How to unwind this summer?

The last meeting of English Speaking Practice for Kherson and Mariupol Youth was special to everyone - it was the last session before new project would start working in Autumn. It was full of positive energy and great speaking. With our amazing native speaker Alana, we explored how to unwind this summer through discussion, laughter, and games.

We played “Three Reasons Why It’s a Good Idea To…” with real-life prompts like “live a day without your phone” or “travel in a camper”—and had tons of creative answers!

Alana shared her feedback on our year-long English journey, and participants reflected on what they loved most. She also congratulated everyone on the upcoming U.S. Independence Day—a sweet cultural moment to close our meeting.

We had fun, we practiced English, and we celebrated how far we’ve come together!

Let’s reflect on Phrasal Verbs

This week, our adult English-speaking group explored the exciting world of phrasal verbs related to news and media!

We looked through expressions like “break out,” “cover up,” “blow over,” and “tone down” etc. — and had a blast discussing how journalists, headlines, and social media shape the way we talk about current events. From sharing opinions to creating fun mock headlines, our conversations were as dynamic as a live newsroom!
But the learning didn’t stop there! On our Telegram channel, we kept the practice going — watching short videos where these phrasal verbs were used in real-life context, and doing interactive exercises on Wordwall and other learning platforms to boost retention and confidence. 

As always, we didn’t just study — we practiced, laughed, and grew together as a community of motivated learners. 
Stay tuned — more engaging sessions are coming! 

Camping challenge

What’s your favorite summer activity? Swimming, hiking, or maybe camping? 

Our Kherson and Mariupol youth who joined English Speaking Class last time, explored the theme of different activities and went deep into the world of camping. Together with our amazing native speaker guest, a VSPP, Alana Underwood, we shared stories about our favorite summer memories - picnics, traveling, walking and lazy days in hammocks. After that, came the fun challenge - “what’s the most important thing to take on a camping trip? Flashlight? Sleeping bag? Tinned food? First Aid Kit?  Participants had to make a strong case for their item and try to convince others why it was a camping must-have! It turned into a super fun debate full of creative arguments, personal stores and lots of new vocabulary. 
We had lots of fun, exciting discussions and great atmosphere. 
Join us next time 

Phrasal verbs for social situations

Today, our advanced English-speaking group came together once again for a dynamic session—and this time, we focused on phrasal verbs for social situations. From navigating conversations to expressing emotions and handling misunderstandings, these multi-word expressions can add color and depth to everyday interactions.

We explored another 10 high-level phrasal verbs, after uncovering their meanings and usage, participants practiced them in real-life scenarios. 
The session was filled with lively role-plays, engaging stories, and a lot of laughter. Learners didn’t just memorize meanings—they used them, felt them, and owned them.
If you’re ready to level up your language skills and speak more naturally—join us next time!

Undersranding Phrasal Verbs

This week, our advanced English-speaking group gathered for another exciting session—and we dove deep into the world of high-level phrasal verbs.

Ten powerful, expressive phrases that native speakers use in everyday conversation but can be tricky to master:

lash out at, choke up, let someone down, grow on someone, bottle up, goof around, stir up, freak out, and more.

We started by exploring the meanings of each phrasal verb, using real-life examples and discussing their emotional and contextual nuances. For instance:

• “Lash out at” led to an honest conversation about handling stress and conflict.

• “Choke up” brought up emotional moments and heartfelt memories.

• “Grow on someone” helped us talk about things we initially disliked but came to appreciate—like bitter chocolate, jazz music, or even grammar lessons!

After that, we jumped into practical speaking activities, where participants created short dialogues, shared personal stories, and even acted out fun situations using the new vocabulary.

Learning can be fun—and this session was proof! From moments of reflection to bursts of laughter, we not only expanded our vocabulary but also built stronger speaking skills and connections with each other.

Next session, we’ll tackle a new challenge—

Stay tuned!

Let’s dive into Phrasal Verb topic

We kicked off our Summer Reading Program with a lively English speaking session—and it was the perfect start! This summer, we’re focusing on Advanced Phrasal Verbs, and our first meeting introduced 10 powerful ones, including: Be cut up, Be cut out for, Big up, Blow away, Boil down to etc. After learning their meanings and seeing real-life examples, we put them into practice through fun speaking tasks and personal storytelling.

To keep the momentum going, participants received extra exercises via Telegram—fill-in-the-blanks, writing prompts, and more.

Next week, we’ll keep building our phrasal verb toolbox while connecting them to our summer reading themes. It’s not too late to join—let’s gear up for a great season of learning!

My plans for this holiday!

We held an energizing English Speaking Practice for youth from Kherson and Mariupol, and it was all about summer vibes! With school wrapping up and sunny days ahead, it was the perfect time to dive into fun discussions about how to make this summer unforgettable. We started off with a warm and lively conversation where everyone shared their plans and dreams for summer - from camping trips and beach adventures to lazy days with a good book or learning something new. After that we challenged ourselves playing an interactive vocabulary game called “Name 5”. In this activity, participants had to name 5 things related to summer in different categories really quickly. Some of our favorites included: 5 unusual summer travel activities; unusual ways to keep cool; summer food typically cooked on a barbecue; types of summer footwear; exotic summer destination etc. The game sparked lots of laughter and quick thinking. And it was about getting into summer spirit together.

Stay tuned for more engaging sessions and don’t forget: every time you speak, you make a progress!