A Debate on 'Friendship' at the Center

Topic: Debate!
Debate: “Friendship”

Suggested Points: What is friendship? What makes a person a good friend? Is friendship dependent on time or place? Can a friendship last across a great distance? Do friends need to meet regularly to be real friends? How many real friends can a person have and how do you know they are true? Is friendship between a man and woman possible? How can friendship change you?

Divide into 2 Teams and a 3-Person Jury

1. Introductions and team divisions. 10 minutes.
2. Argument formation: 1 main thesis per group. 10 minutes.
3. Opening statements. 10 minutes (5 minutes each).
4. Plan counter statements. 5 minutes.
5. Counter statements. 10 minutes (5 minutes each).
6. Plan closing arguments. 5 minutes.
7. Closing arguments. 10 minutes (5 minutes each).
8. Review and verdict. 10 minutes.
Total time: 70 minutes.
Schedule:
Saturday, 01 June at 10:30
Thursday, 06 June at 5:30

English Teens Club with FLEX Alumna

On May, 29 there was the last time we have met in this spring. One more lesson and we are done with our club, ready to have summer holidays. This Wednesday the participants learnt new words regarding "Summer holidays", then using the Power Point Presentation Dasha Batalova had made, she checked how they memorized all the new words. After that everybody got a chance to practice their listening skills by listening to the song "Summer Paradise" by Simple Plan, watching a video" Tell me how you spent your holidays" and doing some related exercises.

Kindle's New Content Offers...

For those who enjoy reading classic American fiction in an origin and adapted ones, psychological or social issues! You are welcome to use the updated content on Kindles.

More: A List of E-Books:

1. Barack Obama “The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream”.

2. Barack Obama “Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance”.

3. Ellen Levine “Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories “.

4. Mary Pope Osborne “Magic Tree House #1: Dinosaurs Before Dark “.

5. Mary Pope Osborne “Magic Tree House #22: Revolutionary War on Wednesday “.

6. Mary Pope Osborne “Magic Tree House #28: High Tide in Hawaii “.

7. Kate Drumgoold “A Slave Girl's Story Being an Autobiography of Kate Drumgoold”.

8. “Kindle User's Guide, 3rd Ed.”.

9. “The New Oxford American Dictionary”.

10. Benjamin Franklin “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”.

English Club on Entertainment

It is time to think about your summer vacation: to stay at home and "kill time" or to take a chance for traveling. By the way, do you have typical activities for entertainment? Let's discuss this topic together and help each other to be original and creative in our choice.

Topic: Entertainment

 

Fun Fact of the Day: “In Fairbanks, Alaska, it is illegal to feed alcoholic beverages to a moose” (lmtcg.com).

Topic:
1. What does the word “entertainment” mean? What do you like to do in your spare time? When you are really bored, how do you tend to “kill time”? How much free time do you usually have? Do you have a “routine” for filling this time, i.e. typical activities for entertainment? Does your activity depend on the time of day or how many minutes you have to relax? How directly is “entertainment” related to “relaxation”?

2. When seeking entertainment, do you prefer to be by yourself or with others? Do you like to relax on your own in a quiet place, or rather have an active social life? How often do you attend parties and other social gatherings? Do you consider loud meetings, concerts, performances, etc., as relaxing entertainment? What is the last party or big gathering you attended?

3. Which form of media do you prefer for entertainment purposes: TV, movies, books, music, games (video or board games), online video clips? Do you like more active forms of entertainment: going to clubs, playing sports, enjoying the outdoors, etc.? How many different forms of entertainment do you use on an average day?

4. Do you consider traveling as a form of entertainment? What was your favorite holiday of all time? How did it entertain you? What adventures or activities did you participate in that made it so memorable? Is there anything you began during this holiday that you have continued after returning home? Where do you want to travel in the future?

5. What forms of entertainment can you participate in without spending any money? Do you try to avoid spending money on entertainment, or rather allow yourself to “splurge”? Can dining out be considered entertaining? When is the last time that you ate out and how often do you do so? Do you have a favorite restaurant or café in Vinnitsa? Why do you like this cuisine? Is there any place you want to visit?

6. Are there any new activities and hobbies that you would like to begin in the future? Why do you think these activities might interest you? How much time do you think each person should devote to entertainment and relaxation to be truly happy? What is more important: quality or quantity of entertainment? How can you best “live life to the fullest”?

Schedule: Thursday, 30 May at 5:30 Saturday, 01 June at 10:30

Walt Whitman /Birth Date - May 31, 1819/

 Happy 194th Birthday, Walt Whitman
On May, 31st there would be 194-th birthday of Walt Whitman

A Meeting with a Special Guest Diana Rihl Penniman

A Meeting with a Special Guest Diana Rihl Penniman, Deputy Director of International Programs, Best Buddies International on Political Correctness, Human Rights, and Disabilities (with a presentation on Best Buddies) was held on May 23, 2013 at Vinnytsia WOA Center.

Topic: Political Correctness, Human Rights, and Disabilities

Special Guest: Diana Rihl Penniman, Deputy Director of International Programs, Best Buddies International 

 Fun Fact of the Day: “In Hartford, Connecticut, it is illegal to educate a dog” (lmtcg.com). 

1. Have you heard of the Best Buddies International program? What are your opinions about it? Would you like to become a part of this program? How do you think it helps everyone involved in the organization, including volunteers? 

Definitions: aurally inconvenienced (deaf), visually impaired (blind), hair disadvantages (a little hair or even bald), person with alternative body image (fat), vertically challenged (short), charming-free (boring), chronologically challenged (old), terminally inconvenienced (dead), involuntary undomiciled (homeless), canine American (dog living in the USA). 

2. What does the term “political correctness” mean to you? Do you think that this notion is essential in everyday life and interactions with others? What tends to happen when a person is not politically correct? How do you interact with individuals who ignore political correctness and deliberately offend others? 

3. What is the definition of the word “disabilities”? Why do you think people should say “a person with disabilities,” instead of “disabled” or “handicapped”? Have you heard of the “Spread the Word to End the Word- No Use of the Word ‘Retard’” campaign? Do you think that this is an essential international movement? Why or why not? 

4.How does economic crisis affect programs for individuals in wheelchairs, visually impaired or aurally inconvenienced people, etc.? How important are these accessibility programs? Do you think it is important to help all people who appear to be “in need”? What is your position about begging in the streets, for example? Is it a good or bad idea to help in these cases? 

5. What are “human rights”? How could we help provide the equality of human rights for people with disabilities? Why do you think this sort of equality is important? What can each of us do on a daily basis to help others in need and to increase rights and promote a better quality of life for others? 

6. How is “political correctness” related to our discussion on “disabilities” and “human rights”? Do you consider yourself as a politically correct person? After this discussion, do you think you will make a greater effort to be politically correct when dealing with others? How can political correctness be balanced with freedom of speech and expression? 

Schedule:  

Saturday, 25 May at 10:30

Thursday, 30 May at 5:30

Літня школа у Нью-Йорку

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in collaboration with the Education First (EF) is accepting applications for the first UNAOC-EF Summer School, which will take place in Tarrytown, NY, USA, from 24 to 31 of August 2013. This program seeks to bring together 100 youth from all over the world for a week of discussions on pressing global challenges within the context of cultural and religious diversity. Several skills-building workshops will be offered with a view to strengthen participants’ ability on topics such as peace-building, human rights, advocacy, socialentrepreneurship, etc.

For more information, visit the link:

  http://www.unaocefsummerschool.org/summer-school/