UNF Retools for New Ukrainian Ridni Shkoly in Canada

Edmonton - Twelve Ukrainian language teachers got on the airplane at the Edmonton International Airport on April 26, 2009 to return home, their arms full of learning resources, manuals, checklists, sample programs of study, information about online resources, and lesson plans. They came to Edmonton on April 24 from Sudbury, Toronto, St. Catharines, Regina and Saskatoon with the mission of working cooperatively on restarting Ridni shkoly (Ukrainian Schools) within the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada.

In response to a request from the Ukrainian National Federation President Taras Pidzamecky and the UNF Education Committee (Daria Diakowsky, Ulana Pidzamecky and Nadia Babyuk), Marusia Petryshyn, Director of the Ukrainian Language Education Centre (Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies) agreed to organize a workshop to provide teachers and community leaders with the tools they need to restart these Ridni shkoly.

During the workshop held at the University of Alberta, Daria Diakowsky presented and demonstrated a lesson plan that used a story to eventually develop a puppet theatre production to involve students of different ages and language abilities and teach Ukrainian language at the same time. “More learning and less teaching” she said. Dr. Olenka Bilash followed up by sharing the finding of research showing that identity is formed through emotion, and encouraged teachers to ensure that positive emotion characterize the Ukrainian language and culture classroom.

Later, Nadia Prokopchuk introduced online materials like Mova and Rozmova and other resources that could be used by students working on a computer while the teacher worked with another group. The online materials also are useful for students to work with at home www.spiritsd./ukrainian/

Melodia Kostiuk with Romana Bedriy presented an Alberta program of studies pointing out that Ridni shkoly should focus on what the students should be able to do actively. A model program of studies should contain learning outcomes for using the Ukrainian language and culture as well as learning how to learn. Additional elements that teachers might consider adding to their programs of study include careers using Ukrainian, different variants of Ukrainian and comparisons with other cultures.

Ulana Pidzamecky presented her second collection of ‘sources of resources’ and programs of study that are a very rich resource for teachers.

Evaluation comments such as: “I enjoyed the variety of topics covered”; “I enjoyed the intensity of work”; “I enjoyed feeling like I was a needed teacher”... reflected a high satisfaction rate with the workshop. It is hoped that enhanced, more effective Ridna shkola programs result from this workshop.

Materials from the workshop and follow-up information will be posted on the website forums on www.shkola.ca.