UkrainianMe Language School

Today in a B2-level lesson, my student Aude and I explored this beautiful piece about Love by Artur Dron #артурдронь
Texts like this create space to speak Ukrainian about what truly matters. 💛🇺🇦
"Любов милосердствує, не заздрить,
любов не величається,
любов боїться твариним страхом,
але продовжує йти.
Любов могла би здатися, залишити все,
але продовжує йти.
А інколи у любові прострілені ноги,
або в ногах у любові осколки,
і ноги її стискають турнікети,
або ніг у любові більше немає.
Тоді любов несуть її друзі.
Любов риє окопи і живе в них.
І гризе в них лід із розрізаної пляшки,
коли хоче пити у мінус 20.
Любов виходить на бойові чергування,
піднімається на позиції з грижами, з температурами,
з простатитами, з контузіями, з астмами і алергіями,
з високою ймовірністю не повернутися,
з думками про когось найважливішого."

What happens when language learning meets tradition, memory, and a bit of flour on your hands? 🥖✨
Last weekend, I held a Ukrainian Easter baking masterclass for my students titled “Do you speak паска (p***a)?”
Hosted in a very generous kitxhen, for which I'm deeply grateful, it turned into something truly special 💛
The idea behind the workshop was simple: to bring language to life through culture. We explored Ukrainian Easter traditions, learnt the vocabulary of baking, and — the most exciting part — baked our own p***a and traditional decorative doves 🕊️🍞
The title of the workshop comes from a well-known Ukrainian wartime meme:
“До ю спік паска? — Єс, енд орків ту.”
A playful mix of English and Ukrainian that became a symbol of humour and resilience. It was created by baker and later defender of Ukraine, Denys Zelenyi, who was tragically killed in the war.
For this workshop, I prepared a small infographic and shared the story behind this phrase — not only to explain the pun, but to preserve the human story behind it. Our masterclass was dedicated to all defenders of Ukraine 🇺🇦🕯️
What made the day truly memorable, though, were the people 💫
Some of my students travelled from interstate, including a lovely couple who came all the way from Canberra just for this masterclass — it meant so much 🙏
Each participant brought their own story: memories of baking with family, fragments of tradition, or simply curiosity and openness to something new. It became a deeply personal and shared experience 🤍
Our special guest, Luda, was an incredible baking guru! 👩‍🍳 She brought warmth, care, and deep knowledge into every step of the process. Everyone had a hands-on experience, and you could see how quickly confidence grew — not only in baking, but in engaging with Ukrainian language and traditions more broadly 🌿
Grateful to everyone who was part of it 🌾🇺🇦

When you choose to speak the language of another nation, you are not taking on their identity.
You are not pretending to be one of them.

You are doing something far more meaningful ✨

You are showing that someone beyond their borders - beyond their territory, their community, their diaspora - cares 💛

By speaking their language, you build a bridge 🌉
You make it visible. You say: you are not alone. 🇺🇦🇦🇺

It is not about saying, “I am like you.”
It is about saying, “I am not you, but I feel you.” 💙💛

Language allows us to reach across difference without erasing it.

I once reflected on the idea that language is the soul of a nation.
And if that is true, then learning a language is not just a practical act — it is an act of respect, empathy, and connection 💛

It is not enough to support a nation from a distance.
Not only through donations, or through a global language like English.

To truly understand, we must step closer

When you learn a language, you are saying:
I want to understand you.
I want to feel what you feel.
I want to see the world through your eyes. 🌍💙💛

🧠✨ Bilingualism isn’t a problem. It’s a superpower.

For years, people believed that growing up with two languages might confuse children.
Modern neuroscience says the opposite — bilingualism strengthens the brain.

This short video explains why learning and using more than one language works like a mental gym 💪🧠
👉 https://youtu.be/WSUj3PRvzzg

Here are a few fascinating takeaways:

🔹 Two languages = stronger thinking skills
Managing more than one language improves concentration, memory, problem-solving and creativity.

🔹 The bilingual brain is always “training”
All languages stay active in the brain. Switching between them constantly trains attention and self-control.

🔹 A protective effect over a lifetime
A landmark Toronto study showed that bilinguals developed dementia 4–4.5 years later than monolinguals — evidence of what scientists call cognitive reserve.

🔹 Better recovery after brain injury
Bilinguals often recover more successfully after strokes. Language learning strengthens wide brain networks — perception, sound, meaning and memory.

🔹 Early or late — both matter
Learning languages in childhood builds new brain pathways. Learning later in life reshapes existing ones — harder work, but often even greater cognitive benefits.

🔹 Stronger brains, even at rest
A 2023 study of bilingual children showed stronger brain connectivity even when the brain was “resting”, like muscles that stay toned after regular training.

🔹 More empathy and perspective-taking
Bilinguals are often better at understanding that others may see the world differently.

🔹 Different languages, different modes of thinking
We tend to feel more emotional in our first language and more analytical in a second, a beautiful reflection of how language shapes thought.

🌍 And beyond the brain?
Languages open doors to cultures, stories, communities and ways of seeing the world that simply don’t exist in one language alone.

At our UkrainianMe Language School, we don’t just teach words and grammar.
We help build thinking minds, cultural bridges and lifelong cognitive strength 💙💛

Is being bilingual good for you brain? | BBC Ideas What does bilingualism do to the brain? Are there benefits to speaking more than one language?Video from Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUogFor m...

Want to become a Ukrainian Interpreter or Translator? 🇺🇦🗣️
Great news from RMIT University! Ukrainian is included in entry-level interpreting and translating courses, supported by the Victorian Interpreter Scholarship (2026) 💙💛
📚 Courses available:
• Introduction to Interpreting Skill Set
• Introduction to Translating & Interpreting Skill Set
Perfect for those wanting foundational skills in interpretation and translation, and to gain insightful industry knowledge.
🎓 Scholarship eligibility:
✅ Live in Victoria
✅ Speak Ukrainian
✅ Australian citizen or PR (asylum seekers considered)
✅ Enrol in an eligible RMIT course
✅ Meet attendance requirements
✅ Sit an eligible NAATI test after completion
📅 Intakes: Feb, May & July 2026
Deadline: Ongoing
🔗 More info: https://www.vic.gov.au/interpreter-scholarships
📩 Enquiries: [email protected]
or you can PM Olena Radzijewska

Want to become a Ukrainian Interpreter or Translator? 🇺🇦🗣️

Great news from RMIT University! Ukrainian is included in entry-level interpreting and translating courses, supported by the Victorian Interpreter Scholarship (2026) 💙💛

📚 Courses available:
• Introduction to Interpreting Skill Set
• Introduction to Translating & Interpreting Skill Set

Perfect for those wanting foundational skills in interpretation and translation, and gain insightful industry knowledge.

🎓 Scholarship eligibility:
✅ Live in Victoria
✅ Speak Ukrainian
✅ Australian citizen or PR (asylum seekers considered)
✅ Enrol in an eligible RMIT course
✅ Meet attendance requirements
✅ Sit an eligible NAATI test after completion

📅 Intakes: Feb, May & July 2026
Deadline: Ongoing

🔗 More info: https://www.vic.gov.au/interpreter-scholarships
📩 Enquiries: [email protected]

✨💙 "I tried medication, I tried psychologists, but only Ukrainian lessons bring me back to life!" 💛✨

✨Dear friends of Ukraine! I want to share some exciting news with you. As part of the launch of the Ukrainian Translation & Interpreting stream at RMIT University we are hosting a special public lecture delivered by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia and New Zealand, His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko.
🕊 Translating Freedom: Language, Culture, and International Solidarity in Ukraine’s Fight
🗓 Date: Friday, 19 September
⏰ Time: 11:00 a.m.
📍 Venue: Building 16 (Storey Hall), RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Join us for a powerful lecture exploring how language and culture have become vital tools in Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
Appointed in early 2022, Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko serves as Ukraine’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Australia, with accreditation also to New Zealand. Since taking office, he has been a tireless advocate for Ukraine, securing broader support from both nations. He has highlighted Australia’s position as the largest non-NATO military supporter of Ukraine and stressed the enduring importance of international solidarity in the face of Russian aggression.
This lecture will provide a unique opportunity to reflect on the intersection of diplomacy, culture, and translation in times of conflict.
👉 The lecture is free, but registration is essential. Click in the link below to get your tickets! https://events.humanitix.com/translating-freedom-language-culture-and-international-solidarity-in-ukraine-s-fight-public-lecture-by-the-ukrainian-ambassador-to-australia-and-new-zealand-his-excellency-vasyl-myroshnychenko
Посольство України в Австралії / Embassy of Ukraine in Australia

Translating Freedom: Language, Culture, and International Solidarity in Ukraine’s Fight Public Lecture by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko