The National University of Ostroh Academy together with the University of Žilina (Slovakia), the Palacký University Olomouc (the Czech Republic) and the University of Bielsko-Biała (Republic of Poland) won another grant within the framework of the Visegrad Fund.

The topic of the project is "Resilience approach in cross-cultural training of future teachers in Ukraine and V4 countries". For two and a half years, a number of lectures and seminars will be occurred at the National University of Ostroh Academy. The activities are going to be held not only by Ukrainian tutors, but also by foreign professors.

One of the objectives of the project is to provide future teachers, including primary school teachers, with psychological and didactic tools for the formation of a safe sanogenic educational space.

Doctor of Psychology, Professor of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy of NaUOA, project manager from Ostroh Academy Halyna Handzilevska noted that due to the war in Ukraine, some Ukrainians, including children, were forced to migrate to more peaceful regions of the country, some to others countries, in particular Poland and Slovakia. In order to improve socio-cultural adaptation, reinforce the psychological support and resilience of the children both teachers and parents need some necessary resources which they will manage to use in this process.

That is why the professors of Ostroh Academy, as well as the University of Žilina, decided to investigate the power of Ukrainian folk tales translated into the Slovak language.

Victoria Hetmanchuk, a 1st year student of the speciality Primary Education with in-Depth Study of the English Language, noted:

«It seems to me that a primary school teacher needs to be able to interpret fairy tales, because by doing that children can learn about the world. If you read a tale at the right moment you can help and teach children exactly what they need. Also, children are quite inquisitive and will probably ask a lot of questions about fairy tales. Therefore, a teacher must know how to answer, in order, firstly, to satisfy curiosity, and secondly, to explain the moral component of the tale».

Olha Ivaniuk, a 1st year student of the speciality Primary Education with in-Depth Study of the English Language, added:

“It was very interesting for me to participate in the video filming of the fairy tale “The Glove”. It is my first experience in such an activity. I think that Ukrainian folk tales have incredibly great power. They need to be translated into different languages so that more adults, not just children, can enjoy them.”

Violetta Voytyuk, a 1st year student of the Primary Education with in-Depth Study of the English Language, summed up:

“The interpretation of the fairy tale “The Glove” made a great impression on me, and the idea of cooperation between the two universities turned out to be successful and interesting”.

You can watch the fairy tale "The Glove" here.

For reference:

• creative idea of the fairy tale - Halyna Handzilevska (Ukraine);
• video - Artur Krasnopir (Ukraine), Elyzaveta Tymoshchuk (Ukraine), Daniel Stehlik (Slovakia);
• musical arrangement - Tetiana Chernous (Ukraine).

We also express our sincere gratitude for the support and assistance to:

• Dean of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Žilina Slavka Pitoniakova;
• Head of the Department of  English Language and Literature of the University of Žilina Eva Lelakova;
• Professor of the University of Žilina Olena Hundarenko;
• Psychologist and teacher of Žilina University Eva Shkorvagova;
• Worker of the Žilina Diocese Petra Ondrachkovska;

Ukrainian version of article here: https://www.oa.edu.ua/ua/info/news/2022/31-10-02