This year's Dnepropetroesk Summer English Institute is over, the nineteenth. It was one of the things that was started by our mission right after Ukraine became a country and was opened to the gospel. Since the students first pass a test to gauge their level of English, we don't need to speak Russian or Ukrainian- the teachers are mainly Canadians who volunteer (pay) to fly to Dnepro for the month of July; with the exception of Marina, who they are amazed to find out is Ukrainian.
This year the teachers were all returning from past years' teams, but we had a charming new teenage volunteer, Hailey (pictured) from Alberta, who was a helper. Many of our teachers are current or retired teachers in Canada, but not everyone. All of the students are 16 or older, many are university students, and a few teach English here in Dnepro. We would like to restart the Children's Institute, but need more volunteers. Maybe next year for the twentieth annual.
The students attend four English classes for three weeks for a minimal fee, with the goal to improve their English. Some classes focus on North American-style slang, idioms, Canadian history, literature, or conversation. There has been a very popular class where the students read and discuss a book from the Narnia series.
They are invited to join us for assembly mid-way through the day, where Marina leads a few praise songs in English, a ten minute gospel message, and door prizes (mostly Canadian souvenirs) then we let them go for a 35 minute lunch break. About 60-70% of the students come, the rest use the whole hour for lunch. There is one assembly that is all fun- one day is designated Canada Day and we play games and everyone wears red and white all day. I was told that I looked like Woody's girlfriend from Toy Story in my cowgirl hat this year. On the last day students who attend enough classes receive certificates at the final end of the day assembly, after all the goodbye class photos and gifts (each class buys the teachers a carefully chosen thank-you gift.)
This year my topic was relationships (we read a book and had discussion) Last year I did Music and Grammar. My three classes were wonderful as always- Here they are working, except for my second class- it's the final day class photo with them- look closely I'm in the front holding the gifts they gave me- including a calendar they had made with my photo from Canada Day.
The four years that I have taught we have rented space at a centrally located technical school and after classes are over at two pm the teachers gather at the cafeteria for the main meal of the day. Here is our favorite lunch lady in the photo- she has learned the English names for most of the food, and they proudly display a Canadian flag we gave them one year. On the final day we give each one a rose.
We have a few non-class events- this picture is from the Saturday picnic on the island beach in the river, we took an evening boat ride on the river, the photos below are of the party at the left bank church and many students volunteer to take the teachers sightseeing in the city, along with other one-on-one or small group opportunities. This year many teachers met with former students also.
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