Conversation club as a space for linguistic and cultural exchange
As part of the volunteer activities at PUSH-UA — Potsdam-Ukraine Soziokultureller Hub e.V., the head of the Linguistic Educational and Scientific Center of KSU, Svitlana Klimovych, participated in organizing and moderating a meeting of a speaking club that brings together Ukrainians and Germans for shared German language practice and intercultural communication.
The club format involves mutual support: Ukrainian participants improve their German language skills with the help of German-speaking partners, while simultaneously having the opportunity to talk about themselves, Ukraine, Ukrainian culture, their own experiences, and events important to the Ukrainian community.
Svitlana Klymovych moderated a meeting dedicated to the screening and discussion of the documentary film «Kherson: Breathe Slowly» about the environmental consequences of the war. A presentation about the Kherson region, questions, and thematic tasks were prepared for the participants, which served as the basis for further discussion in German.
This format allowed for the combination of language practice, introduction to Ukrainian realities, and a lively intercultural dialogue. Participants not only practiced German but also, through personal stories and shared discussion, got to know each other, Ukraine, and its contemporary experience better.
Moderating the speaking club provided Svitlana Klymovych with practical experience in organizing a communication space, facilitating group discussion, and developing Ukrainian-German cultural dialogue.