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.