Interview with Tetiana Kondratievat, May 30, 2023

Interview Summary

Abstract Tetiana Kondratievat Kondrateivat teaches Methodology at the Ternopil Pedagogical University in Ukraine. She encountered her first Peace Corps Volunteer while a student in secondary school; since joining the faculty at the University, she’s worked with several Volunteers as a team-teacher. Volunteers, while providing practice speaking with a native speaker, also share cultural habits and values that help to open up Ukrainians to the larger world. At a picnic with her American teacher, for instance, she tasted smores for the first time. As a partner teacher herself, she’s shared holiday celebrations with Volunteers, and games and songs related to holidays. Kondratievat’s learned that work can be done well in different ways, and that it is a choice that one makes to learn new ways of doing her work in the classroom. Volunteers offer a reciprocal experience for students and teachers. Some of her stereotypes of Americans have been altered, particularly the idea that Americans only ate junk food, and that Americans have no problems. Being a counterpart during the war with Russia has meant a great deal to her, something that she greatly appreciates.

Interview Keyword

Ukraine Ternopil Pedagogical University Methodology Secondary school Team teacher Cultural habits ValuesSmores Holiday celebrations Songs, games Choice Reciprocity Stereotypes Junk food War with Russia Appreciation

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.