Speaking club unites young people from different countries

In hard times, conscious individuals try to unite for help and support with deeds, consolation and conversation. After all, the smallest detail is important in order to become stronger and more confident.

With the beginning of armed aggression in Ukraine, Uman National University of Horticulture received many testimonies of support from foreign partners and colleagues. One of them was Professor John Connelly from University of California, Berkeley (USA). The professor's scientific interests include the latest political and social history of Eastern Europe, comparative education, the history of nationalism and racism and the history of Catholicism. The idea of ​​such cooperation came from Professor Nataliia Andrusiak, who is currently conducting scientific research at the University of Vienna, where Professor Connelly is currently staying. Despite the fact that before the war, Professor Connelly did not have direct connections with Uman National University of Horticulture, he was influenced by the fate of Ukrainian students and supported the proposal to organize a speaking club for the students of Uman National University of Horticulture and the students of University of California, Berkeley (USA), so that young people could discuss various topics and distract from the horrors of the war.

With the assistance of the university administration, students and graduate students of all university faculties joined the project. "The war will end, and knowledge in the modern world must be constantly updated. Therefore, it is necessary to study constantly and in any conditions", - club members note.

Every week, young people meet in an online format to discuss familiar and everyday topics - place of residence, hobbies, habits, favorite music, similarities and differences of the educational process in Ukraine and the USA, cultural features of different countries, the influence of media on modern life, etc.

Traditional casual conversations in English have become a symbol of friendly cooperation. After all, in addition to the opportunity of practicing language skills, young people have made new friends who support them in hard times.

                                 Press center of Uman National University of Horticulture

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