To commemorate 190 years since Polish Studies were launched at Lviv University a methodical seminar for teachers and integration meeting “I Polonistyczna Biesiada” were held at the University on November, 17, 2016, in cooperation with the Foundation “Freedom and Democracy” and with the financial support of the Ministry of National Education (Poland).
“This is a very special event, which aims to integrate teaching and scientific environment of Ukraine and Poland, – said the Chairperson of the Department of Polish Philology, Professor Alla Kravchuk. Within two days,the training was held for teachers of Polish from different cities of Ukraine. The training was conducted by well-known Ukrainian and Polish specialists including teachers of our University, who have experience of teaching Polish language and literature in Ukrainian environment.”
Teaching programme on the Polish side is coordinated by Dr. Jerzy Kowalewski. While talking about the particularity of the seminar, he noted: “Special trainings, mastering the latest techniques of teaching of the Polish language, as well as other modern methods of promoting student activities in the lesson were presented during two days.”
Among the audience of this workshop were teachers of Ukrainian schools with the Polish language teaching, teachers of Polish Saturday and Sunday schools, where mostly children of Polish origin are studying, and teachers of Ukrainian secondary schools. “Nowadays, not only in Lviv, but all over Ukraine, Polish as a foreign language is actively included in the curriculum. Therefore, teachers really need this experience. Finally, the program was attended by our students and masters of Polish language, who work in Lviv schools teaching children the Polish language. Therefore, conducting such an academic seminar is a good basis to exchange practical experience of teachers or lecturers with their younger colleagues,” – said Professor Alla Kravchuk.
After completion of the course, the organizers plan to hold an interesting integration meeting of teachers, researchers and representatives of the academic environment of Poland and Ukraine. According to the Chairperson of the Department of Polish Philology of Lviv University, it will be an informal meeting, during which it will be possible to communicate and to establish new contacts. “Teachers and young researchers will be able to meet with authorities in the field of Polish Studies. This is a unique opportunity to meet in Lviv with such well-known Polish Professors as Alicja Nagórko, Tadeusz and Halina Zgółka…” – says Alla Kravchuk.
“We would like to make our meeting open and cyclical, so we can share our achievements and work together to develop solutions to problems,” adds the Professor.
During the meeting “I Polonistyczna Biesiada” distinguished researchers, as well as young researchers, who have just started to work in this field, had the opportunity to present their findings and tell about their innovations, to exchange views on problematic issues connected with the peculiarities of teaching Polish as a foreign language. “We are very interested in the integration of Polish Studies in Ukraine with other Polish centres abroad, integration of generations, but first of all, integration of lecturers with teachers,” summed up Professor Alla Kravchuk.
The logical continuation of the launched Ukrainian-Polish dialogue will be a scientific conference “Polish Studies in the twenty-first century: between local and global”, which will be held on November, 19, 2016, at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.