Topic «American Music» gathered students at the Window on America Center in Lutsk

 6 students of English language Department from Volyn National University. together with their English language teacher Svitlana Horbatch visited the Center to talk about American music, its genres, mainly about Jazz music.

The lesson was designed in the form of discussion so each of the student could participate in it. Every student prepared a speech on a definite American music genres (jazz, rap, reggae, blues etc.) The colorful paper show made the lesson more informative.

To get the detailed information on the genres, artists and the most popular bands in the United States of America the students were proposed to talk over the following questions:

·        Prelude: What is American Music;

·        What type of music do you most like to listen;

·        What is a new popular type of music at the moment

After the present audience shared their knowledge on that subject they could listen to the American music ensembles.

The lesson was over by words of thanks for informative lesson and perfectly spent time at the Window on America Center in Lutsk.

Round table discussion «A Picture is a Poem Without Words»

On March 20-21, 2012 the Window on America Center in Lutsk visited 24 students of English language Department from Volyn National University to have round table discussion «A Picture is a Poem Without Words» (devoted to American Art).

 The round table discussion was led by English language teacher Gorbach Svitlana Sergiivna.

 The working language was English.

  At the beginning of the meting the students were proposed to get acquainted with the resources of the center, its services, Movie and Community Clubs etc. The Window on America Center coordinator Olena Pyshniuk gave a detailed information about the materials concerning the subject American Art.

 The students could learn about ways that artists had interpreted events in U.S. history from colonial times to the present, how artists had depicted such topics as the American Revolution, Westward expansion, industrialization, Native Americans, and more.

            That round table-discussion introduced the students to the elements of the arts and taught them to use appropriate art-related vocabulary when talking and discussing paintings.

The second part of the discussion was devoted to learning about different artists and their style of art, mainly American impressionism, American renaissance and the modern mode.

At the end of the meeting each student talked about the importance of the process of art, chose one painting and discussed it using the vocabulary terms.

At the end of the meeting the students explored paper show about the American Art, mainly «All Americans: Images of Heritage and Citizenship» and «21st Century Native American Arts».

Welcome to the Movie Clubs!

The Window on America Center in Lutsk hosted 15 visitors who showed a great interest in watching American movie «Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade»(1989).

The Movie Club was led by Terry Mettison, the American Peace Corps Volunteer.

 

The present audience participated in the lovely discussion and took part in the related speaking activities.

The audience enjoyed the Movie Club and participated in it enthusiastically.

A Virtual Travel to the United States of America

On that day the Window on America Center in Lutsk hosted a group of pupils (12 persons) together with English language teacher from local school № 24.

The aim of the meeting was to learn more about the United States of America, its history, culture, places of interest. etc.

One hour slide show demonstration consisted of three parts:

• the general presentation about the Window on America project in Ukraine;
• brief information about already organized events and prospects for future;
• informative presentation «A Virtual Travel to the United States of America». That part of the meeting contained information about the geographical position of the country, its history, the capital, customs, etc.

New technologies, Internet access, up to date computer devices helped to present detailed and informative presentation about the United States of America.

During the presentation the audience asked questions and got answer on them. The paper show «From Sea to Shining Sea» with colorful pictures of America helped the pupils to imagine the beauty of the country.

Community Club «Famous Women in the World»

The theme of the meeting was “The Celebration of the International Women’s Day throughout the World”. 17 persons were present, 2 American Peace Corps Volunteers (Terry Mettison and Melissa Krut) among them.

The first part of the meeting was devoted to the slide-show demonstration about the International Women’s Day history, celebration of that holiday in the United States of America and Ukraine. The present audience was proposed to learn more about the 10 most beautiful American women (Megan Fox, Halle Berry, Jaime Pressly, Denise Richards, Marilyn Monroe, Megan Fox, Aureana Tseu, Erika Eleniak, Jessica Alba, Marisa Miller, Eva Pigford). Then the visitors watched a video of Milla Jovovich singing a Ukrainian folk song.

The book exhibition «Famous Women in the United States of America» helped the visitors to get current information about Women’s Day, mainly about the most extraordinary American women in politics, sport, in journalism, in medicine etc.

At the end of the meeting the audience was suggested to play 'celebrities' with only women. The goal of the meeting - to learn more modern information about Women all around the world – was successfully achieved.

Camp ACT-Action, Creativity, and Teamwork!

On Sunday 11, 2012 the Window on America Center in Lutsk was visited by 11 America Peace Corps Volunteers from Rivnenska, Lvivska, Volynska Oblast to discuss camp goals, curriculum, budget and other issues.

This camp will be held in early July in Shatsk and will provide a chance for Ukrainian pupils to practice English, explore creativity and develop new skills in leadership, teamwork, and healthy lifestyles.

The Camp ACT staff is made up of half Ukrainians and half American Peace Corps Volunteers, which will give all participants a truly special international experience.

13 English Language teachers from Lutsk and regional schools visited the Window on America Center in Lutsk

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.

 Hope that our future work will be an excellent way to make progress in English language learning using many types of up to date reference materials that one can find at the Window in America Center in Lutsk.

Movie Club "Fargo"

On Sunday 04.03.2012 the Window on America Center in Lutsk visited 19 people to watch a movie «Fargo» and to take part in discussion.

The audience was proposed to get acquainted with a list of vocabulary before the film. Terry Mettison, the American Peace Corps Volunteer, explained unknown words. After watching the movie the visitors talked about it, shared their ideas and thoughts. Melissa Krut, the American Peace Corps Volunteer, was responsible for related speaking activity.

The visitors enjoyed the informative meeting and left the Center in a good mood.