On March 30, 2026, an international guest lecture was held for first-year students majoring in Philology on the topic “English and Ukrainian Cultural Differences.”

The speaker was Yuliia Trepez, an ESL speaker and CELTA teacher from Gosport, England.

The event was conducted in English and provided students with a valuable opportunity to engage directly with an authentic language environment.

During the lecture, key differences between English and Ukrainian cultures were explored in the areas of everyday communication, small talk, academic ethics, personal boundaries, and politeness strategies. The speaker provided specific examples of communicative situations in which cultural differences may lead to misunderstandings and outlined effective models of behavior in international academic and professional contexts.

An important part of the event was an interactive quiz, with questions focusing on cultural norms, speech strategies, and common stereotypes. The format of live discussion combined with an element of competition generated an enthusiastic response from the audience — students actively participated, shared their opinions, and reflected on their own experiences. This part of the lecture received the most positive feedback and created a dynamic atmosphere of interaction.

The event contributed to the development of intercultural competence among future philologists, broadened their professional outlook, and deepened their understanding of language as a tool of culture and social interaction.