Teaching in a Time of Crisis: Innovative Tools, Strategies, and Approaches to Improving English Learning for Ukrainians

On July 2, 32 Ukrainian university instructors gathered in Krakow again to attend the 5-day Professional Development Institute funded by the U.S. Embassy Kyiv and organized through a collaborative effort of the OPEN Program alumna Iryna Lyashenko and TESOL-Ukraine Teacher’s Association.

A team of 2 American and 2 Ukrainian trainers are leading the sessions focused on Designing Online and Blended Courses; Teaching Grammar, Developing Speaking Skills, and Creating Community in the Online and Hybrid EL Classroom; Fostering Emotional Intelligence in the EL Classroom and Cultivating Resilience and Growth Mindset in EL Learners; Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistics and Strategies for Creating Effective Learning Experiences through Genre Pedagogy.

Iryna Lyashenko, Associate Professor, Sumy State University, Dr. Maryna Tsehelska, Kryvy Rih Pedagogical University, Meagan Abrahamsson, EL Resident, America House Kyiv, and Dr. Stuart Carroll, Associate Professor, College of New Jersey in Ewing, joined the efforts to provide professional and emotional support, and foster the confidence of Ukrainian instructors that continue teaching during the full-scale war in Ukraine.

The second phase of the project will include individual facilitated development of online EL courses on Canvas LMS by each participant.