Skills that Matter

What skills do we actually need in real life?

Confidence? Communication? Or maybe… knowing how to fix things?

During our latest English speaking session for Kherson and Mariupol Youth within the native speaker, our friend Alana Underwood, participants explored this topic through fun and interactive activities:

“Useless vs Useful” — where even surprising skills sparked strong opinions;

“Would You Rather” — fast decisions and explaining choices;

Mini debates, real-life examples, and lots of spontaneous speaking.

Students showed a great interest in this topic, as they could speculate on given situations.

We didn’t just learn new vocabulary — we practiced expressing ideas, defending opinions, and thinking critically in English.

It was energetic, engaging, and full of laughter — exactly how language learning should feel!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their ideas!

Healthy Mind

This week at our English Speaking Club for adults, we explored the topic of “Healthy Mind” — and it turned into a truly meaningful and thought-provoking discussion.

We started by sharing our personal views:

What does healthy living really mean?

How do we take care of our mental and physical well-being?

Which habits would we like to leave behind?

And why has being healthy become so fashionable nowadays?

Everyone brought unique perspectives, and it was inspiring to hear real-life experiences and honest reflections.

Then we switched gears and played our favorite interactive game “Ban it or Keep it”

One of the hottest debates? Our relationship with phones — especially:

• scrolling before going to bed

• grabbing the phone first thing in the morning

Let’s just say… not everyone agreed

It was a great mix of language practice, critical thinking, and self-reflection. Because learning English is not just about grammar — it’s also about talking about what truly matters.

What about you — would you BAN or KEEP your phone habits?

Identity after School

Who are we outside the classroom?

This week, our meeting of English Speaking Club for Kherson and Mariupol Youth, was dedicated to the topic “Identity After School” together with a native speaker. Participants reflected on who they are beyond grades, homework, and expectations — and discovered new ways to express themselves in English. We shared ideas about personal interests, passions, and future dreams; created “double lives” and imagined our hidden identities; asked honest questions and heard real-life experiences from a native speaker; debated whether school really shapes who we are; and most importantly — learned to speak about ourselves with confidence.

It was inspiring to see how open, thoughtful, and creative our participants were. Each voice mattered, and every story added something special to the conversation.

Because learning English is not just about language — it’s about discovering who you are and finding your voice in the world.

Act it Out!

Laughter, creativity, and a lot of spontaneous English filled our latest speaking session for Kherson and Mariupol Youth! This time, we turned our meeting into a real improvisation show, where participants stepped into different roles, acted out real life situations, and reacted on the spot — just like real actors.

From emotional role-plays and funny “bad advice” moments to unexpected twists in scenes — everyone had a chance to speak freely, think quickly, and most importantly… have fun in English! 

A special thanks to our native speaker, a VSPP Alana Underwood, for bringing energy, humor, and authentic expressions that inspired our participants to be bold and expressive.

This session was held as part of the All-Ukrainian Reading Week, and we are proud that our library is actively participating in this important initiative — promoting not only reading, but also communication, creativity, and lifelong learning.

Expectation VS Reality

What is reality… and is it the same for everyone?

This week, during our English Speaking Practice for Kherson and Mariupol Youth, we explored the thought-provoking topic “Expectation vs Reality.”

We began by reflecting on a big question: What is reality? Is it different for everyone?

Presenting the topic by Alana Underwood, our facilitator and VSPP, participants discussed how reality can be seen as “the world as it actually exists” — but also how our point of view, expectations, and experiences can completely change how we see it.

The most fun part was “Expectation vs Reality” meme challenge and Disaster Generator game!

From “perfect plans” turning into chaos to “productive days” ending in scrolling social media — the chat was full of laughter and relatable moments!

We also discussed:

• Why do people create unrealistic expectations?

• Can reality be different for each person?

• Is it better to expect more… or less?

A big thank you to our participants for their openness, creativity, and great sense of humor!