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Ukrainian IDPs are not only those who were forced by the war to emigrate to another
country, but also those who were unexpectedly found by these events in the country where they had already been before the war - this is the case of our heroine today, Taisiia Stetsenko.
Getting to know Lithuania
The girl is from Slobozhanshchyna, Kharkiv. Even before the full-scale Before the full-scale invasion
began, she went to Lithuania on a Lithuanian language program she won at her university. Taisiya intended to return home, but the danger in her native Kharkiv forced her to stay in Lithuania, and she has now been living in Vilnius for two years.
"I arrived in Vilnius on February 5, 2022, and intended to be home in June. But it didn't work out as planned. Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine made adjustments. Life seemed to stop. But we had to move on. While volunteering, we, Ukrainians in Vilnius, really realized how incredible Lithuanians are and how close they are to us. No one expected such continuous support and complete, total understanding." - says the girl about the support of Lithuanians in the first days of the war.
She fell in love with the country, especially the Lithuanian language, back in 2018 when she she
first saw it when she received an invitation from a local military camp.
"Without a doubt, when I received this offer, I accepted, even if I didn't know much about this country at the time. This is how my attachment to Lithuania began. I fell in love, first of all, with the people. Lithuanians are wonderful people," Taisiya said about her first impressions of Lithuania. Motivation and first steps
Motivation and first steps
That first encounter with Lithuania paved the way for young Taisiya to continue learning the
Lithuanian language and immersing herself in the local life. As an adult, when she arrived in Lithuania to study, she faced many challenges, but successfully overcame them.
Challenges and advice
Taisiia, in her remarks, emphasized that the main problem of learning any foreign language is a
limited vocabulary, which makes it difficult to express oneself. However, she noted that many people who learn Lithuanian have difficulty understanding grammar. Taisija's own experience shows that grammar was not a major challenge for her, as she sees it as a kind of math.
"But for me personally, this was not the main challenge, because grammar is a kind of mathematics. Having learnt the 'formulas', the grammatical rules, you can easily apply them to different constructions. However, in any case, you need to practice," - said Taisiia,
Methods of learning
The girl said that for her, the key method of learning Lithuanian was active comprehensive learning
with a special focus on vocabulary. She believes that words are the most difficult part of learning a foreign language due to the lack of associations with her native language. Therefore, she advises paying special attention to expanding vocabulary.
"When learning foreign languages, it is important to focus on expanding your vocabulary. Today, there are many opportunities to learn vocabulary, such as the well-known app Quizlet." - Tasi's recommendations
But in addition to comprehensive training, she says that the key to successful learning is desire, self-
belief and systematic work. She advises using all available opportunities for practice, including communicating with native speakers and using language resources.
"Use all the opportunities you have while living in the country whose language you are learning. Watch local TV, talk to native speakers, you can start with simple conversations in a supermarket or coffee shop."
The benefits of language proficiency
Determined, Taisiia believes that speaking Lithuanian not only contributes to a comfortable daily life,
but also opens up new opportunities for integration. The ability to communicate in Lithuanian helps to better fit into the local society, understand its culture and traditions, and actively participate in the social and political life of the country. This approach fosters a sense of belonging to the community and helps bring Ukrainians closer to the locals.
"In my opinion, knowledge of the language of the country you live in is essential. It is respect for Lithuanians and for yourself. Of course, it is possible to live in a country without knowing the language, but knowing the language makes life better, gives you freedom, opens up new horizons and gives you a sense of belonging to the community. It is an investment that pays off a hundredfold, because language is the key to a better life. Not all Lithuanians, especially the older generation, speak English yet. Therefore, knowledge of the language gives you freedom in any sphere of life."
Taisiya Stetsenko is a great example of how knowledge of language and culture can
bring people from different countries together. Her story inspires you to learn Lithuanian and discover this amazing country.