All the people I met are very kindhearted and supportive, says Dr. Nataliia Styrnik
Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Hradec Králové offered job opportunities to Ukrainian academics. Currently, two academics from Ukraine work at FF UHK. One of them is Dr. Nataliia Styrnik.
Dr. Styrnik arrived in the Czech Republic a few weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. "The journey to the Czech Republic was very complicated. We went by train, air raid sirens often sounded and we spent most of the way in the dark. It was very frightening," says Nataliia Styrnik.
She currently teaches English and a course of Cross-Cultural Communication for the Czech students and foreign Bachelor and Master students at the Department of Political Science at the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Hradec Králové. In addition, students of the Philosophical Faculty have an opportunity to participate in Speaking Club and Grammar Workshop classes, where they can discuss current topical themes and practise grammar. The main issues discussed in the course of Cross-Cultural Communication include cultural adaptation, stereotypes and prejudices, education and personal development, language and psychology, effective communication strategies and others. It is a pleasure for Dr. Styrnik to teach the students from Philosophical Faculty, she finds them diligent, curious and highly motivated. They are keen on new knowledge and eager for developing their English speaking skills.
"All the people I met are very kind and helpful. I would like to thank everyone who I became acquainted with at the University of Hradec Králové, especially to Dean of Philosophical Faculty Mgr. Jan Prouza, PhD, Head of the Department of Political Science Mgr. Milan Hrubeš, PhD, Head of Language Centre Mgr. Martina Thérová, Officer of the Department of Science and Research Mgr. et Mgr. Lenka Kašparová, Head of International Office Martina Eliášová. I would also like to thank my colleague and friend from England, Anthony Robinson, for his mentoring and support of many Ukrainian colleagues and continued help to students at Hradec Králové University in developing their English speaking skills. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be here," says Nataliia Styrnik.
Dr. Nataliia Styrnik
Dr. Nataliia Styrnik holds a PhD in Philology and is an Assistant Professor at the Department of English Language for Non-Philological Specialities at Oles Honchar Dnipro National University in Ukraine. Her professional interests lie in the creation of foreign language competence, cultural studies, international communication, foreign literature (especially from the era of modernism), translation issues, academic writing and EHEA standards of postgraduate education. She also devoted herself to journalism.
Her research activity includes more than 100 academic papers, including Web of Science publications, textbooks, collaborative articles with students, and literary translations.
Dr. Styrnik has participated in Erasmus+ projects and international internships. She is a member of scientific societies.
