International Cultural Educational Association (ICEA) hosted the Ukrainian English Language teachers in Palatine, IL in October 13 – October 21, 2017. The delegates were taking part in the congressionally sponsored Open World program, which brings young political and civic leaders from Eurasia and other countries to the United States for short-term professional trips. Established by Congress in 1999 on a bipartisan basis, the Open World program also aids Congress with interparliamentary and other legislative activities, and links Members of Congress to Eurasian leaders and is an instrument for Americans engaged in citizen diplomacy.
The delegates were extremely interested in the Innovations of teaching English language, ESL Courses Curriculum for credit at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels, for individuals who are native speakers of another language and who need to improve their English language skills for academic or employment purposes.
The Open World delegates were:
Ms. Maryna Anatoliivna Torhovetse: Chief Specialist at the Department of Extracurricular Education, Awareness-Raising Work and Protection of Children’s Rights, Ministry of Education,
Mr. Stanislav Serhiiovych Franko: English Language Teacher, Kramatorsk Secondary School #8,
Ms. Maryna Vitaliivna Mochykina: Methodology Specialist at the Department of Liberal Arts Education, Donetsk Oblast Institute of Post-Graduate Pedagogical Education,
Ms. Hanna Anatoliivna Slobodianiuk: Instructor, The South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky,
Ms. Iryna Anatoliivna Zharina: English and German Language Teacher, Smila Specialized School #5,
Mr. Artem Sokolskyi: Facilitator.
Ms.Svitlana Mefford : Interpreter
The delegates discussed the spectrum of services and cooperation with the government and local community and made presentations of their work.The Ukrainian teachers met with the following government officials: Illinois State Senator of the 27th District Tom Rooney, Mayor of Palatine Jim Schwantz , General Consul of Ukraine in Chicago Larysa Gerasko and Consyls – Igor Bodnar, Yevngeniy Drobot, Chicago Sister Cities International (Senior Manager of International Programs Ieva Dilyte).
Most of program time Ukrainian teachers spent at the meetings, round tables and conversations with American professional institutions and educational institutions such as: Community Consolidated School District 15 (Executive Director of Second Language Programs Cheryl Wolfel, Principal Joanna Shostachuk), Township High School District 211 ( Director of Continuing Education & Community Outreach Jerry Trevino, Public Relations Specialist Patrick J. DeGeorge) Palatine High School (Principal Gary Steiger), Conant High School (Margaurete Comes), at the Harper College ( Assistant Professor ESL/Linguistics Department Kathleen Reynolds, Professor of English and Humanities Director, Office of International Education Richard F.Johnson, Associate Professor of ESL & Linguistics Alina C. Pajtek, Liberal Arts Placement and Testing Manager Eric Bohman, Public Relations Amie Granger), at National-Louis University (Associate Professor, ESL/Bilingual Education W.Jason Stegemoller, Professor, ESL/Bilingual Education Kristin Lems, Assistant Professor Mariana Ricklefs, Associate Professor Antonina Lukenchuk), at Montessori School (Board President of Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School and AEHI Sandy Mosetick, Director of Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School and Alternative Education Debra Trude-Suter, Infant/Toddler Directress Education Coordinator Julissa Zenteno, Lead Teacher of Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Heidi Herbon, Lead Teacher Of Early Childhood Montessori Education Oksana Koval), at Palatine Public Library (Interim Director Palatine Public Library District Melissa Gardner, Librarian Megan Buttera, Information Services Anna Golash).
They also taken part in several cultural and community activities, like: meeting with Ukrainian American Youth Association and staff of School of Ukrainian knowledge (Principal Iryna Tsenglevich) in Palatine and Ukrainian National Museum (President Lydia Tkaczuk , Museum Curator Maria Klimchak,) in Chicago.
Our guests are extremely interested in the Innovations of teaching English language involving the Montessori method and Cued Speech and a model full-inclusion program that provide the combined benefits of: challenging, mainstream Montessori curriculum; individualized and small-group instruction; unlimited opportunities for interaction with hearing peers; an intense focus on oral communication skills. Cued Speech as a supplement to English — especially in difficult listening situations, in cases where new and/or complex information is being presented, and in cases where there are languages delays that must be resolved in an accelerated fashion. Ukrainian leaders compered requirements for the Intensive English Program in US and Ukraine, learning equipment and IT applications aimed to provide high quality English Language Education.
The Open World delegates familiarized themselves with Chicago and Palatine historic and cultural landmarks visited Botanic Garden and went on sightseeing tours of Chicago. Home stays with Palatine-based constituents allowed the delegates to experience American family life. Special thanks to the hosting families: Oksana & Miguel Silva, Evdokija & Ilya Bunin, Sergey& Lena Likhovid, Larisa & Sergey Koval.