From Kyiv to Tempe: Teaching Ukrainian in America
Have you ever wondered what it is like to teach Ukrainian language and culture to American students? America House Kyiv eIntern, Bianca Navia had the special opportunity to interview Dr. Berezovenko, summer intensive language program teacher at Arizona State University, located in Tempe, AZ. She teaches Ukrainian to American students through a critical language program organized by the Melikian Center, an initiative whose goal is to raise awareness and pursue scholarly research about topics related to Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and Russia.
Background
Dr. Berezovenko was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. While she didn’t always plan to become a teacher, she was passionate about Slavic languages and literature and knew she wanted to become a specialist in this field. She received a degree in philology, or the study of literary texts, from Kyiv Shevchenko University, and later earned her PhD in Slavic linguistics from the Potebnya Institute of Linguistics of the National Academy of Sciences. After receiving her PhD, she began teaching.
What are the biggest challenges to teaching the Ukrainian language to American students? How do you ensure that your students maintain their interest in learning Ukrainian?
My first time teaching American students was when I worked at Columbia University, located in New York City, as a Research/Professor on a Fulbright Scholarship. I began by teaching a course entitled, “The History of Ukrainian Language of the 20th Century.” Afterwards, I taught additional courses related to Ukrainian studies, such as literature and language courses. From my perspective, the biggest challenge to teaching American students was that they did not know much about Ukraine--which is not quite the case today-- since their fundamental “background knowledge” was missing. This was present even in the case of students of Ukrainian descent. To encourage students’ interest in learning the Ukrainian language, their lack of prerequisite knowledge had to be filled with interesting and useful information. The needs and motivations of students vary widely, i.e. a freshman and a PhD student may have drastically different goals. As a result, the teacher has to take all of those differences into account and find a method to meet the expectations of all students in class.
In your experience, what has been the most difficult concept that American students have had to grasp when learning Ukrainian, and which concepts come easiest to them? Are there any linguistic similarities between Ukrainian and English?
The most difficult concept that American students have had to grasp when learning Ukrainian is either the case system, a dynamic accent, or an absence of a strict word order. But these difficulties are applicable to almost all Slavic languages, not just Ukrainian. At the same time, parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc., are familiar to all English-speaking students, and it makes learning the language easier. It is important to keep in mind that Ukrainian and English belong to different language groups (Slavonic and German accordingly). However, at the same time, they belong to the same family category, namely the Indo-European language family. This goes to show the level of linguistic similarity between both English and Ukrainian. Particularly in the second half of the 20th century, there has been a huge amount of English lexical borrowing to the Ukrainian language, and this tendency remains strong until now.
What are some of the reasons your students have chosen to learn Ukrainian?
The reasons for choosing Ukrainian can include family, academics, or professional goals. Often children from the third or fourth generation of immigrants are getting back to their roots and strive to learn more about themselves through the language of their grandparents. Usually, the students who pursue professional aims are the most motivated ones in class.
What are some misconceptions your students have had about Ukraine? How can Americans become more informed?
The most striking misconceptions of Ukraine that my students have had are the same that a stranger on the street would have. There was a time when Ukraine was perceived as “almost Russia” in most parts of the world, and some of my students shared such beliefs. On the other hand, the students of Ukrainian descent (even if they did not speak Ukrainian) would clearly differentiate Ukrainian from any other language. But, for the vast majority of my students, the information on Ukraine’s achievements in space or nano technologies generates surprise. Even a name such as Serhiy Korolov – the engineer who sent the first man to space – does not correlate with Ukraine. The fact that Serhiy Korolov is a Ukrainian native of Zhytomyrska Oblast who was born and raised in Ukraine and studied at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (now University) usually shocks my students. In addition, the fact that the “Carol of Bells,” which embodies the spirit of the American Christmas holiday, is actually a folk Ukrainian song called “Schedrivka” with music by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych is also quite surprising for an American audience.
What has to be done to make American students more informed about Ukraine? The only way, in my opinion, is to increase knowledge in humanities, including knowledge on Ukraine. It would be useful to offer more courses on the Ukrainian language, literature, culture and history in American universities with instruction provided by teachers from Ukraine.
Share a favorite memory you’ve had as a teacher.
I have many great memories from my teaching experience. The best one is when my students, who were planning to drop the class, changed their minds and stayed. They went on to get more involved in Ukrainian studies and chose a career related to Ukraine!
If I were to visit Ukraine, where should I go and what should I do?
My native city is Kyiv. If you are going to visit Ukraine – take it from there.
Have you been back recently to Ukraine? If so, what did you do? What are some of the biggest differences you’ve observed between the U.S. and Ukraine?
I am presently in Ukraine, working on my research on Ukrainian national identity. At first glance, the biggest difference between the US and Ukraine is their organizational structure – Ukraine is a unitary country and the US is a federal country. These structures tend to influence everyday social interactions. But I think, above all, the most significant difference between Ukraine and the United States is something more important and fundamental – it is the “cult of freedom” that exists in both countries and this freedom appears as a cornerstone of both countries’ system of values. And it is not a metaphor or a flattering description – it is an essence of their everyday existence.
What are some of the impressions your students have had when they’ve visited Ukraine?
In most cases, my students were impressed by the spirit of ancient times that one can feel while visiting more modern Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv or Lviv. And perhaps the most important thing – all of them loved Ukrainian food!
What would be your top three tips to students who wish to learn a foreign language?
If you want to learn a foreign language, you have to decide: 1) which one 2) what is it for, and 3) to which level you want to learn it. One more thing – do not give up until you’ve tried to learn some basics of the language. Chances are, once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll be motivated to learn more! Do not forget that every language you learn is another window through which you can see the world.
Share a fun fact about yourself!
When I was going to go to teach at Arizona State, every one of my friends warned me, “It is hot there!” Such warnings sounded funny to me at first because my understanding was that it is simply hot in the summer. But when I stepped off the plane in Phoenix, I understood that it was serious. (Temperatures in Phoenix during the summer can rise to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit-- around 40 degrees Celsius!)
Vocabulary List:
Prerequisite (adj.): basic, required
Lexical (adj.): relating to the words or vocabulary of a language
Cult (n.): admiration
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A Texas native, Bianca Navia is currently in her junior year at Arizona State University, pursuing a dual major in Political Science and Global Studies. She is most passionate about international affairs, diplomacy, foreign languages, traveling, and teaching. A fun fact about her? She’s the oldest of four sisters in a big Cuban-Italian-American family!