Do I need to be Catholic?

The Ukrainian Catholic University is affiliated with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. It’s English Summer School is intended to be a spiritual, retreat-like experience for both students (many of whom are preparing for priesthood or religious life) and volunteers. While particular religious profession is not “required” of either students or volunteers, both are required to participate in the daily celebration of the Divine Liturgy, midday and evening prayer services, and a daily Scripture discussion session.

I don’t have any teaching experience…

Students of the Ukrainian Catholic University and Holy Spirit Seminary receive formal instruction in English during the academic year. The English Summer School is designed as an immersion experience for the students so that they can speak with native English-speakers, and the emphasis is on communication and interaction rather than formal teaching. This said, volunteers need experience working with youth and need to be comfortable in a leadership position. A three day orientation program for the volunteers will be held in Lviv to give them some ideas how to teach English before the school. During the school the Academic Director and other members of the staff will always be available to assist the volunteers.

Is there an age limit for volunteers?

Volunteers must be over the age of 18. However, because of the necessary maturity involved both in international travel and leadership in the ESS setting, UCU prefers volunteers who are at least 20 years of age or have completed at least two years of university.

Due to the rugged nature of the rural environment as well as the importance of being able to participate in recreational activities with the students, volunteers must necessarily be in good physical health and strength.

Can I bring my young children to ESS with me?

This is certainly not recommended. ESS puts volunteers in very busy days and it would be very difficult to watch after children, and very young children might be at higher risk in the foreign environment.

Occasionally volunteers have brought an older teenage child along as an assistant volunteer. This requires a mature and responsible youth.

How much does it cost? How do I get there?

Volunteers are responsible for providing their own transportation to Ukraine. Upon arrival in Lviv, living expenses are covered by the University for the duration of the program (volunteers may want additional money for souvenirs, snacks, etc.). LOT Polish Airlines (www.lot.com) provides airline service directly into Lviv from Chicago, New York, and other major western cities. Flights from Chicago average around $1400 and from New York around $1200. Other deals may be found on budget sites such as onetravel.com and expedia.com. It is important to book early for the best deals. You may also fly into Krakow or Warsaw in Poland (available on Easy Jet for those traveling within the EU) or Kiev and then travel to Lviv via train or bus.

* N.B. For those inexperienced in Eastern European travel and without any knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian, it is advisable to fly directly into Lviv.

* N.B. On plane and train schedules, Lviv is commonly written as Lvov, the old Polish spelling.

I don’t know any Ukrainian…

Knowledge of Ukrainian is by no means required of ESS volunteers. ESS students have had at least one year of formal English instruction. The School is run on an English-only basis so that students receive as close to a complete immersion as possible.

Who are the students? Do they know any English?

The ESS student body is primarily made up of first-year students of the Ukrainian Catholic University, seminarians from its associated Holy Spirit Seminary, and young religious women. Additionally, some places are reserved for UCU staff and visiting religious men and women. ESS students have had at least one year of formal English instruction. As in any mixed group, some students are very advanced and some are still quite weak. ESS staff will see that students are placed into appropriate group levels and that volunteers with the appropriate skills are matched to the groups.

What am I expected to teach? How should I prepare?

Normally two volunteers are responsible for a class group of 7-10 students for three 50-minute sessions in the morning (devoted to Scripture study, speaking and listening skills, and vocabulary building) and a one-hour reading period in the afternoon and a second group for a 75-minute elective following reading. Moreover, volunteers are expected to simply interact with students throughout the day, especially in evenings. Academically, the most important part of the students’ assessment is participation since in that way they have the most exposure to spoken English.

What are the living conditions like? What’s the food like?

ESS coordinators select a rural resort facility in western Ukraine, usually in the foothills of the Carpathian mountains. Effort is made to find a clean, well-appointed and functional camp. However, potential volunteers should be aware that the living conditions will be rustic, running water is often available on a limited basis (usually three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening), and meals will be cafeteria-style. Foods typically include traditional Ukrainian dishes such as verenicke (dumplings) filled with cheese or potato, holypsy (cabbage rolls filled with rice and meat), and borshch (beet root soup), as well as rice, eggs, bread, cheese, tomatoes, and fruit.

Where will we stay in Lviv?

During the tree-day orientation program, the volunteers normally stay at the Seminary or at the UCU guest house in Lviv.

What are the rooms like at ESS?

The rooms are shared rooms, with normally two or three teachers to a room. Usually simple with beds.

What do we do in the evenings?

In the evenings there is a mixture of group activities, spiritual programs, sports and study. This year we are in particular need of people to organize these evening activities, so please come with ideas and any materials you have for fun group activities or board/language games. Also, please let us know if you are willing to help plan these activities in advance of the school.

Among the evening activities, the tutoring is of the prime importance. In three twenty – minute – periods, teachers make themselves available for one-to-one-conversations with the students or offering any other kind of assistance (e.g. helping on the home assignment, etc.).