Winter Wonder Show

We had our final English speaking class of the year for Kherson and Mariupol Youth and it was truly meaningful.

This time, we reflected on 2025 through interactive end-of-year questions on Wordwall, which helped create an open, engaging, and dynamic discussion. Step by step, our youth shared their thoughts about the year’s highs and lows, personal achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and moments that changed them.

Participants reacted to each other’s ideas, expressed agreement or different viewpoints, and practiced thoughtful listening in a warm and supportive atmosphere.

Our American friend, a VSPP, Alana Underwood presented some tips on how to make plans and set goals for 2026 easily.

English once again became more than a subject — it turned into a space for reflection, connection, and personal growth.

Thank you to everyone who joined, shared, and supported one another.

We’re closing the year with stronger communication skills and stepping into the next one with clarity and motivation.

It's the cheesiest time of the year!

Do you believe that December is the cheesiest time of the year?

Last practice, our adult English-speaking group dove into a fun, witty, and surprisingly meaningful topic — cheesiness. And yes, we fully embraced it.

During our online speaking practice, we explored the fine line between cheesy and sincere, using humor, irony, and advanced vocabulary to express nuanced opinions — all in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

We started off with polls and discussions about “how cheesy” we really are during the holiday season; we expanded our vocabulary with words like clichéd, cringeworthy, kitschy, sentimental, and heartfelt; Took part in lively debates where participants defended traditionally “cheesy” things like holiday rom-coms, office parties, and motivational New Year speeches.

The session combined high-level English practice with laughter, cultural reflection, and real-life communication. Participants spoke freely, challenged each other’s ideas, and discovered that sometimes clichés exist for a reason — because they connect people.

Thanks to everyone who joined and proved once again that improving English can be enjoyable, thoughtful, and a little bit cheesy — in the best possible way

Stay tuned for more speaking practices where language meets real life!

Holiday season is coming!

This week we enjoyed a truly special online speaking practice for Kherson and Mariupol youth on the topic “Holiday Season Is Coming”.

From the very beginning, the meeting was filled with a cozy, friendly, and supportive atmosphere, where everyone felt comfortable sharing ideas, opinions, and even dreams in English. We talked about how people prepare for winter breaks, how to manage end-of-year deadlines without stress, and imagined our perfect Christmas destinations and magical holiday festivals around the world.

To make learning even more enjoyable, our friend, a VSPP, Alana Underwood suggested us playing the “Alias” game, where participants described winter-related things, Christmas movies, and holiday songs without naming them. This activity brought lots of laughter and helped improve vocabulary, fluency, and confidence in a fun and natural way.

It was a great example of how English can be improved in an enjoyable, relaxed way — through communication, games, and real-life topics. Warm conversations, active participation, and positive energy made this session truly memorable.

Thanks to everyone who joined us and helped create such a welcoming space. The holiday spirit is here, and so is the joy of learning together.

No Stress December

How do you feel when the year is going to its end, but you still have lots of work to do before deadline?

Our last Youth English-speaking session turned into a warm and thoughtful space where our teens from Kherson and Mariupol and explored what it means to stay calm, balanced, and positive during one of the busiest months of the year.

We began with a light but meaningful activity — “Finish the Sentence About December.”

Participants shared honest thoughts on given sentences. This simple task opened the door for everyone to use our new target vocabulary such as overwhelmed, burnt out, unwind, take a breather, and boost my mood.

Then we moved to “What Would You Do?”, a set of real-life December scenarios.

Students discussed situations like overloaded schedules, social expectations, last-minute tasks, or supporting a friend who feels drained — and they practiced giving calm, practical advice using phrases like set boundaries, stay grounded, reset my mindset, and prioritize myself.

Our final activity — “No Stress December Plan” — brought out so much creativity. Everyone designed a mini action plan featuring: three stress triggers and solutions; mood-boosting ideas; a realistic social media rule.

It was inspiring to see how confidently everyone used the target vocabulary to build healthy, mindful December habits.

Thank you to all our participants for being open, supportive, and full of positive energy.

Let’s keep this mindset and make December not just busy — but meaningful and stress-free.

Do your best! Helping people

Last session for Kherson and Mariupol Youth was all about kindness, generosity, and using our gifts to make the world a little brighter — and our students did an amazing job! We explored the theme through fun and meaningful speaking activities: warm-up conversations about acts of kindness and moments when someone made our day. “This or That” debates where students chose between helping strangers vs. friends, giving time vs. giving money, and other thought-provoking options. Useful phrases practice to express empathy, offer help, and share opinions. Our youth showed so much heart, creativity, and openness. It was inspiring to hear their stories and see how willing they are to “give minds and give hearts” in their everyday lives.

Let’s keep spreading kindness — one word, one action, one English lesson at a time. 

Power Outages

During our last inspiring English-speaking session with our adult learners we discussed an essential topic “Power Outages” and it turned out to be a true lesson in flexibility and resilience. We started our class on Zoom, practicing vocabulary and real-life situations connected to electricity, power outages, and unstable connection — something everyone in Ukraine deals with almost daily. We discussed how to explain technical problems in English, learned new expressions, and shared personal experiences of recent blackouts.

But right in the middle of the lesson…the power went out. For many groups, that would be the end — but not for us.

Within a few minutes, we smoothly moved our discussion to Telegram and continued practicing in the chat. It became a perfect real-life exercise.

Despite the challenges around us, the atmosphere stayed warm, supportive, and full of humor. We proved once again that learning never stops — not even when the electricity does.

Thank you to everyone who stayed connected (in every possible way!), adapted quickly, and kept the conversation alive. Your motivation is truly inspiring.

The importance of keeping in touch

Do you think it’s essential to keep in touch with people you were connected ti? During our last English-speaking session for Kherson and Mariupol youth, we explored the topic of “Relationships and Communication.” The meeting was full of lively discussions, new vocabulary, and meaningful reflections on what helps us build strong connections with others.

We kicked off with a fun warm-up activity called “Hot Takes,” where participants shared their opinions on thought-provoking statements — for example, “It’s OK to have many possessions.” Everyone had to agree or disagree and explain their choice, which set the tone for spontaneous and confident speaking.

Next, we moved on to learning and practicing phrasal verbs related to communication — such as keep in touch, speak up, make up, and count on etc. Using interactive slides, we discussed real-life examples and shared personal stories:

What’s the best way to keep in touch with friends who live far away?

How do you usually make up after an argument?

What qualities do you look for in someone you can count on?

With engaging visuals and friendly atmosphere, participants practiced not only their English but also valuable communication skills — listening, expressing opinions, and supporting one another.

Great thanks to our friend, a VSPP, Alana Underwood for being a part of our group

This week at our English Speaking Club, we dived into the world of funny fails — and it was absolutely hilarious! Together with our active members of advanced group, we watched some classic Fail Army moments, described them in English, and practiced phrases like mess up, screw up, epic fail, and learn the hard way.

We also played Fail Bingo, shared our own “epic fail” stories, and ended with a Fail Fortune Wheel to see how we’d react to everyday mishaps. “Failing doesn’t mean you’re a failure — it just means you tried something new.”

From screen to dream!

 

Our latest English Speaking Practice for Kherson and Mariupol Youth was all about movies — and it truly felt like being on set!

Together with our American guest, Alana Underwood, we explored the world of cinema through fun vocabulary games, quizzes, and inspiring movie quotes.

From guessing famous lines like “May the Force be with you” to discussing what makes movies meaningful, everyone had a chance to share, laugh, and think deeply.

We even played an interactive “Movie Quiz” where participants tested their knowledge of film vocabulary — from trailers to directors!

The highlight of the session? Each participant created their own “movie quote of life” — a phrase that reflects their personality and values.

Thank you to everyone for bringing your energy and creativity — you made this session truly cinematic!

“I’ll do it later…” or “Let’s get it done now!” Which one are you?

At our latest English Speaking Practice for Kherson and Mariupol youth, we talked all about procrastination — why we postpone things, rush through them, or sometimes do both!

We started off with a fun “This or That” game —

Do it now or do it later?

Work under pressure or plan ahead?

Perfect it or just finish it?

Everyone shared their habits, funny stories, and tips on how to stop putting things off (well… at least sometimes ).

Big thanks to everyone who joined — you made the discussion honest, fun, and super relatable!

Remember: it’s not about being perfect — it’s about finding your own pace.

Music is the international language of healing!

Music is the universal language of healing! That was a topic we discussed during our Speaking Session for Kherson and Mariupol Youth.

We started off with a fun “Would You Rather?” speaking game — full of laughter, surprising choices, and great English practice! After such a warmup, we dived into the topic. We explored how music connects people, lifts our mood, and even helps us heal. Together with our American friend, Alana, we talked about the transformative power of music — how it helps us relax, cope, and express emotions. Participants shared their favorite songs, discussed how music influences their feelings, and practiced English through interactive activities and learning new vocabulary.

It was a wonderful session full of good vibes, meaningful conversations, and plenty of English practice — proving once again that music truly brings us together.

How to Deal with Challenges?

Today’s session of our youth speaking club gathered on Zoom for an inspiring interactive workshop “How to Deal with Challenges?” with our special guest – Alana Underwood, an American volunteer, social worker, and psychologist.

During the session, participants explored everyday challenges that teenagers face — from school stress to friendships, family expectations, and future goals. Together with Alana, we learned that challenges are not just obstacles, but also opportunities for growth and self-discovery. We also reflected on personal difficulties by creating our own Challenge Maps, Discussed in small groups what helps us deal with stress and pressure. After that we played the “Silver Lining” game to practice seeing the positive side in tough situations. The workshop gave us not only new English vocabulary and speaking practice, but also practical tools to use in real life. Most importantly, it reminded us that no one is alone in facing challenges — we can support each other and grow stronger together.

A huge thank you to Alana for her warmth, energy, and wisdom, and to our amazing participants for being so active and open-hearted!

In Love with AI

During our last English Speaking Practice for advanced learners we dove into debates on technology and other everyday tools. Participants chose hot topics like AI, video games, gig economy, and genetics, picked their side, and defended their opinions. One of the most thought-provoking statements was: “AI will make people dumber, not smarter. ”It sparked lively discussions, strong arguments, and lots of laughter! The format not only helped everyone practice fluency and critical thinking but also encouraged students to listen actively, respond quickly, and express their ideas clearly in English.

Great job to all participants for your energy and creativity — debates like this prove that learning English can be both educational and fun!

Small Joys

We finally got started our meetings for Kherson and Mariupol Youth with the support of Peace Corps Ukraine and our friend, a VSPP, Alana Underwood.

Yesterday we gathered online on the Speaking Practice — and it was all about the little things that make life brighter.

Together with our American volunteer, we talked about “small joys” — from a warm cup of coffee and favorite music to sunsets and time with friends.

Participants created a Joy Collage, shared their own stories, and discovered how even simple moments can bring happiness.

It was not only a chance to practice English, but also to notice the beauty in everyday life.

We’re so happy to see how confidently everyone spoke and how much positive energy this topic brought!

Stay tuned for our next sessions — more fun topics, useful English, and inspiring conversations ahead!

Never have I ever!

After a long summer break, most of us are finally back to our routines. For some, it felt like nothing special — just business as usual. For others, it was a real pleasure: a chance to start new projects, make changes in daily life, or add small but meaningful adjustments. During our latest English Speaking Practice, we explored this topic together. We also learned and used some powerful expressions to describe such experiences — like hit the wall, sink or swim, hold on to junk, strip things back, or stuck in a rut.

To make it practical (and fun!), participants completed sentences with their own creative ideas, sharing personal experiences and stories. This way, everyone got to practice fluency while also learning vocabulary that really applies to everyday life.

It was inspiring to see how much English can help us express what’s going on in our routines, challenges, and new beginnings.

Looking forward to the next meeting!