Within the framework of the “Learn Across Borders” project, a conference was held dedicated to the presentation of a new methodology for teaching Ukrainian as a foreign language. The event served as a communication platform for the exchange of academic experience between educators from Ukraine and Romania.
The official opening of the conference was conducted by the project manager, Director of the Association of Ukrainian Regions “EU Strategy for the Danube Region” Ihor Usatiuk, and the Rector of the Odesa Academy of Continuing Education, Liubov Zadorozhna.
The event brought together a wide range of specialists: Ukrainian language instructors and students from the South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky, the International University, Odesa State Agrarian University, and Odesa National Medical University joined the discussion.
The developer of the methodology, Tetiana Hrynchuk, presented a learning approach oriented toward Romanian-speaking audiences and ethnic Ukrainians living abroad. The methodology integrates elements of eidetics and mnemonics—memory techniques based on visual imagery. This enables faster assimilation of material and its immediate practical application, which is particularly important for people who have lost stable learning environments due to military actions.
“This methodology helps people overcome language barriers more easily and quickly, become more confident, and integrate into new communities in border regions,” the initiative’s authors emphasized.
The project foresees the establishment of a joint educational center with locations in Tulcea and Odesa. Practical implementation includes webinars, training sessions, and workshops on both sides of the border.
“I am now traveling to Romania, where I will train teachers, and they will then form groups and teach ethnic Ukrainians… Our people have moved to different countries, and therefore we have a significant opportunity to implement this approach abroad, to show who Ukrainians are, so that people become familiar with our culture,” said Tetiana Hrynchuk.
The strategic goal of the initiative is to preserve identity and historical memory among the Ukrainian diaspora, which, according to data presented during the conference, numbers over 6 million people in Romania.
“When we help people feel a connection with Ukraine, we are effectively strengthening our state. In this way, we are creating a strong global Ukrainian community that later supports Ukraine informationally, culturally, and financially,” the conference concluded.
The project “Improving Access to Education in Border Regions as a Key to Socialization and Integration into the EU ROUA00342” is implemented by the Association of Ukrainian Regions “EU Strategy for the Danube Region” (Ukraine) in partnership with the Tulcea County Youth Foundation (Romania).
The initiative is carried out within the framework of the Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania–Ukraine 2021–2027 Programme (https://ro-ua.net). The Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania–Ukraine 2021–2027 Programme is funded by the European Union and co-financed by the participating countries. The total project budget is EUR 281,439.93, including EUR 166,881.48 for the Association “EU Strategy for the Danube Region” and EUR 114,558.48 for the Tulcea County Youth Foundation.
This publication is supported by the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of the Association of Ukrainian Regions “EU Strategy for the Danube Region” and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union or the management bodies of the Interreg VI-A NEXT 2021–2027 Programme.
