Interview with Rebecca Kelbert, the teacher of English in Ostroh Аcademy

November 04, 2021

A guest from America, Rebecca Michelle Kelbert, agreed to the interview, she already feels at home in Ukraine. She answered 10 questions about her life in Ostroh, her experience at the Ostroh Academy and gave valuable advice for students.

Enjoy reading! Interview:

When did you come to Ukraine? And how long will you stay in Ostroh?

I arrived to Ukraine in October 2017. I have been in Ostroh for 4 years and plan to stay for at least 1 more year.

Do you like teaching at Ostroh Academy? If yes, please tell the main reasons.

I really enjoy all the people I work with at Ostroh Academy. The teachers are special people. I appreciate how they work together and help one another. They’re so caring! The students are really wonderful too. They’re honest, hard-working and have a great desire to learn!

Please give 3 main tips for students who are studying English.

First, don’t be afraid to speak English!

It’s easy to be scared of making mistakes or sounding foolish, but that kind of pride really hinders progress! Speak English as often as possible. That’s the only way to improve!
Second, read!

Find ANYTHING that interests you and read it in English. It helps if it’s something you’ve already read in your native language. You can learn really interesting English phrases and idioms that way!
Third, don’t give up!

Language learning is hard! Keep encouraged! You’ll be thankful for every bit of English you know someday. Maybe you will need English just to understand the signs at an airport. Maybe you will need it to do your job well. Maybe you will meet interesting people and English will be the common language you can use to get to know them better. There are lots of reasons to continue studying English!

Which places have you visited in Ukraine?

I often travel to visit friends here in Ukraine. So, I have been to Kyiv, Kriyviy Rih, Odesa, Izmail, Kamyanetz-Podilskiy, Rivne, Kamin-Kashyrskyі and Lutsk.
The scenery is beautiful everywhere in Ukraine, but the wonderful people are always the highlight of my travels.

Do you love Ostroh Academy? Why?

I love Ostroh Academy. It’s a well-respected university with a great reputation for educational excellence. The faculty and students are honest and hard-working. Those are extremely valuable character traits that are rare in this world! Ostroh Academy has a high academic standard which means that the teachers and students are extraordinary.

What is your favorite place in Ostroh?

My favorite place to go in Ostroh is to the lake. (the “damba”) It’s beautiful, quiet and there are always swans! Walking by the lake is a great way to relax.

What books would you recommend for reading?

The book that influences my life the most is, of course, the Bible. It contains wisdom that can help in any situation and its teachings are truly life-changing. It’s the only book I can read over and over and still find something new and helpful every time.

My favorite American book is “Cheaper by the Dozen” by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. It’s a hilariously funny account of the large Gilbreth family’s life in the USA in the early 1900s. If you need a good laugh, it’s the perfect book to read!

I highly recommend the Harry Potter series too. J. K. Rowling is an incredible author! I’m reading the series in Ukrainian now and Victor Morozov did a fantastic job of translating them!

Do you like Ukrainian habits, customs and traditions? What is your favorite?

The most appealing custom that I will definitely take back to the USA with me when I visit is the custom of taking one’s shoes off upon entering the house. It just makes sense! Looking back, I can’t believe that it was something I never did before coming to Ukraine!
The Independence Day parade in Kyiv is my favorite Ukrainian tradition. It’s inspiring to see the patriotic spirit of Ukrainians on Independence Day. I love seeing the Ukrainian colors blue and yellow everywhere. It’s wonderful when people love their country and appreciate the freedoms they have, understanding that many soldiers have died/are dying to protect that independence.

Do you have funny or interesting stories about your adventures in Ukraine?

I began learning Ukrainian right away when I arrived here.

After I had been here for 1 month, I decided to go to the market by myself and look for a blue jacket (блакитна куртка). However, I mixed up the word for “jacket” (куртка) with the word for “chicken” (курка) and went from vendor to vendor asking if any of them had a blue chicken (блакитна курка) for sale.
I’m still amazed at how polite they all were! No one laughed at me! They just smiled and said “no.” People are so nice!

Why did you choose Ostroh Academy?

An American coworker of mine was alone here in Ostroh, so it worked out well for me to join her.
She had only good things to say about Ostroh Academy and the teachers and students! I was excited to come to Ostroh and I’ve enjoyed every day that I’ve had here since I arrived four years ago!

Thank you for your attention, have a nice day to all readers!