Every year in late May, the Training Department for Foreign Citizens runs My Home Country contest where foreign students present their countries in Ukrainian.
On 20 May 2016, the Centre for International Education of the Institute of Postgraduate Education and Pre-University Training at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv held the contest in which 29 students from 15 countries demonstrated their command of the Ukrainian language, thus making a virtual journey around the world from the east to the west coast of the Pacific Ocean.
Vira Kovalenko, a teacher at the Training Department, who was the host of the contest, pointed out that this year the geography of students was very wide, i.e. almost 20 countries from different continents, namely Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America.
‘The students who started their training 8 or 9 months ago have already mastered the Ukrainian language quite well. During their training they learnt a lot of interesting facts about Ukraine, its culture and traditions, had the opportunity to visit other cities on holidays. And now everyone who is present at the contest will find out something new and interesting about their home countries. Although the contest is held every year and a lot of countries have repeatedly been presented, each presentation always contains something new and unique,’ she said.
Docent Viktor Krevs, Head of the Center for International Education, Deputy Head of the Institute of Postgraduate Education and Pre-University Training, welcomed the contestants in his speech.
In their presentations, the young people informed about the history, language, geography, culture and traditions of their homelands. The students tried to convey distinctive features of their countries by showing the beauty of national costumes, emphasizing the details which are probably little known, but very important: natural and cultural features and customs of their nations. This year, almost every presentation had a part about cuisine and emotions the students had while presenting it showed that they missed their traditional cuisine and homemade dishes most of all.
This year, the foreign students also shared interesting information about a natural wonder, Stone Town, and lakes with water of different colours in Libya, colourful transport and traditional wrestling in Senegal, tourist attractions in Morocco, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and major cities in central Turkey, wedding customs in Nepal, historic sites in Palestine, establishment of the Chinese writing system, traditional Korean dishes, modern music in Ecuador, etc.
The students from Ghana, Burkina Faso and Ecuador were wearing traditional national clothes.
Some presentations have become truly interactive events with music and dancing.
The quiz, which was held during technical breaks by Vira Kovalenko, proved that the students listened carefully to the presentations of their friends and remembered a lot of interesting facts about different countries.
After a long discussion, the jury, which consisted of Yurii Zanko, Head of the Institute of Postgraduate Education and Pre-University Training (jury chairperson), Yaroslav Harasym, Vice-Rector for Research and Teaching, Nataliya Tsisar, Ukrainian teacher, Pavlo Yureiko, history teacher, Romaniya Buriak, literature teacher, announced the results.
The representatives of three countries took first place: Jean Luc Sagna (Senegal), Li Jun-Wei (Taiwan), Nguyen Minh Tan, Nguyen Thi Anh Dao (Vietnam). Second place went to Moussa Badini (Burkina Faso), Kallol Dahal (Nepal), Zhong Shen, Li Ke (China). And third place was also taken by the representatives of three countries: Muhannad Araud (Libya), Mehmet Eren, Orkun Samed Bakioğlu, Hakan Kılıç, Yavuz Selim (Turkey), Abdalhay Albana (Palestine).
Yurii Zanko, Head of the Institute of Postgraduate Education and Pre-University Training, awarded participants the certificates of merit and expressed gratitude to all the students for their interesting presentations. In addition, Mr. Zanko voiced hope that even those students who will study at other universities when the course is over, will return to the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv in order to obtain Master’s or postgraduate degrees.