250 Years of Freedom: A Journey Through the United States with the «Speak Up» Youth Club

On July 4, as the United States celebrated Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, we also marked the occasion at our «Speak Up»  conversation club with a special event, «Mission: Build the American Dream». This time, we explored the United States through the English language, its history, national symbols, and fascinating facts.

We began with a discussion about freedom. Participants chose one of the words — independence, opportunity, equality, responsibility, innovation, community, or diversity — and explained in English why it best reflected their understanding of the concept of freedom. Next, we recalled famous American symbols and landmarks, guessed U.S. states from three clues, and shared interesting facts about them. For example, we learned that Alaska is the largest U.S. state, California is home to Hollywood and Silicon Valley, and Texas is widely associated with cowboy culture. Teams then prepared short travel pitches, presenting their assigned state while including a local dish, a historical fact, and a famous landmark.

The excitement continued with a game of Charades featuring U.S.-themed vocabulary, followed by a Jeopardy quiz that challenged participants to recall everything they had learned throughout the event.

The meeting offered more than just an opportunity to practice English. It gave participants a deeper understanding of the United States, its values, and the rich diversity of its states and cultures that together shape American identity.