Is it possible today to learn the Ukrainian language in the Ukrainian capital? The answer is no. Since, unlike the rest European capitals, where studying national languages is encouraged on the state level, you won’t find similar language courses in Kyiv. But we gradually learn to go without the state’s assistance in many important questions, and studying a language is one of them. In our country the phenomenon of self-organization becomes apparent, and it means that the civil society arises.
American John Carragee came to Kyiv a year and a half ago to work, and today he’s one of co-organizers of language clubs in Kyiv. The main idea of such clubs is mutual help between those who speak English or Ukrainian fluently and those who would like to speak so.
“Although the Ukrainian group is not very big – about 7-8 people, it is the most active one,” says John. “If in other groups we talk about some everyday things, while people who study Ukrainian want to speak about topical things: politics, social processes, and the history of the country.”
The idea of language clubs appeared when Carragee and a few of his friends decided that it’s better to study the language with native speakers. Then they spread an announcement by means of one of social networks that they invite everyone to communicate in English with native speakers for free, and next day to come again and help others with Russian. In the first month there were not more than 20 people willing to improve their language this way. But in half a year 400 people subscribed to receive announcements about next meetings. That’s when Ukrainian Lilia Revak suggested to Carragee establishing a club also for studying Ukrainian.
“At the time, there were clubs studying the English, Russian, French and German languages, but there was no Ukrainian. Of course, it’s very illogical, for we live in Ukraine,” says Lilia, the organizer of the Ukrainian language club. “I suggested to John gathering those willing to study Ukrainian every Monday evening.”
Currently every Monday not only foreigners who want to practice speaking our language come to the club, but also Ukrainians who lack speaking their native language. Those who want to teach their state language and tell foreigners what “real Ukraine” is also come here.
In the Ukrainian club there are already constant foreign visitors. Their motivation is different. Some came to Ukraine for a few weeks and want just to learn a few words in Ukrainian, while some dream of translating works of English literature into Ukrainian, and still others study Ukrainian history and language at the same time or have learned they had Ukrainians in their family and felt the need to learn the language of their parents.
“I’m from Russia, but I married a Ukrainian and moved to live to Kyiv,” says Olha, a frequenter of the Ukrainian language club. “I like the Ukrainian language very much, I am going to live in this country, so I’m sure I’ll need Ukrainian.”
Groups never determine topics in advance, like in an ordinary friendly talk. Most remarkably, interesting people who gather there motivate other Ukrainians to speak Ukrainian.
“I come here not only to practice my language but also to develop culturally,” says Rybak. “I want to prove to the world which comes to visit us that the Ukrainian language is very beautiful and therefore worth speaking.”
More detailed information about the language courses can be found on the following internet websites:
http://languageexchangekyiv.ning.com/groups;
http://languageexchangekyiv.ning.com/group/ukrainian.
