Adaptation of Teaching Practices to the New Conditions During the War. (original) (raw)

2024, Voices of Courage and Vulnerability Ukraine 2022-2023). Edited collection for English language educators based in Ukraine. Edited by Roxanna Senyshyn and Andrea Lypka.

The ongoing war has profoundly impacted teachers and students across Ukraine. Russian aggression has drastically altered Ukrainian lives. In the first year of the full-scale war alone, 659 educational institutions were damaged by bombings and shelling, out of which, 74 were completely destroyed. The Kharkiv region was hard hit, with 51 educational institutions reduced to ruins and 578 others damaged. As of May 22, 2023, 14 higher education institutions in Kharkiv had been destroyed (Харків Times, 2023). Despite the severe shelling, many civilians, including the author, chose to remain in the city and continue working. The daily reality included constant explosions, the relentless sound of air raid sirens, scarce food and water supplies, unreliable communications, and frequent blackouts, making teaching nearly impossible. Survival was uncertain night after night. Yet, Ukrainian teachers persevered, adapting to these new and challenging circumstances to continue educating the youth. Furthermore, the war has prompted a reevaluation of language teaching approaches, methods, and practices in Ukraine, revealing new perspectives on the increasing importance of foreign languages. In light of this, on June 28, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced bill N 9432, which designated English as the language of international communication in Ukraine and promoted the study of English among its citizens. This development stresses the need for ESL teachers to adapt to the challenging conditions posed by a full-scale war, thus highlighting the relevance of this topic due to both the ongoing conflict and internal changes within Ukraine.