Balakun: Join the Conversation

We talk about russian disinformation and how to make an FPV drone with Kiwi In Ukraine. https://x.com/notafella69?s=20

Welcome! In this episode we chat with our friend Quignor. One of the first mentors to join Balakun. He told us about mentoring, his trips to Ukraine as a volunteer and meeting his student in person. Thanks for chatting with us while jet lagged Quignor.   / quignor   In other news, Sandi scored a point in the “try to pronounce it” game, finally stumping Vit with a completely nonsense word. Vit quic...

In this episode, recorded on February 22nd 2024, we talk about the anniversary of the russian invasion in its many forms. Vit explained events from his perspective and we collated accounts from students and previous guests about their experiences including Yana, Daniel Broomfield, Rick the Ukrainian and a student who wanted to remain anonymous. Mentioned links: https://www.youtube.com/@ricktheukra...

Welcome! In this episode we explore digitalization in Ukraine: paperless life, healthcare, finances and the IT Army of Ukraine. Join to understand all the faces of the Monobank cat, reminisce about the good times during the pandemic and consider the unforeseen consequences of a cashless society.     Of course there is some news, a meme and Sandi did not escape from her sentence in Ukrainian. She a...

In this episode we chat with out friend Rebe, the verification group coordinator at Balakun. She has been part of the project since the beginning and told us all about the people she meets who want to do something to help Ukraine. Plus we have some news, a couple of fun facts and a language exchange. You can follow Rebe on twitter here: https://twitter.com/Rivkah1401

Qirimli, or people from Crimea. In part 2 we hear from Mavile about one of the most difficult chapters in the history of Crimean Tatars, the deportations of the 1940s and the painful consequences.  If you want to learn more about some of the important people we discussed have a look at:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Eefiqa_Gasp%C4%B1ral%C4%B1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismail_Gasprinsky...

Qirimli, or people from Crimea. This week we present a double episode featuring Balakun student Mavile, a Crimean Tatar now living in Kyiv. She tells us about the language, history and culture of the Crimean Tatar nation.  We decided to turn this into a double episode, since there was so much to talk about!  A huge thank you to our student for giving us this unique insight.  If you want to learn m...

The movies that shaped us. Students talk about movies and TV shows they love. Strong language warning!

Welcome! We were delighted to have Balakun student Yana join us for this episode. Yana told us about herself and her motives for joining Balakun before we launched into an episode about Ukrainian YouTube and how it has evolved in the last few years. Ranging from the serious to the ridiculous, here is a commentary on the diverse world of Ukrainian YouTube and all the craziness you didn’t know you w...

In this week’s Open Session students discussed historical figures from Ukraine, featuring such iconic, famous, infamous and nefarious characters as: Nestor Makhno Bohdan Khmelnytsky Ivan Kotlyarevsky Mykhailo Hrushevsky Ivan Sirko Ivan Mazepa Yaroslav the Wise and the krovosisia Azirov Many thanks to Yana (on twitter @bozhablagodat) for leading the discussion. https://twitter.com/bozhablagodat War...

The usual suspects (mostly millennials) discuss generational traits and how they differ between countries. At least that's how it started... As always, the conversation evolved! Warning - strong language may have been used!

Vit and Sandi had another guest! We were delighted to host Rick the Ukrainian to talk about fundraising and his work translating and dubbing interviews with russian POWs. As usual we exchange news, an interesting fact, a words or phrase and explain a meme along the way. You can find Rick's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCxXfP7OPRW99op9ZS4BB9A You can contribute to FPV fundrais...

Happy New Year! In this episode we explored the unique Christmas and New Year traditions of Ukraine from St. Nicolas Day, St. Andrew's Eve, Vertep (Christmas puppet theatre), Father Frost, Malanka, Epiphany, Old New Year and of course Shchedryk. Join us and if you want more here are some links we think you will love: https://youtu.be/0mazj4V11aA?si=MbpVqG5L3bZfHLpjhttps://youtu.be/O39vQhwY8wo?...

This week for the holidays Sandi and Vit finally make borshch!  Follow along as we talk about all things borshch while we chop, grate and stew in this holiday special episode. Vit talks about all the different types of borshch and Sandi shares her impressions of her first borshch. As always, the regular features include news, a meme explained, pronouncing a new phrase and some fun facts about bors...

For the fourth episode we realised that we have not introduced ourselves and have not explained anything about the Balakun project. So we went off-script and just talked for a while. Sandi asked questions and Vit shared some of his background and life as a displaced person. We also talked about Balakun in general, its purpose and objectives. We haven’t forgotten about our regular headings though;...

Step into a world of lyrical beauty and cultural depth in our latest Twitter Space session with Daniel Asher. Daniel takes us through a journey of translation, interpretation, and the nuances of bringing Ukrainian verse to an English-speaking audience. This session is a must-listen for poetry enthusiasts and anyone interested in the rich literary tradition of Ukraine.📚 Highlights of the Session:-...

Step into an enlightening Twitter Space session with Alona Shevchenko, the dynamic co-founder of Ukraine DAO. In this deep dive, we explore a myriad of topics surrounding Ukraine, from the intricacies of disinformation and media literacy to Alona's perspectives on current events. 🇺🇦 Session Highlights: - Understanding Ukraine: Alona shares her insights on Ukraine's situation, offering a bl...

Vit and Sandi speak to Daniel Broomfield of the Redwood Online English School about his experience as an an pat in Ukraine and why he loves to teach. Plus the hosts exchange news, words, interesting facts and explain a Ukrainian meme! Don't miss this episode!

A Bridge to Ukraine episode 02 “Start Ups”. Sandi and Vit discuss interesting Ukrainian startups, with an honorable mention from NZ.   Vit’s list:  Reface Preply  AJAX Sandi’s list:  Grammarly Patron Badge Daisy Labs Join the conversation at www.balakun.co . #JointheConversation #ABridgetoUkraine #Balakun

Dive into an enlightening session with Regina Bauer, a passionate supporter of Ukraine, Estonian language teacher, and a crusader against misinformation. In this special Twitter Space, Regina shares invaluable insights about Estonia, its language, and its history under the USSR occupation. This session is a treasure trove of information and a testament to the power of truth and resilience. Key Hig...

In the first episode Sandi and Vit try their luck at podcasting to discuss how perceptions of Ukraine have changed since the beginning of the war from both within and without. This pilot is frank, funny, and tragic all at once. A big thanks to all the mentors who helped with our “research”. Join the conversation at www.balakun.co . #JointheConversation #ABridgetoUkraine #Balakun

Welcome to Lesson #2 for our advanced B1 and B2 students, where we dive deeper into 'Food and Drinks' and unravel the intricacies of 'Adverbs of Frequency'. Listen to our Ukrainian participants eloquently discussing their preferred dishes, the significance of meals in their lives, and the frequency of their indulgences. Ukraine's rich culinary heritage finds a voice as these st...

Welcome to Lesson #1 of our Advanced Group Lessons series, centered around 'Introductions'. Immerse yourself in this session and witness our Ukrainian students at the B1 and B2 levels eloquently introducing themselves in English. Their dedication to mastering the language, even amidst Ukraine's current adversities, is both inspiring and admirable. If you're moved by their journey a...

Welcome to Lesson #2 of our Group Lessons series, focusing on 'Food and Drinks' coupled with 'Adverbs of Frequency'. Delight in our Ukrainian students expressing their favorite cuisines, meals, and how often they indulge in them. In a country rich with culinary traditions, understand how the English language gives them a platform to share these traditions globally. For Ukrainians,...

Welcome to Lesson #1 of our Group Lessons series, focused on 'Introductions'. Dive into this session and experience our Ukrainian students' first steps in confidently introducing themselves in English. Their eagerness to learn and bridge cultural divides, especially during these challenging times in Ukraine, is heartwarming and commendable. If this sparks an interest, and you wish to j...