English Club on "Addictions and Habits"

Fun Fact of the Day: "George Washington was also quite an alcohol manufacturer. In 1798 alone, he produced 11,000 gallons of whiskey" (www.thirdage.com).

Topic:

1. What is an "addiction"? How does it

differ from a "habit"? Are they at all related or do you think these are two entirely different things? Are they mainly positive or negative? How do they affect those around us?

2. Do you consider yourself "addicted" to something? If so, what is your addiction? Do you think you are addicted to any of the following: social networks, TV, other technological devices, gossiping, food, drink, sleeping; cleaning, gaming, etc.? How might these addictions affect daily life?

3. In addition to such addictions, what do you consider "good" and "bad" habits? Do you have any good habits that you are particularly proud of, or conversely, bad habits that you are trying to change? Do you even want to change your "bad" habits or do you just accept them as part of your character?

4. What do you think are the most common habits and addictions of your peers? Do you think that they differ by age, gender, socio-economic class, or other factors? What divisions can you see in different aspects of your life?

5. What are different ways that people develop habits or become addicted to certain activities? Do you think that sometimes this reliance is intentional or do you think this process is largely accidental? Can you think of any old addictions or habits that you eliminated? How did you do so?

6. Do you consider an over-reliance on technology as more of an addiction or a habit? What do you think would happen in the future if people stopped using mobile phones, for example? Do you think that life would be better and people healthier if they rid themselves of mobiles? Or, contrarily, do you think that communication problems would make this too difficult?

Schedule: Please put topic ideas in the Suggestion Box!

Thursday, 13 December at 5:30, 15 December at 10:30

International Volunteer Day and Choices

On December 6th Vinnytsia English Club with a leader Mila H. organized an event dedicated to marking the International Volunteer Day which is celebrated worldwide on December 5th. The panel discussion during this event offered the audience a chance to learn more about volunteering opportunities on local and international level. Mila Hooten, PC Volunteer, gave information about the strategies of implementing volunteerism. The following questions on ‘how volunteerism relates to modern ‘global values’ and exchanges of culture, and the main benefits of volunteer work were in a spectrum of an active discussion among participants of this Club’s meeting. 

Fun Fact of the Day: “Maine makes more toothpicks than any other state” (http://johnb0127.hubpages.com).
Topic:

1. What is volunteerism? Do you think that volunteer work is necessary and important? Have you ever worked as a volunteer? If so, what did you do and who did you help? 

2. Every year, the 05 of December is “International Volunteer Day.” Have you heard of this special day? Do you think that it’s important to have a specific day devoted to volunteerism? How might this day promote selflessness and volunteer activities?

3. What are the main benefits of volunteer work? How do you think that volunteer work affects volunteers themselves? Do you think that this is emotionally meaningful and fulfilling? What motivation and incentives do people have to do volunteer work? 

4. Do you think working as a volunteer is a kind of “dilemma”? How would you feel about working as a volunteer vs. having a job that pays lots of money but is boring and uninteresting? Have you ever experienced such a dilemma? What other dilemmas have you had in your recent history?

5. How does volunteerism relate to modern “global values” and exchanges of culture? Do you think that volunteer projects promote discussions about cultural traditions and values? Do you think that the idea of being a volunteer is at all related to cultural upbringing? 

6. Have you ever changed your mind or gone against your basic instincts to pursue a particular project or adventure? Even if this was not volunteer work, have you ever stepped outside of your usual comfort zone to try something new or to help others? Was this pursuit a dilemma for you?

Schedule: Please put topic ideas in the Suggestion Box!

Saturday, 08 December at 10:30
Thursday, 13 December at 5:30

English Teen Club on Travelling

On Wednesday, the 5th of December FLEX alumna Dasha led the English Teen Club. The topic of the lesson was “Travelling”.

The members of the club had a great opportunity to learn new words that will help them while travelling to other countries. In addition, there was a fun game, where the participants had to put the words in a right order to build sentences. At the end of the club Dasha had a special quiz for the members of the club. With the help of this quiz everybody checked how well they know Europe and fun facts about it. 

Celebrate December 12 as American English Day!

On December 12, the State Department will officially launch American English, a website for overseas teachers and learners of English as a foreign language. This website is an extensive resource center not only for American English language teaching and learning, but also for American culture. It provides a variety of engaging materials and resources for teachers' professional development and for students in the classroom. 

December 12 also marks the official launch of Trace Effects, a 3-D immersion video game intended for young English language learners (see background here). A link to the game is included on the American English website. Ideas for Launch of American English (http://americanenglish.state.gov/):
https://conx.state.gov/trace/ 

December 4th is Wildlife Conservation Day

December 4th is Wildlife Conservation Day - a global event aimed at educating foreign publics about wildlife trafficking and inspiring them to take action against this illicit trade.

The Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) has released its new electronic journal "Go Wild! Coming Together for Conservation", December 2012. The publication may be freely distributed to your contacts, either in part or in its entirety. 

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/publication/2012/11/20121116138806.html#axzz2DjBLkCK3

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/30145/publications-english/EJ_20121129_Go_Wild_DGW_English_web.pdf (7.4 Mb)

Pamphlet "Combating Wildlife Trafficking: Respect and Protect":

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/pamphlet/2012/10/20121024137888.html#axzz2BMaeTWDs

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/133183/english/P_20121101_RespectAndProtect_lj_English_10022012.pdf (1.5 Mb)

Wildlife Conservation Day Pledge that encourages people to sign up to show their support for the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking. Please promote the pledge on your social media sites:

http://www.wildlifepledge.org

To explore previous electronic e-publications, please click here:

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/iipdigital-en/publications.html#axzz1lJpUTyyo

December 4th is Wildlife Conservation Day

December 4th is Wildlife Conservation Day - a global event aimed at educating foreign publics about wildlife trafficking and inspiring them to take action against this illicit trade.

The Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) has released its new electronic journal "Go Wild! Coming Together for Conservation", December 2012. The publication may be freely distributed to your contacts, either in part or in its entirety.

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/publication/2012/11/20121116138806.html#axzz2DjBLkCK3

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/30145/publications-english/EJ_20121129_Go_Wild_DGW_English_web.pdf (7.4 Mb)

Pamphlet "Combating Wildlife Trafficking: Respect and Protect":

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/pamphlet/2012/10/20121024137888.html#axzz2BMaeTWDs

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/133183/english/P_20121101_RespectAndProtect_lj_English_10022012.pdf (1.5 Mb)

Wildlife Conservation Day Pledge that encourages people to sign up to show their support for the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking. Please promote the pledge on your social media sites:

http://www.wildlifepledge.org

To explore previous electronic e-publications, please click here:

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/iipdigital-en/publications.html#axzz1lJpUTyyo

HIV Awareness Day - December 1st