Kindness changes everything. English Speaking Practice for Kherson and Mariupol Youth

This week, we held another engaging and energetic English Speaking Practice for Kherson and Mariupol Youth together with our wonderful native speaker guest, a VSPP, Alana Underwood.

The meeting focused on communication, teamwork, and building confidence in speaking English through interactive activities and real-life discussions. Participants practiced useful phrasal verbs such as keep in touch, speak up, count on, make up, and look after while completing speaking tasks, guessing games, and discussion challenges.

Our students shared personal opinions, answered thought-provoking questions, and practiced expressing themselves naturally in English. They discussed friendship, communication, relationships, trust, and situations where it is important to speak up or support others. The atmosphere was friendly, supportive, and full of laughter and active participation.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the opportunity to communicate with a native speaker, which helped participants improve their listening skills, pronunciation, and confidence in real conversations. Alana encouraged everyone to participate actively and made the class both educational and enjoyable.

We are incredibly proud of our youth for stepping out of their comfort zones, practicing new vocabulary, and supporting one another throughout the activities. Every meeting is another step toward becoming more confident English speakers!

Work Smarter. Live Better

Today’s English Speaking Practice for adults was all about working smarter and living better. Together with our participants and an English Teacher, Victoria who lives in Canada, we explored modern work habits, productivity, and the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. During the session, we discussed whether being constantly busy really means being productive and shared our own strategies for avoiding burnout and staying motivated.

Participants practiced useful phrasal verbs and expressions connected with work and communication, such as follow up, get through, get on with, and many others. We also completed interactive vocabulary activities and used the new phrases in discussions and real-life situations.

One of the most engaging parts of the meeting was our debate section, where participants exchanged opinions on topics like remote work, multitasking, technology, and balancing career goals with personal well-being. The conversation was lively, thoughtful, and full of great ideas and personal experiences.

Thanks everyone who joined us for another meaningful evening of English practice, communication, and learning together.

English Speaking Practice for Kherson and Mariupol

This week at our English Speaking Practice for Kherson and Mariupol youth, we explored a topic that feels very real for many teenagers and young adults — worries about the future, career choices, pressure to succeed, and learning to trust yourself along the way.

Participants openly shared their thoughts about the fear of making the “wrong” decision, comparing themselves to others, and feeling like they need to have everything planned already. Together, we discussed why it is completely normal not to know your full path yet and how every experience can teach us something valuable.

Through interactive games, debates, roleplays, and speaking activities, we discovered personal strengths, matched skills with possible careers, imagined our future selves, and practiced giving advice to friends facing uncertainty.

The session was full of honest conversations, laughter, encouragement, and new vocabulary. Most importantly, it reminded us that success is not one straight road — it is a journey of learning, trying, making mistakes, adapting, and growing.

Are books still important in the digital world?

At our latest English Speaking Practice for adults, we explored this topic with an English teacher who resigned in Canada. Together, we shared opinions about the role of books today, discussed whether reading is still popular, and considered how technology has changed the way people enjoy stories and information.

Participants answered engaging discussion questions, exchanged personal experiences, and compared reading habits in the modern age. We also played a fun “Would You Rather…?” game with questions like: Would you rather read an e-book online or a physical paper book? It was a great way to spark conversation and hear different perspectives.

To build vocabulary, we also reviewed useful phrasal verbs with “go”, helping everyone feel more confident using natural English in everyday conversations.

Work, Money & Values

Another inspiring English Speaking Practice for Kherson and Mariupol youth with our native speaker guest was held via Zoom!

This time, we explored the topic of values, lifestyles, and choices people make in life. Participants shared their opinions about what really matters to them, compared different ways of living, and discussed how values can shape our future.

We also practiced speculating on given situations and topics, using expressions to guess, predict, and imagine possibilities. It was a great chance to build confidence in speaking, think critically, and hear different perspectives in English.

A huge thanks to everyone who joined and made the discussion so thoughtful and engaging!

How would you describe your life style?

The last English Speaking session for adults was all about something very real — how to stay healthy when life is mostly… sitting

Participants shared their honest experiences, from “I don’t have time” to “I’m just too tired” — and turned them into something more practical and motivating

We discussed:

– why modern life is so sedentary;

– whether healthy living is realistic or just ideal;

– what small habits actually work.

We laughed through creative excuses (“my sofa needed me!”);

challenged them with reality checks;

and came up with simple, realistic solutions together.

The most powerful part?

Everyone reflected on their own habits and finished with one small change they’re ready to try.

Because sometimes, it’s not about big goals — it’s about small steps.

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!

Eco-Friendly Living: Chat discussion

This week our English Speaking Club for Kherson and Mariupol Youth moved into the digital space and held a lively Telegram chat discussion on the topic “Eco-Friendly Living.”

Participants shared their thoughts on what it means to live sustainably in everyday life and reflected on the small choices that can make a big difference for our planet.

Through interactive chat activities such as quick polls, and short discussions, everyone had the chance to express opinions, respond to others, and practice English in a dynamic way.

These conversations not only helped improve English communication skills but also encouraged everyone to think about simple eco habits we can adopt in our daily lives.

Thank you to everyone who joined the discussion and made the chat active and inspiring!

Household Harmony. Do you know your chores?

Last time at our English Speaking Practice for adults, we explored a topic that everyone can relate to — household responsibilities and the art of living together in harmony.

Participants shared honest “chore confessions”, discussed the division of labor at home, and reflected on the often invisible but very real mental load that comes with managing everyday life.

Through lively discussions and role-plays, we practiced advanced vocabulary and useful expressions like “pull your weight,” “delegate tasks,” and “chip in.” We also explored how language can help us communicate frustrations politely using structures like “I wish…” and “If only…” — turning complaints into constructive conversations.

One of the most engaging moments was our chore negotiation activity, where participants had to find realistic compromises and create a fair system of responsibilities. It turned out that achieving household harmony sometimes requires not only teamwork — but also a good sense of humor!

Thank you to everyone who joined and contributed to such thoughtful and lively conversations. Moments like these remind us that learning a language is also about learning to understand each other better.

Spring Fever

This week our English Speaking Club for Kherson and Mariupol Youth turned into a space of ideas, dreams, and confidence-building conversations.

Together with a native speaker, a VSPP, Alana Underwood, our students explored the theme of spring — not only as a season, but as a symbol of fresh starts and new opportunities.

One of the most engaging parts was our live chat challenge. Students had to quickly respond to unfinished prompts, then expand their ideas using conditionals and more advanced vocabulary. After that, they asked each other follow-up questions and “upgraded” their answers to sound more natural and expressive.

It was amazing to see how:

simple answers turned into detailed stories;

shy responses became confident statements;

grammar structures came alive in real conversation.

Spring is often associated with renewal — and this session truly felt like growth in action.

So proud of our young speakers for their openness, creativity, and willingness to challenge themselves in English

Confidence & Belonging

This week, during our last English Speaking Practice for Kherson and Mariupol Youth we had an amazing meeting, which became a safe space for something deeper than grammar and vocabulary. Together with a native speaker, a VSPP Alana Underwood, we explored the powerful topic of confidence and belonging.

We talked about moments when we felt out of place… and moments when we felt truly accepted.

We shared stories about moving to new cities, starting new schools, speaking English with mistakes, and learning how to step outside our comfort zones.

Through real-life scenarios, honest discussions, and even a “letter to my future confident self,” participants practiced not only English — but self-belief.

What made this session special was the openness. The courage to speak. The willingness to listen. The understanding that belonging is not about being the same — it’s about being accepted for who you are.

Every meeting reminds us:

Confidence grows when we use our voice.

Belonging begins when we create space for each other.

So proud of our Kherson and Mariupol youth for showing resilience, depth, and heart