Last Lesson at Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University

On June Wednesday, June 22, I held my last class at V. Dahl EUNU.  It was bittersweet, because I would miss working with my students and colleagues in Luhansk, but I was also looking forward to being home again with Amy.

The topic was on the components of language (pragmatics, semantics, and syntax).  We examined each component in detail and discussed the importance of addressing them with deaf and hard of hearing students.  Teachers will often focus on syntax, but will not think to address pragmatics.  I provided specific examples of each area and the unique problems deaf students often have.

I also described a technique for assessing students' expressive language abilities.  When evaluating deaf and hard of hearing students, we can videotape them to obtain a sample of spontaneous language and then carefully analyze their manual and/or verbal utterances to determine current levels of performance.

One of my students asked me if one could establish a specific diagnosis using the assessment technique we were discussing.  I explained that it is not a tool to determine a speech/language disability, but that it is extremely useful in determining students' specific abilities in the area of language.  He remarked that the assessment strategy is useful for teachers, but not for him as a diagnostic clinician.  He tends to look at things from a strictly medical perspective, which is not always appropriate in education.  I told the class that taking and analyzing a spontaneous language sample is absolutely critical for everyone working with deaf and hard of hearing students, because it provides us with a wealth of information regarding which linguistic skills students have internalized, which skills are just emerging and which ones are not yet present.  We can then use this information to develop and implement targeted interventions.  Educators must know what skills students have and do not have, so they can implement effective instruction.

I was very pleased with the outcome of this final lesson.  There was considerable discussion, and the topic was very timely and highly practical.

"Last Bell" in Luhans'k

Elementary and secondary students are now on summer vacation in Ukraine.  "Last Bell" (or the last day of school) was on Friday.  I said good bye to my students just before I left for L'viv and Vinnytsia.  I am going to miss working with them and hope all of them are successful in life.

My deaf and hard of hearing students in Luhansk. 
I am on the right along with my assistant and buddy Sasha, their
teacher Helen, and my colleague at V. Dahl EUNU Dr. Krsek.

Three of my deaf high school students are graduating and will be enrolling at V. Dahl East Ukrainian National University.  Dr. Krsek will be their advisor.  This is a very significant and historic event, as these girls will be the first group of deaf and hard of hearing students to be admitted to the university.  They are pioneers.  In Ukraine, very few deaf and hard of hearing students have studied at universities.  The vast majority of institutions of higher education are closed to students with hearing loss.  I can only think of three universities currently enrolling deaf and hard of hearing students: one in Kyiv, a second in Vinnytsia and V. Dahl EUNU in Luhans'k.  The number of deaf and hard of hearing university students in Ukraine is very small.  Sadly, even the most capable deaf and hard of hearing students are never encouraged or allowed to study at universities, and unemployment is very high among these individuals.  Most simply become pensioners.  Dr. Krsek is trying to reverse that unfortunate trend, and I know she and her students will be successful.

School for the deaf in Luhans'k

School for the deaf in Luhans'k

Above are a couple of photos of the school for the deaf where I have been teaching since January.  Note that there is no sign indicating that this nondescript building is a school for the deaf, or even that it is a school.  People walk or drive past this building day after day for years and have no idea what goes on inside.  Oddly, other schools in Luhans'k are identified with clear signage.  

Пирогів (Pyrohiv)

Earlier this month when I was in Kyiv, I spent a day at Pyrohiv (Пирогів), which was originally a settlement south of Kyiv.  It is now the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine.  This is one of the largest outdoor museums in the world.  It is so large that is impossible to explore the entire village in one day.  Many of the original buildings have been preserved at this site and others have been brought in from throughout Ukraine. It is a very beautiful and peaceful outdoor museum, an excellent place to relax and learn about the history and culture of pre-revolutionary Ukraine. 

I took a good many pictures, so I have created a special page here.  I will be adding photos over a period time. 

Victory Day

May 9 or Victory Day marks Nazi Germany's surrender to the Soviet Union during World War II.  In Russia and the former Soviet Republics, it is one of the biggest holidays of the year.  My friend Victor suggested that I meet him and a friend of his downtown, and as the day was beautiful, I accepted.  I met Victor and Gregory for tea at Chelsea Cafe.

Gregory and Victor

Gregory, Victor and me emjoying afternoon tea

Gregory is an eighty year old veteran of World War II, or the Great Patriotic War, as it is known in Russia and the former republics of the Soviet Union.  He signed up for military service in the Soviet army at age 14, telling the recruiters that he was 16.  They accepted his answer, though I suspect they probably knew he was underage, as 14 is pretty young, but the Soviet military was desperate for manpower, or, in this case, boypower.  He was immediately sent to Stalingrad (Volgograd), which is east of Luhans'k.  The Soviets were in such dire need of troops, that they were sending anyone capable of holding a rifle.  Gregory participated in the now infamous Battle of Stalingrad and very soon after his arrival received a life-threatening head wound from an exploding shell.  He told me that he still has a shell fragment in his head and that for a very long time his brain protruded from a hole in his skull.  He was extremely lucky to survive.  He showed me his scar, not something I necessarily needed to see over tea, but he is justly proud of his contribution to the defense of his country.

The Battle of Stalingrad is considered by many historians to be the most brutal and bloodiest battles in the history of mankind.  To put it in perspective, the average lifespan of a new Soviet recruit was one day, so Gregory was one lucky boy, indeed.  Eventually, he healed and requested to return to the army, but was denied due to the extent of his injuries. 

Gregory asked me if Americans understand the Battle of Stalingrad and the sacrifice made by the city's defenders.  I told him probably not.  Most Americans actually know very little about the Soviet Union and its history.  The only way to truly appreciate Stalingrad was to be there, and the American military did not directly participate in the battle.  Incidentally, during the period of the Battle of Stalingrad, Luhans'k was completely occupied and controlled by the Germans, but was eventually liberated on February 14, 1943, 2 weeks after German general Friedrich Paulus surrendered to the Soviets in Stalingrad.

I enjoyed visiting with Gregory and learned a great deal during our conversations.  Of course, as is the custom here, he ordered shots of vodka for all of us, along with generous helpings of fresh vegetables, bread, and slices of cheese and ham.  Actually, if one is going to consume vodka, pairing it with food is essential.  Gregory offered a toast to the Americans for their help in defeating Hitler and to a long friendship between Russians and Americans.  I offered a toast to the kind and generous Russians and Ukrainians who have welcomed and befriended me and to our lifelong friendship.

Even after all he and his fellow citizens went through during World War II, he is not bitter, nor does he harbor anger or resentment at the Germans.  He told me that the German soldiers he met were decent and not bad people; they were just doing what Hitler was demanding of them.  In the end we are all the same, just ordinary people trying to make our ways in the world.  It's governments that are the real trouble makers.

Ukrainian National Flag and the red flag of victory at Luhans'k Philharmonic

Black and orange ribbon of St. George and the Soviet red star

Two of the symbols of Victory Day are the red flag and orange and black St. George ribbon.  Gregory wore his St. George Ribbon.  Of the two symbols, the red flag is the most controversial.  Some Ukrainians consider it an important and appropriate symbol to display, arguing that it only represents victory over Hitler, while others view it as a reminder and symbol of the Soviet past and do not think it has a place in the observance of Victory Day.  I heard one Ukrainian refer to the red flag as "the flag of Soviet occupation." Regardless of one's opinion, it seems that nearly everyone in Luhansk celebrates the defeat of the Nazis and expresses great and sincere appreciation to the veterans who served their country, often sacrificing their lives during World War II.

This photo illustrates Ukraine's current challenge:
In what direction does the country want to go?

Following our tea with Gregory, Victor took me on a walking tour of Luhansk.  Here are some of the places he took me.  It was an amazing afternoon.

Statue of Marshal Kliment Voroshilov: Stalin's right hand man and one
of his closest friends. Voroshilov was one of the few men who could
publicly disagree with Stalin and live to tell the tale. He was born in
Luhansk, and the city was once called Voroshilovgrad in his honor.
This is also a hangout for the local skaters.

This is a memorial to the early iron workers of Luhansk. 
They made cannons for the Russian navy.

Me at the iron worker statue

And my friend Victor

The famous (inside Ukraine and Russia) lexicographer and
linguist Volodymyr Dahl (1801-1872). He knew eight languages
and published the first dictionary of the Russian language. He was
born in Luhansk, and his father was a Danish physician. He was
a very close friend of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.

Dahl's childhood home

Dahl's house

Dahl's house. Note the original painting
of his friend Alexander Pushkin.

Dahl's writing desk.

Memorial to officers who died
in the Great Patriotic War

A building near May Day Park. This structure is
significant, because Nikita Khrushchev delivered one
of his famous and fiery speeches from the balcony.

My University Course

My graduate course at V. Dahl EUNU seems to be going well.  The last several weeks I have focused on a range of topics.  I showed the students and faculty an excellent video entitled Through Deaf Eyes.  It provides an interesting and thorough overview of deaf history, culture, the arts, politics, as well as a thoughtful discussion of complex and often controversial educational issues.  My goals for this lessons were to illustrate how deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States have access to the same educational opportunities available to other students and can be just as successful as anyone else.  The film is interesting, because it portrays deaf and hard of hearing Americans as individuals who do not see themselves as having a disability, but rather as active and successful members of a politically powerful and culturally rich community.  The situation here in Ukraine is very different, and Dr. Krsek and I are hoping to touch enough hearts and minds to begin changing attitudes.  Our hope is to help others see that deaf and hard of hearing individuals can graduate from universities and become independent and accepted members of society. 

Last week we covered special education law.  I began with a discussion of the impetus for special education law and current practices:  the Civil Rights Movement, changes in ideologies, the Viet Nam War, the horrific conditions in state institutions such as Willowbrook, and law suits filed by parents and advocacy groups on behalf of children with disabilities.  Some of the important court cases we examined were Brown (1954), Hobson (1967), Diana (1970), PARC (1971), Mills (1972), Rowley (1982), and Holland (1992).  The session concluded with a discussion of legislation beginning with the now famous PL 94-142 and its subsequent reauthorizations.  My goal was for the class to see the systematic progression and development of special education law over the years and the gradual evolution of the rights of students with disabilities.  I also wanted them to understand how changes in attitudes and laws have impacted current educational practices and services.

This week we covered audiological management of deaf and hard of hearing students.  It was a fairly technical lesson, but the main ideas I had hoped to get across were effective amplification of students with hearing loss and acoustic management of learning environments to facilitate student's access to the curriculum.  We talked about acoustic conditions that impede students' learning and what can be done to help students hear more clearly in class.  We also began a discussion of language and communication development of infants, but still have considerable information to go over, yet.  We will continue that topic next week.

Easter Lunch

It is Easter, which is an important Ukrainian holiday, so I thought I would eat traditional Ukrainian food for lunch.  I made some cabbage вареники (Varenyky) and traditional carrot and cabbage salad.  Varenyky are similar to Polish perogis, but they are a little different.  They can be filled with cabbage, potatoes, meat or other fillings.  I like them a lot.  For dessert, I am enjoying the кулич Olga, Svetlana and Sasha gave me. 

вареники (Varenyky) with a Ukrainian salad (салат).

Happy Easter! С праздником Пасхи!

Happy Easter! 

My friends and colleagues at the university presented me with this traditional Ukrainian Easter cake, which is called кулич (kulich), which means Easter bread.  It is made with raisins and is quite delicious - вкусно!

кулич (kulich)

Kulich is very popular during Easter, and stores stock up on these cakes just before the holiday.  My own supermarket had Easter cake displays all over the store.

кулич (kulich) for sale at the supermarket

My friends and colleagues also presented me with an Easter linen, along with a couple of candles decorated with Ukrainian designs.  I am touched by their kindness and generosity.

I would like to go to church tomorrow, as I don't think I have ever missed an Easter service in my entire life.