Fielding questions from the students!

Students hanging out in the "couch area"

Today was a day of contrasts.  We spent time with older students, Form 10 and 11.  We also spent a great deal of time this morning at a Kindergarten School.  It is different from ours in many ways!

Our class time with the older students was an opportunity for them to talk with native speakers of English and they introduced themselves and then asked questions.  The morning class was the Form 11 students who will be sitting for their exams in two weeks and moving on the college next year.  The conversation became very intense in many ways.  We talked of many things....from what they do for after school activities, to how they view religion.  I was very interested to learn that most of the students have no connection to the church.  They say that it stems from the days of restricted religion under Russian control.  They are also very concerned about their nation's progress.  They talked of corruption and how they hoped that they could move forward.  The students are very politically informed but like teenagers every where, they worry more about the immediate future and were frantically trying to get ready for the exams.  Exams here are for two weeks!!  Can you imagine the Westest for two weeks!!  Makes me tired just thinking about it!

The Kindergarten School is for the little ones.  It is for two to six year old children and is a way to prepare them for First Form, or First Grade at seven.  The classes are VERY structured, even for the two year old.  They do have free play time but the class time is work time!  We even saw the youngest group getting ready for gym and the teachers were changing the two year old children into gym uniforms!!  Once again, I different way to teach.  It is not mandatory for the students to attend but most do because it is government funded and virtually free.  Parents pay a small fee and can drop the children off from 6:00am to 5:30 pm.  The place was spotless, the teachers seemed loving, and the kids seemed happy.  It was a bright and cheerful place.

This evening we went to a restaurant for a Ukrainian meal.  We were serenaded by a man singing Ukrainian folk songs and he talked to us about the instruments.  It was a good evening with our cooperating teacher, two other teachers, and the principal. Sara made another excellent video of the music and pictures from our evening.  You can access it at: YouTube.com/watch?v=4JEPidZioE. Tomorrow is Saturday and we are going to a famous island in the river and a Cossack museum. 

A souvenir to the first students who can send me a comment telling me who a Cossack is and why they are important!

Appetizer of bread, sallow(pig fat) and horseradish!
YUMMMMM!!

Pottery in the Ukrainian restaurant

My tea at the coffee shop!

Form 11 Students

Larena - Form 2
                                                              

 

   

  

Alex Starykowsky

Cart from a Western Ukrainian village