutsk is Waiting for You!

On November 8, 2012 a group of Volyn Oblast librarians (10 person) visited the WOA Center in Lutsk to learn more about e-books readers –Kindles and IPads, to share ideas for future use of these devices.

For an hour the WOA Center coordinator made a presentation about:

•    how to navigate e-books readers –Kindles and    IPads;

•    how to get started using the devices;

•    how to find books, etc.



We believe that any experience that involves technology can influence the process of education greatly.

 And the WOA Center gives You that powerful tool - e-books readers –Kindles and IPads- in the Center, for students, educators, etc.

 Welcome to our Center!

2012 U.S. Elections Welcome People to the Window on America Center in Lutsk!

Nearly 20 people came to the Center during 2 days (November 6-7, 2012) to observe the election process and learn about the ins and outs of the U.S. Elections 2012.

 The present people said that it was a great opportunity to let them see an election. It was an educational lesson for politically active visitors.
Also there was presented the plenty of resources about voting and elections that helped the people to understand the presidential election process by focusing on the 2012 race.













We all congratulate U. S. President Barack Obama on his re-election!

The Window on America Center in Lutsk Hosted a Meeting and Attracted More Students!

 12 Students of Volyn University named after Lesya Ukrainka visited the WOA Center in Lutsk to learn the topic ”The Court System in the USA”.

The English language Teacher made an introduction to the Court System, helped the students to understand basic Court vocabulary.

The WOA Center resources, namely The Oxford Companion to American Law, American Legal Systems: A Resource and Reference Guide, etc. helped the students to understand how the court was set up. Also the present audience was able to identify the important court cases and their impact.

During the second part of the lesson the students watched the movie To Kill A Mockingbird, discussed the theme points.

A Farewell party was held for Dominic Huether, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Lutsk!

13 Window on America visitors took the opportunity to thank Dominic Huether for two year experience, practice and great job.

Dominic was a great help for the Window on America visitors and a real friend and teacher for the members of the Clubs.

Both, the WOA Center visitors and Dominic learned a lot from each other during the last two years, a real transcultural experience.

Please, see some pictures below from the farewell party, the pictures say it all...

Good bye, Dominic! We will miss You!

Thank You very much for Your big effort during the last two years, good luck for the future and we will hope to see You again!)

Celebration of Halloween is a Good Tradition at the Window on America Center in Lutsk.

On October 31, 2012 a group of students (12 persons and English language teacher) came to the Center to mark the holiday.

The WOA room was decorated in the traditional Halloween colours, orange and black.

 The students made informative presentations about that holiday so that to be more aware of the background of it, customs and traditions, etc.

The second part of the party was devoted to the most popular Halloween traditions - "trick-or-treating" and bobbing for apples.

Overall, all the students said they enjoyed the party and learned more about that festival.

Being a part of that tradition myself, I want to end the post of saying: Good Luck and Happy Halloween!!!!

Welcome to the Information Day!

On October 31, 2012 the WOA Center took part at the Information Day that was organized at the Volyn Research library.

The main objective of that day was to raise awareness of the resources of the Center and to attract more visitors to the Center. It is also aims to help people to get up to date information about the United States of America.

The visitors (about 50 people) were proposed to look through the books, periodicals and audio materials.

Also there was presented an authoritative resource Information USA for audience seeking information about U.S. political processes,, America society, culture, etc.

Welcome to WOA Center in Lutsk!

"Halloween Celebration in the USA and Ukraine".

October 29, 2012 – was the opening date of the Book exhibition "Halloween Celebration in the USA and Ukraine". All the visitors of the Window on America Center in Lutsk were invited to learn more about the main Halloween traditions.

The materials and the resources of the Center attracted about 50 people during these 3 days. They could the main symbols and customs of this holiday, the history and origin of this festival, etc.

The WOA Center in Lutsk Provides Help to People with Low Vision.

On October 29, 2012 a group of people with low vision (9 persons) - members of the public institution «Stumyl» - were invited to the Window on America Center in Lutsk.

After the general presentation about the Window on America project in Lutsk, mainly information about already organized events and prospects for future the present audience wanted to know how this special group could use the resources of the Center.

We were happy that some resources of the Center may be available for them. With the help of the WOA stuff our visitors could enjoy learning English while using PlayAway - The All-in-One Audiobook that provided the most effective language learning program. The program Pronounce It Perfectly in English could also be of great help for those who wanted to improve their pronunciation.

 Also among the wide range of materials and recourses of the Center we are proud to work with Kindles and IPads and propose the audience to use audio materials on the e books readers.

The Harry Potter audio book series by J. K. Rowling were of great interest among the present people.

            The present audience found it helpful to get acquainted with all these audio resources that gave the great possibility to be aware of the accurate and current information about the United States of America.

New Technologies Attract New Visitors to the Window on America Center in Lutsk!

On October 25, 2012 about 50 visitors came to the Volyn Research Library to get acquainted with new technical devices that the Window on America Center in Lutsk uses in the work.

One hour slide show demonstration consisted of three parts:

• the general presentation about the Window on America project in Ukraine included brief information about already organized events and prospects for future;
• informative presentation «The Secret of Using Kindles and IPads». During that part of the meeting the present audience was proposed to talk over the following points:

- What is Kindle /IPad?

- How Kindle /IPad works?

  What types of features one can expect from a Kindle /IPad device, etc.

The third part of the presentation was devoted to the use of board games, PlayAway The All-in-One Audiobook that provided the most effective language learning program.

 The special emphasis was made on the Rosetta Stone – the worlds leading language-learning software – the fastest and the most effective way to learn a new language. 

During the presentation the audience asked questions and got profound answer on them.

The meeting showed that people are interested in the Window on America Center resources and want to change the way they worked by using new technologies in work.

More Students at the Window on America Center in Lutsk!

On October 18, 2012 Lutsk Window on America Center gathered 18 students of Lutsk Center proftekhosvita.

The aim of the meeting was to attract more visitors who wanted to learn more about the United States of America using the resources of the Center.
During the meeting the present audience got acquainted with the schedule of working of the center, got to know about the clubs and events that one can visit coming to the center. The students also had a great possibility to learn how to work with iPads and got acquainted with the information on Kindles.

The main reason why students came to the Center – was great interest in the WOA Center materials and resources on different subjects. We helped them with wide range of services and consultations and hope to see them again and again!

Teachers! Come Join Us and Become the Window on America Center Visitors!

On October 17, 2012 the Window on America Center in Lutsk hosted a meeting for the 25 teachers of English language from local and regional schools.

The WOA coordinator Olena Pyshniuk talked about the Center, its resources, numerous programs, meetings and clubs. The main emphasis was made on the programs that help the people to practice their English with native speakers, mainly Community Clubs meetings with Donimic Huether , the American Peace Corps Volunteer in Lutsk.

During the meeting the present audience learned much that one could find in the center, its services, etc. We believe that the acquaintance with the WOA Center is the first step towards the future collaboration!

The WOA Center Takes Part at the Information Day!

On that day the WOA

Center took part at the Information Day.

The main objective of that day was to raise awareness of new arrivals to the Center. It is also aims to help people to get up to date information about the United States of America

.

The visitors were proposed to look through the books, video materials on the following themes:

·         Fiction, mainly Fahrenheit 451by  Ray Douglas Bradbury in English and Ukrainian;

• American Art;
• Books that contain information about Education in the USA

, Exchange Programs;

American Movies.

The Window on America Center stuff we’ll be glad to meet You at the Center! Welcome!

The Morning of September 11, 2001 Attack on the World Trade Center

On that day the Window on America Center in Lutsk showed New Images and other printed resources on the Morning of September 11, 2001 Attack on the World Trade Center.

The paper show was displayed at the Center from September the 4th till 17 th so that the visitors could learn more about series of attacks upon the United States of America on September 11, 2001.







About 30-45 people came during these days to read and get acquainted with the proposed topic.

The paper show was enlarged by books and other resources that illustrated that tragedy.