Teachers of the Foreign Languages Department keep on gathering research, strategies, and best practices from experts in the field of English language teaching.
Svitlana Mikhno became a TESOL International Association member and joined the global community of English language professionals for the virtual TESOL 2021 Convention & English Language Expo, 24-27 March! TESOL is a dynamic community of teachers, researchers, administrators, and students who share the mission of advancing professional expertise in English language teaching.
On 24-27 March 2021 Svitlana Mikhno attended International Convention and English Language Expo. The TESOL 2021 convention program covered a wide array of critical topics for English language professionals and offered professional development opportunities to English language educators at all levels from around the world. With 6,000 attendees and nearly 1,000 sessions, the convention had something for everyone. The English Language Expo, the largest of its kind, provided the opportunity to showcase the latest products, publications, software, and ESOL teaching tools to more than 6,500 international TESOL professionals.

On 18th – 19th March, 2021 the conference “First Step to Science” took place in Sumy State University. The teachers of the Foreign Languages Department N. Maliovana, V. Kurochkina, T. Plokhuta, O. Gladchenko, O. Nefedchenko, S. Mikhno and T. Pochatko prepared 13 students for participation in the conference.
Tasks of the conference:
– Forming interest of students to scientific work
– Preparation of talented young people to further scientific work
– Preparation for taking part in scientific conferences
– Shaping ideas about directions of the scientific work, which is being conducted by the departments of SSU.
Students of the Medical Institute under the scientific supervision of teachers of the Department of Foreign Languages: N. Maliovana (4 students), O. Gladchenko (2 students), O. Nefedchenko (1 student) took part in Section A “Actual Problems and Perspectives of Development of Modern Medicine”. Students presented their scientific reports: Belabdi A., MC.m-005 "Sarc-Cov-2 as a Respiratory Disease that Infects Neurons"; Birin O., MC.m-901 "Brain Fatigue - Death for Human Heart"; Domashenko M. MC.m-901 "How Our Diet Affects Mental Health"; Zozulya I., MC.m-901 "Burnout Syndrome as a Psychological Phenomenon" and Danilishyn I., SM-901 "Insoluble Macromolecules in Root Canal Sealers".
Poster presentations: Ileiko D., MC.m-006 "Placebo-the Best Cure Evermade" and Pluzhnychenko M., MC.m-006 "Medical Deontology".
The second-year student Maryna Domashenko (group MC.m.-901 of the Medical Institute) took the second place with her presentation: "How Our Diet Affects Mental Health". Scientific supervisor: N. Malovana.
Denys Hleba, group IN-02 took the third place in Section “Philology. Communication. Society” with his presentation: "Forming Students’ Independence while Studying Remotely". Scientific supervisor: S. Mikhno
Congratulations to the winners and participants of the conference!

9th – 11th March 2021 the teachers of the Foreign Languages Department took part in International Higher Education Forum 2021. During the Forum the teachers addressed the issues headed on and explored potential solutions. Plenary sessions and presentations were imparted by noted thought leaders and experts in their fields, who drew from academic research papers, case studies and success stories. The Forum consisted of 5 sessions and explored 5 themes. During the 1st day the speakers together with Forum participants from all over the world discussed the problems of Attracting students and the issues of Assessment. During the 2nd day's sessions they were covering topics around Employability and Career Focused Education. On Day 3 the participants were covering topics around Online Teaching.
Higher Education worldwide is changing, and institutions are encountering challenges when adapting to the new reality and preparing for an unclear and potentially unfamiliar post COVID environment. 2020 has accelerated some of these changes, introduced new obstacles and exposed needs that were not specifically considered before.
Education Institutions are now tackling a number of issues around student migration and recruitment, the learning environment and virtual education, internationalization and employability. The question is, how do Higher Education Institutions continue to stay relevant, adapt to an ever-evolving world, address the requirements of modern students as future professionals.

Spring and women have much in common. They both are about flowering, revival, inspiration and beauty. Wishing a very happy Woman’s Day to strong, intelligent, talented and simply wonderful women of our university! Don’t you ever forget that you are loved and appreciated. On this special day we want to wish you a lot of love, joy and patience.
Let the spring sun melt snow and ice.
Let it bring happiness, joy and lights to your hearts,
Let it bring lots of love to your homes.
We greet you with the beautiful spring and Woman’s day!
Happy Women’s Day!

Online trainings from Dinternal Education can always offer teachers a variety of useful resources to help students achieve exam success.
On February 23, 2021 teachers of the Foreign Languages Department Nataliia Symonenko and Allla Diadechko took part in online training “ A teacher’s ONLINE TOOL for EXAM PREP– MyEnglishLab ”. The training was held by Dinternal methodist Julia Kianets. The speaker presented the tools available, as well as the skills and techniques, for delivering engaging and motivating exam classes. using Focus second edition and High Note books; receiving extra hints and tips while completing homework. Using MyEnglishLab can help improve student results, feel more motivated to manage mixed-ability classes, improve on mistakes and make a positive impact on learning outcomes.
After completing the training teachers received certificates of attendance (2 academic hours).

Cooperation with European Scientific Organizations is the key to the development of Ukrainian science. Members of such organizations work together, inspire new ideas and help motivate each other. Our teachers Tetiana Plokhuta, Tetiana Aleksakhina, Nataliia Usenko, Oxana Nefedchenko became members of the scientific organization "Center for Ukrainian and European Scientific Cooperation".  The main objective of the Centre is to examine the experience of higher education institutions and the subjects of public administration in education and science of the European Union countries, as well as to create a favorable mutual scientific environment of Ukraine and EU countries.

Answering the challenges posed by the current situation, teachers of the Foreign Languages Department keep on learning and mastering their professional competences. On January 19-22, 2021 they took part in four webinars devoted to “Distance technologies in teaching foreign languages”. The webinars were held by Mulina N.I., Ph.D. in Methods of Teaching, Associate Professor, as a short-term training course on the basis of the HR Development Center of Sumy State University.

The teachers learnt about didactic potential of computer and IT platforms Lectur.ED and MIX SumDU for blended learning; got to know how to create different types of tests and use them for teaching; trained to use ZOOM for a synchronous online class.

On January 13, 2021, a meeting of teachers of the Department of Foreign Languages of Sumy State University took place. The head of the Department, associate professor Natalia Tatsenko reported on the results of last year's work of teachers, their achievements and accomplishments. The results of the work were analyzed; the prospects and priorities of the scientific and pedagogical staff of the Department for 2021 were outlined.
Due to the lockdown restrictions the meeting was held online.

Dear friends!
Warmest wishes for a Happy New Year and a wonderful Christmas! After having a tough year, let us welcome a year that will unfold some good and happy times for us.
May the Holidays bring happiness, joy, warmth and well-being into your life. Stay healthy and safe in 2021. Treasure the present and create a beautiful tomorrow! May peace, love, and prosperity follow you in 2021.
Wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May all your wishes come true!

  On December 12, 2020, a charity badminton tournament was held in Sumy. All funds from the competition will go to the treatment of the sick 17-year-old girl from Sumy.
A female couple consisting of senior teacher of the Foreign Languages Department Oksana Hladchenko and senior teacher of the Physical Education Department Antonina Siryk beat 5 men's duos and took the first place in the tournament in category C.

  We are sincerely grateful to all the participants of the tournament!