Within the framework of the international educational project “Bilingual Future. Preschool Education,” regional coordinators of Poltava region – Anna Ageicheva, Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Psychology, and Pedagogy, and Lesia Klevaka, Acting Head of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, successfully completed the training course “Bilingual Baby Steps,” dedicated to preschoolers’ first steps in learning English. Participants learned about tools, interactive methods, and life hacks that will help ensure a successful start for the early foreign language development of children in Poltava region.
In August 2025, an intensive training session was held in Yaremche for the team of regional coordinators of the international educational project “Preschool Education. Bilingual Future.” Combining the knowledge previously acquired in Poland with new practices, the coordinators summarized the results of the first stage and laid a solid foundation for the large-scale launch of the project. The participants identified priority tasks and strategic goals outlined by Ruslana Naida, founder of Ukrainian Institute of Childhood and Head of the Board of the Public Union “PRO Childhood.”
During the training, a unique English-language online meeting was held with international partners: Claire Selby, a British specialist in early language learning, author of methodologies for Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press, and developer of “Bilingual Future” platform. Myron Cizdyn, a developer of international online learning platforms (Poland, USA, Ukraine), who actively supports the development of Ukrainian preschool education. Constant support and belief in the future of Ukrainian children is an additional motivation for the team of coordinators.
During the workshop, a step-by-step training program for teachers was agreed upon, based on the program “Yellow House English: a modern format for early foreign language development in preschool educational institutions.” This course will help teachers improve their skills in bilingualism and enable the effective implementation of the project in preschool educational institutions.
The key topics of the training covered:
- legislative aspects and methodological principles of preschool foreign language teaching;
- psycholinguistic features of foreign language acquisition by children;
- capabilities of the educational platform;
- interactive methods of working with “Yellow House English” program.
Upon completion of the course, Anna Ageicheva and Lesia Klevaka received certificates confirming their readiness to coordinate the regional implementation of the program.
To implement the international educational project “Bilingual Future. Preschool Education” as part of piloting of the “Bilingers” program in preschool education institutions under the coordination of Poltava Polytechnic representatives, 33 preschool education institutions in Poltava and Poltava region, 54 teachers, and 936 preschool children from 51 groups were involved.
“This project is of exceptional importance for modern Ukraine, which strives to become a full-fledged member of the European community. Early bilingualism is not only a language skill, but also an investment in the future that contributes to the development of a child’s cognitive abilities and meets the requirements of the new law on compulsory English language learning,” emphasizes Anna Ageicheva.
“Our goal is to create a natural and comfortable environment where children feel confident in both languages, receiving support both at the preschool and at home from their parents,” underlines Lesia Klevaka.
The two-year international project is being implemented thanks to a memorandum between the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Public Union “PRO Childhood” (project coordinator in Ukraine), and the Bilingual Future Foundation.
Ahead lies large-scale training for educators from different regions of Ukraine. Thanks to this, preschool education institutions that have passed the competitive selection process will be able to effectively implement modern programs for early foreign language development for the youngest children starting in the new academic year.
The researchers are sincerely grateful to the university administration – President Volodymyr Onyshchenko and Rector Olena Filonych – for their ongoing comprehensive support of all educational initiatives and the development of preschool education in Ukraine.
We care and teach with love. Let’s speak English with a smile.
Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
